WELCOME TO OUR CHOIR!

Holy Trinity has a thriving choral life involving and joining adults and children in worship, special occasions and in celebrating the rhythm of the church year.

Junior Choir

All abilities are very welcome!

We use games, acting, colourful techniques and inspirational music to work towards our regular lively performances

The children’s confidence is developed by encouragement and their expressive and musical abilities soon grow as they learn to read music and perform with friends as part of a group.

The junior choir join together with the adult choir to create a full church choir for special choral services.   

Holy Trinity runs a medal reward scheme, which runs from bronze to Gold. For their first public performance with the choir, a child is awarded the bronze medal. The head chorister (post renewed each term!) wears a gold medal.

                                                                                                                                       

Say AHHH!!

Being part of a choir increases a child’s ability to think and reason, introduces foreign languages in an enjoyable way, teaches them to read music, helps find a spiritual sense of happiness and peace and is just a whole pile of fun!

If you would like your child to participate, please come along to one of our junior choir meetings, where you can always be assured of a warm and friendly welcome.

Junior Choir meets at Holy Trinity Church , Wycombe Road , Prestwood
Thursday evenings 6.20-6.50pm
 during term time

So many fishes in the sea: do they all sing so sweetly?

FULL CHOIR

The adult choir are invited to sing for weddings, some communion and family services and special occasions.

Vivaldi Gloria Easter 2007

All abilities are very welcome! We sing for our enjoyment. You do not need to be able to read music to join, many of our current members learn by ear.
 
If you would like to come along, please feel welcome to join in for one of our choir sessions.
We meet on Thursday evenings 7.00m -8.00pm and you can always be assured of a warm and friendly welcome.

Contact Elspeth Hannen, MA, LTCL

elspeth@songstoteachthefaith.co.uk

A HISTORY OF CHURCH MUSIC AT HOLY TRINITY

Geoff Clare and some of the choir members from the lower end of the stave

Holy Trinity had a choir throughout the 1950s and 1960s, but for a decade in the late sixties the number declined and dwindled away. But, thankfully, in 1979 an enterprising small group of singers sang an anthem on Trinity Sunday and a few carols at Midnight Eucharist on Christmas Eve. One of this group was Michael Williams, who became the choir leader. He also became a non-stipendiary priest in the parish and composed the music for the Liturgy, which he taught to the congregation, the same setting which is used for the Eucharist today. The choir continued on a part time basis, singing mainly on feast days.

In 1986 Michael moved to St. Francis Church in High Wycombe , and handed over as choirmaster to Geoffrey Clare, who was one of the original members of the group. Weekly practices were established, and the choir began to sing simple anthems at the Family Eucharist service.  The membership gradually grew and soon the choir found itself singing at weddings. A considerable library of music was built up thereby broadening the choir's repertoire.

The membership of the choir grew to around twenty five.  The organist was Graham Nash, who accompanied the practices, but Paul Arkwright and Simon Gray also helped on many occasions.  The choir has also been fortunate to have had Jonathan Lee, both as a talented schoolboy, then as an organ scholar at Cambridge , and now as he pursues his own professional career.  Terry Williams was a very able deputy choir master for many years, who provided willing and enthusiastic support including as a stand-in organist when required.

In 1996 Michael Williams sadly died very suddenly, and the choir dedicated that year's carol service to his memory. In 1999 Graham Nash retired after many years working at Holy Trinity, he still remains connected to the church playing for occasional services.

In 2002 Geoffrey Clare retired at Easter, after 16 years of devoted energy. We are pleased after so many years of work and dedication to the choir that Geoff and his wife Sue still sing in the choir at weddings and services.

David Hackett was appointed organist in 1999 and became choir master in 2002. David Hackett is an Oxford music graduate, a fine pianist and organist with a great talent for composition.  He composed several anthems and carols for the choir. His musical composition is continuing and he is researching and writing a book about the life and works of the composer Gustav Holst. In July 2006 David retired as choirmaster and continued as organist until the carol service of that year. He continues his connection with the choir as accompanist for the regular weekly choir practices and is currently playing for choir weddings and some services. He is now organist at St Mary’s Church Beaconsfield.

In October 2006 Laura Borenstein was appointed as Choir Leader. She trained at Oxford at Brasenose and Keble Colleges where she was first choral scholar and choral director, and at Chetham’s School of Music with Michael Brewer, Director of the National Youth Choir. She has extensive performing and teaching experience and a love of choral music. Her first work on being appointed was to form a new children’s choir the ‘Junior choir’ in addition to and as an expansion of the main adult choir at Holy Trinity.

New members are always welcome at rehearsals throughout the year. If you or your child would like to come along and try it out, details of our rehearsal times and contact information. 

Elspeth Hannen, MA, LTCL - Choir Leader Holy Trinity
elspeth@songstoteachthefaith.co.uk

Rehearsals are Thursday evenings during term time
Junior Choir 6.20 -6.50p.m.
Adult Choir 7.00 - 8.00p.m

© 2004 Holy Trinity Church, Prestwood, Buckinghamshire.  All rights reserved.