Christchurch Priory Choirs

The Priory Choirs are the central part of the musical life of Christchurch Priory. There are choirs for everyone, with our aim being to allow anyone to experience making music in our beautiful Priory Church. There are five choirs in total, each with their own role, age range, and musical focus. Between them, they lead the music for Sunday services, major feasts of the church year, as well as a range of other, special events.

Membership of the Priory Choir offers a musical training, performance experience, and a strong team and friendship group. The Priory Choirs sing a wide repertoire from more than five centuries and from composers across the world.

The Priory Choir includes:

• Boys Choir
• Girls Choir
• Adult Choir
• Priory Chamber Choir
• Priory Consort

Over the past decade, the Priory Choir has undertaken three successful overseas tours, performing in St Mark’s Basilica, Venice, the Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, the Menin Gate, Ypres, and Brussels Cathedral.

Boys Choir
The Boys Choir welcomes boys aged 7–14 who are eager to sing, learn, and make music. Beyond singing, the boys have the opportunity to develop confidence, teamwork, leadership, and a lifelong love of music. No experience is necessary.

• Rehearsals: Thursdays, 5.30–7.00pm
• Sunday services: Singing every week during term time
• Audition: Informal

Choristers receive a small amount of money in return for their commitment to the choir. As part of the choir, they enjoy exceptional musical training, including participation in the RSCM Voice for Life programme, which teaches both vocal technique and musicianship. Beyond Sunday services, boys in the choir have opportunities to sing in concerts, special feasts, and overseas tours, performing in venues of international renown.

Choristers learn to read music and sing challenging repertoire. At the same time, they form strong friendships and learn to work together to achieve the very highest standards, a tradition that has been running at the Priory for centuries.

Girls Choir
The Girls Choir is open to girls aged 7–18. Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2025, the choir has built a reputation for musical excellence.

• Rehearsals: Fridays, 6.00–7.30pm
• Sunday services: Singing alongside the Boys Choir every week during term time
• Audition: Informal

The Girls Choir provides young singers with outstanding musical training, performance experience, and opportunities for personal growth. Members receive a chorister scholarship, participate in the RSCM Voice for Life programme, and perform regularly in services, concerts, and tours.

For girls who join, the choir offers an excellent musical training, regular performance experience, and the chance to be part of a longstanding choral tradition. Over its twenty-year history, the Girls Choir has become well known for their music and ambitious repertoire.

Adult Choir
The Adult Choir forms the lower voices of the Priory Choir, singing alto, tenor and bass parts (including countertenors). Positions are voluntary.

Adult singers rehearse on Fridays from 7.30–9.00pm and sing two Sunday services each week alongside the choristers.

Membership is by audition, and singers are expected to have reasonable music-reading ability. Being part of the choir provides the chance to explore challenging repertoire, participate in major feasts and special services, and contribute to the Priory’s proud tradition of music-making. The adult choir enjoys occasional social events.

All adult singers need to undertake C of E Safeguarding training when they join the choir.

Priory Chamber Choir
The Priory Chamber Choir is an auditioned all-adult choir formed from experienced singers.

This ensemble performs for some of the most significant services of the church year, including:

• Midnight Mass
• Maundy Thursday
• Ash Wednesday
• Ascension Day
• The annual Requiem for All Souls

The choir specialises in performing more demanding choral repertoire and often combines with the other Priory choirs for major services, concerts and special events.

Priory Consort
The Priory Consort is an open, welcoming choir for adults who enjoy singing but may not have any previous musical experience.

This choir is non-auditioned and open to anyone who would like to take part.

Rehearsals take place fortnightly on Wednesdays from 7.00–8.15pm, and the choir sings for around two services each term. The Priory Consort provides a relaxed and supportive environment where singers can develop confidence and enjoy making music together.

Music Staff

Simon Earl — Director of Music
Simon Earl has been Director of Music at Christchurch Priory since 2015, leading the Priory Choirs and overseeing the musical life of the church. He studied music at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne and held organ scholarships at several Cathedrals. Before coming to the Priory, Simon was Assistant Director of Music at Wakefield Cathedral.

In addition to his work at the Priory, Simon maintains an active career as a recitalist and conductor, regularly leading choral workshops and events across the UK. His leadership has ensured the Priory Choir continues to perform at the highest musical standards while providing excellent training and opportunities for all its members.

David Beeby — Assistant Director of Music
David Beeby has served as Assistant Director of Music at Christchurch Priory since 2022, supporting the training and direction of the Priory Choirs, accompanying services, and helping oversee the musical programme. David began his musical journey as a chorister at St James the Greater, Leicester. He studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London, graduating with a BMus (Hons).

For twenty years, David served as Head of Music at Poole Grammar School, In addition to his role at the Priory, David is active as an organ recitalist, accompanist, and composer.

Geoffrey Morgan — Organist Emeritus
Geoffrey Morgan is Organist Emeritus of Christchurch Priory, having served for many years as the Priory’s organist. He studied at Trinity College of Music and won first prize in the London Organ Week competition, before holding the organ scholarship at Magdalen College, Oxford. Geoffrey later served as Assistant Organist at Westminster Abbey, Sub-Organist at Guildford Cathedral and was Visiting Professor of Organ at Yale University.

Since 2002, Geoffrey has been associated with Christchurch Priory. He has performed widely across Europe, the United States, and Australia, appeared in BBC broadcasts, and his solo recording English Contrasts received five stars in Choir and Organ magazine. Geoffrey is a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists, a Fellow of Trinity College of Music, and in 2006 was awarded an Honorary Fellowship of the Guild of Church Musicians for his outstanding contribution to church music.