News Archive
September 2011
17th Newsletter sent to members.
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July 2011
AGM Documents
May 2011
16th Newsletter sent to members.
Download Newsletter (.pdf, 199kb)
March 2011
15th Newsletter sent to members
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Recital - February 15th
A recital given by Hannah Watts (.pdf, 134kb)
2010 Activities
A record of 2010 (.pdf, 703kb)
2010 Members’ Directory
Copies of the 2010 Directory are available. Members who would still like to receive a copy should contact the Chairman, Malcolm Bury.
December 2010
14th Newsletter sent to members
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Bach Choir concert - November 15th
Bach Choir concert - 13th November (.pdf, 635kb)
October 2010
13th Newsletter sent to members
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ECA Concert Flyer
ECA Concert Press Release
Download Press Release (.pdf, 58kb)
September 18th 2010
August 2010
12th Newsletter sent to members
Download Newsletter (.pdf, 699kb)
July 2010
AGM Documents
2010 Chairmans Report (.pdf, 13kb)
Notice - Friday May 21st 2010
Dear Members, Abbey Girls’ Choir - Thank You Concert You may have heard or seen on TV that the Abbey Girls’ Choir tour suffered an extended stay in Miami thanks to the volcanic ash. The AGC are holding a concert to say ‘thank you’ to St. Thomas Episcopal Church and the School and Church of the Epiphany in Miami, who were so generous to the girls during their extended stay. The concert will take place in the Abbey JMI School on 3 July from 7.00pm. It will be an informal evening, with performances from the AGC and from other musicians associated with it. Guests are invited to bring their own picnic, and there will be a bar. There is no admission price, but a collection will be taken. If you wish to attend, please notify Linda Walton either via the “W” pigeon-hole or at llwalton@hotmail.co.uk Thank you, Malcolm Bury – ECA Chairman
May 2010
11th Newsletter sent to members
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January 2010
10th Newsletter sent to members
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September 2009
9th Newsletter sent to members
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July 2009
AGM Documents
2009 AGM Minutes (.pdf, 26kb)
2009 Chairmans Report (.pdf, 14kb)
May 2009
8th Newsletter sent to members
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Alban
The newly commissioned Alban Opera written by Tom Wiggall and John Mole. Conducted by David Ireson.
To preserve your black cartridge simply print the second page and send off the form with your cheque on or after 30th March - early booking is a must to avoid disappointment.
April 2009
7th Newsletter sent to members
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Cathedral Music Trust Concert
On 7th February 2009, several current and former St. Albans Cathedral Choir members are amongst a choir putting on a very special concert in the cathedral, to help it to maintain its ancient choral setup in perpetuity..... more >> (.pdf, 323kb)
November 2008
6th Newsletter sent to members
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16th October 2008
Broadway comes to St. Albans - Peter Knapp
September 2008
5th Newsletter sent to members
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July 2008
The Ex-Choristers Association held its second reunion on Saturday 5th July 2008 and what a day it turned out; after what could have been a soggy start we were blessed with a warm sunny day. The reunion began with the General Meeting which was attended by 21 members – copies of the Chairman’s Report and Minutes of the Meeting can be found on the website and are available on request from the Hon. Secretary, Bob Staten.
Choral Evensong, with the Cathedral Choir conducted by Andrew Lucas, was attended by some 120 members, 44 of whom (pictured) joined the Cathedral Choir to sing the Magnificat & Nunc Dimittis in C by Charles Villiers Stanford and Light of the World by Edward Elgar.
Photograph courtesy of Dr David Kelsall
Copies of the photographs above and below will be posted on the website and hard ‘glossy’ copies are available, on request, from the Chairman, Malcolm Bury. Whilst no charge will be made, a small contribution to our funds would be welcome.
