St Michael’s Choir is a robed mixed choir of about 15
singers, and is affiliated to the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM).
The ages range from 10 upwards.
Practices
are held on most Thursday evenings during term time.
The choir’s primary function is to help lead the worship at
the 9.30am Parish Communion every Sunday morning (except during
August). There are
also ‘Special’ evening services for which the choir provides
anthems as well as leading the hymn singing.
These include the Patronal Festival Songs of Praise in
September, a Service of Light for All Souls, the Advent Carol Service
(in rotation with other churches in the town), the main Parish Carol
Service, an Epiphany Carol Service, a service for Lent, and a service
of Easter Praise.
Every 2 years during Lent we include a performance of
the Faure Requiem during a Lenten service.
For this we invite singers from all the other churches in the
town to join us, and usually have about 30 singers. In July the choir
goes out to a village church on the
Wolds
to sing Choral Evensong, when we also have a picnic tea before the
service.
There is a chance for choir members to ‘let their
hair down’ at the annual Parish Summer Concert where almost anything
goes from classical to pop, and often includes the spoken word as well
as music. Anyone from the
congregation with a contribution is welcome to take part as well as
the choir and other soloists and groups.
The RSCM organises singing events locally, which choir
members are encouraged to attend.
For example, the annual singing day at Grosmont in July, and
the Diocesan Festival in October.
The choir is a very friendly and inclusive group of
people. Members enjoy a
few social activities during the year, for example, parties after the
Carol Service and Summer Concert, and an annual outing to the
Pantomime at York’s Theatre Royal.
Anyone who enjoys singing is welcome to join the choir.
There are some singers who cannot commit themselves on a
regular basis. They belong
to our ‘augmented’ choir and sing at the Carol Service and are
also invited to join us for other special occasions.
Janet Patten, Director of Music
St
Michael's Parish Church, New Malton 
