For details of upcoming concerts click here
Music plays an important role in worship and the wider life of St Michael’s, and there is always room for more people to join in and help. Under the leadership of our Director of Music, Kate Cheetham, music happens in lots of different ways:
THE ORGAN: A grand instrument with 3 manuals and pedals, tracker (mechanical) action, and 2,500 pipes spread over 39 stops. Its origins are in an 1800 instrument by Thomas Elliot: it was most recently rebuilt by Nicholson & Co in 1970, and overhauled in 2000 by Percy Daniel. It is regularly tuned and maintained and used for concerts and recitals as well as accompanying services. Organ lessons can be requested and the organ is available for practice by arrangement.
THE PIANO: In 2010 we were fortunate enough to receive a gift to replace our old Broadwood Grand with a new Kawai Grand. This instrument is used for accompanying services, as well as being used in concerts held in the church.
THE CHOIR: Choral singing is a special interest of the Director of Music who is a trained choral conductor and a choir has recently been established, despite the trials and tribulations of the pandemic.
We sing in 4 parts and have many confident readers, although all levels of experience are welcome, as long as you are willing to learn.
There are two choral 10 am services a month on the 1st and 4th Sundays, as well as full Choral Evensong at 5.30pm every 3rd Sunday of the month. Singers are welcome to sing mornings or evenings or both and rehearsals are the preceding Friday 5 – 6pm as well as at 4.15pm on Evensong days. If you would like to find out more, call Kate on 01531 641829, or email her on cheethamkj@gmail.com
WORSHIP BAND: We would like to hear from anyone interested in playing in a worship band on the 2nd and 3rd Sundays of the month. We have good guitarists and keyboard players but would welcome other instruments and vocalists keen to get involved. We have recently bought a cajon, and would welcome a regular percussionist !
CONCERTS: The church is a popular venue for concerts of all types and has recently had a lighting refit so that the chancel area is suitable for larger groups of musicians to perform.
Our 2023 series of Saturday morning organ and piano ‘Coffee Concerts’ over the summer months was a great success and the poster for the 2024 series is here