Music at St Chads

Come and enjoy the complete organ works of J.S. Bach played by Richard Walker over a series of 17 concerts from mid-March to mid-May 2010, the first time these have been played as a recital series in Shrewsbury. These concerts are all in aid of the renovation of the organ. We very much appreciate Richard's commitment to this cause and encourage you to make the most of the opportunity to reach a new level of understanding of the genius of Bach - whatever knowledge or lack of knowledge you might bring. Please make a note in your diaries and come to as many concerts as you are able. Follow this link for more information and this link for a copy of the publicity poster.

Also don't forget about the St Chads Music Festival
Thursday 29th April to Monday 3rd May 2010
For further details and a booking form please visit their website
www.stchadsfestival.org.uk

David Leeke,
Organist and Director of MusicThe quality of St. Chad’s music has been widely acknowledged for many years and several previous Organists and Directors of Music have been very well-known figures. Perhaps most significant was the late Sam Baker, a nationally renowned choir trainer and extemporiser. It was he who taught our current Organist and Director of Music, David Leeke as a chorister at St.Chad’s in the 1970s. More recently Dr Roger Allen, now a senior member of the music staff at Oxford University, had the role of organist at St.Chad’s.

Please refer to the monthly music notes opposite for a very readable introduction to all that is musical in our church; the monthly music scheme gives the detailed listings in date order. Liturgical music has always been a significant feature of St. Chad’s worship and the current repertoire spans the centuries from Renaissance to the present day with the choirs providing a rich diet of music, largely drawn from the great English Cathedral tradition.

The adult choir is directed by David Leeke and the young people’s choir by Kathryn Burningham. Rehearsals take place on Thursday evenings: 6.45pm – 7.15pm for children; adults rehearse from 7pm – 8pm after which the usual social activities take place in a local hostelry. The young people’s choir rehearsal is followed by their own “club”.

Richard Walker is sub-organist of St.Chad’s and accompanies many of the main choral services. He also arranges the Friday lunch-time concerts “Concerts in the Round" at St.Chad’s which take place at 12.40pm for about 40 minutes, followed by a light lunch. The Church also hosts many other concerts, some given by outside organisations and some promoted by the local Council (Shrewsbury and Atcham) using St. Chad’s as the Civic Church. The latter are in general part of the Shrewsbury Summer Season which runs from June to September each year.

During the famous Shrewsbury Flower Show (held each August in the Quarry park opposite the church), the Friends of St. Chad’s join with the church Music Team to provide hospitality and a significant musical contribution, adding to the attraction of this world-famous event. From 2009 a major Festival of Music will be held in the Church over the first Bank Holiday weekend in May each year.

The organ was built by Norman and Beard in 1904 and restored by Nicholsons in 1963 and Harrison & Harrison in 1985. It is a large three manual instrument with the usual compliment of stops and playing aids and is the most “user-friendly” instrument in the area.

Click here to view the current music scheme (including all services details)
Click here to view a downloadable list of Friday afternoon "Concerts in The Round"
Click here to view other concerts.

Email: David Leeke
Tel +44 (0) 1743 289301
1 St Chad's Terrace,
Shrewsbury,
SY1 1JL

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Page last updated Friday, March 5, 2010