Photograph courtesy of Dr David Kelsall
The reception in the Deanery Garden was a time for well earned refreshments and to catch up with old friends. Master of the Music, Andrew Lucas, commended the Association on the work that had been done since the Inaugural Reunion a year ago. Peter Hurford, in thanking the Committee for the work undertaken during the year, and specifically the publication of the Association Directory, stressed that the long term sustainability and success of the Association depended on more members stepping forward to offer their time and talents to help manage the Association’s activities.
Helen Charleston, Charlotte Campbell & Tori Cox
Simon Johnson & Gemma Saunders
Andrew Lucas – Master of the Music
Members at the reception
Simon Morley & Paolo Baroni
Bob Fitzsimmons (L) Geoff Ward & John Bate (C)
Andrew Lucas & Peter Hurford
Malcolm Bury (Chairman) with Moira Dean
50th Anniversary of Luccombe Choir Camp
Over 30 former choristers and lay clerks participated in the 50th Choir Camp celebrations which were held during the weekend of 25th to 27th July. The camp was run by Tony and Ros De Rivas (their tenth time as camp masters) and was attended by Peter and Pat Hurford who instigated the camp in 1958 together with The Dean, Dr Jeffrey John, who also preached at the Sunday morning Eucharist, and former Precentor, The Reverend David Munchin. The brave souls who scaled Dunkery Beacon on the Saturday (see picture below) are to be commended, including the two youngest Henry Meager and Lydia Pazzi-Axworthy. One of the high spots was an anniversary cake, engineered by Ros De Rivaz and a picture of Exmoor which was presented to Peter and Pat as a memento of their years at Luccombe. A further gift was presented to farmer Bill Partridge who has made his field available for so many years.
The Anniversary Camp Cake
Present & Former Masters of the Music, Andrew Lucas & Peter Hurford
The Cathedral Choir
Tony De Rivaz with the Hurfords at Webber’s Post
Former Chorister – Keith Hill
Trampers nearing Dunkery Beacon
Present & Former Choristers, Lay Clerks, Music Staff & Spouses/Partners
July 2008
AGM Documents
2008 AGM Minutes (.pdf, 23kb)
2008 Chairmans Report (.pdf, 25kb)
2008 Reunion - President's Speech
June 2008
4th Newsletter sent to members
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March 2008
3rd Newsletter sent to members
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January 2008
2nd Newsletter sent to members
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November 2007
1st Newsletter sent to members
Download Newsletter (.pdf, 56kb)
30th June 2007
St. Albans Ex-Choristers' Association Inaugural Reunion Choral Evensong Raises the Roof!
Ex-choristers, lay clerks, organists and organ scholars gathered on Saturday, 30th June 2007 for a fantastic Evensong in the Cathedral Quire. Over 100 voices including those of the current Cathedral and Abbey Girls Choirs produced a stirring and roof-raising sound which drew enthusiastic and moving reactions from those who listened as well as those who participated - 'thrilling', 'awesome', 'spine-tingling' - were just some of the comments overheard.
Andrew Lucas, current Master of the Music, said 'it was a wonderful experience for me to conduct what turned out to be a really skilled group of musicians, stretching back over the decades - fullness of the sound was wonderful and there is great scope for further musical adventures. It was a particularly rich and emotionally charged experience that I found quite humbling as well as thrilling and something most of us there will probably not forget in a hurry'.
"Well.........that was fun!"
The Reception afterwards was a joyful occasion as we welcomed friends and families and people of different ages and choral eras greeted familiar, and not so familiar, faces - after all, twenty years can be quite a long time! The photographs* reflect some of the pleasure, fun and excitement that was generated during the evening.
Thanks go to the Dean and the Cathedral Music Trust for supporting the event and to the Chairman of the FCOCA, Gordon Hughes, and his colleague James Finch, Honorary Secretary of Canterbury Cathedral Old Choristers Association for attending and giving their support.
Finally, our thanks to all of you who attended with such enthusiasm and commitment - there is now much work to be done in establishing the Association on a firmer footing.
*Our thanks to John and Verena Sparrow.