St John's in the City is very proud of its choir and wishes to recruit more members, especially newcomers to Wellington.   

The Choir normally meets for a half hour practice before morning worship at 9.15 am.  It then rehearses for the next Sunday service at the end of the morning worship, from approximately 11:15 am until 12:00pm.  There is one evening rehearsal on a Thursday each month at 7.15 pm.

The Choir leads worship throughout the year and usually sings an anthem in the morning service.  The music is a mixture of traditional and contemporary church choir music with a mixture of unison and harmony material. 

It is also a supportive and fun group to belong to.

We have places for any keen soprano, alto, tenor or bass.  New members are very welcome.   Anyone who is interested in joining the Choir should email Guy Jansen, our Choir Director.

Guy is well known in Wellington, having founded the Festival Singers, and recently returned from Australia and the United States.  He says "I would like to gradually build the numbers in the choir so that the choir could sing more of the substantial music of the English Cathedral tradition as well as classic church anthems, recent compositions and the best of contemporary pieces."  Guy sees the music as an offering to God, enhancing themes of services, and with the words in the service folder as an aid to meditation.

Averaging one per month, the new-style rehearsals will contain short, efficient sectionals; time to spread ourselves around in the Chapel; and a five -minute break for post-dinner coffee or tea. More details to come. The rehearsals will begin at 7.15 and end at 9.45.

Examples of repertoire:

Date     Conductor   Organist     Title

24 June     Guy     Guy/Comtemp.     There is a Longing (V1 & Ch. Choir only)

                After service Eric Sidoti taking rehearsal

1 July     Eric     Nigel        Prayer of St Richard – White

8 July     Guy     ?        If Ye Love Me: Wilby Communion

                “Declare His glory” – with Tony Payne

15 July     Eric     Eleanor        Lead me, Lord – SS Wesley   

22 July     Eric     Nigel        My Shepherd is Lord – Oxley   

29 July     TBA     Eleanor        Rejoice in the Lord – Purcell

5 Aug     Eric     Eleanor        May the Road Rise - David Hamilton

12 Aug     Eric     Eleanor        Ave verum – Elgar Communion

16 August 7.15PM - (a) I have Longed for thy Saving Health – Byrd (b) There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy – Douglas Wagner, and two from the Lessons & Carols programme: Stanford Magnificat in G , and Tavener: The Lamb ]

19 Aug     TBA     Eleanor       TBA

26 Aug     TBA     Eleanor       There’s a Wideness

2 September     Guy     Eleanor       All Age Service ...

9 September     Guy     Eleanor       Ave Verum – Mozart Communion

16 September   Guy     Eleanor       Lord for thy tender mercy’s – Hilton

23 September   Guy     Eleanor       I have longed for Thy – Byrd

30 September   Guy     Eleanor       On Eagle’s Wings (Arr.) – Joncas

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