St. Peter's choir sing at two of the three Sunday services - 10.00am Parish Communion and 6.30pm Evensong - and also at weddings. Weekly rehearsals take place on Wednesdays at 5.00pm and on Fridays at 6.15pm.

The choir consists of 15 Trebles, 7 Sopranos, 5 Altos, 4 Tenors and 4 Basses. It is always on the lookout for new members to join the team (previous choral experience is not necessary). Treble Choristers needed. Boys and Girls 7+ will be most welcome.

Head Chorister is Jacob Werrin and Suzannah Molloy is deputy.

WORDS OF PRAISE FOR OUR SONGSTERS

Singing is a talent that can be enjoyed throughout life anytime, anywhere, and it is wonderful to see our choristers at St. Peter's developing and demonstrating this talent week after week. Following their uplifting performances over the Easter period last year, five of the senior songsters - Suzannah Molloy, Devaney Werrin, Sophie Wilkins, James Chitham-Mosley and Jacob Werrin - attended a residential Young People's Course run by the RSCM (Royal School of Church Music), to which the choir is affiliated. It was held at Sneaton Castle Centre, Whitby, run by Gordon Appleton, Director of the RSCM Northern Cathedral Singers. The course was designed to develop individual voices within the context of learning choral music for daily services and ended with a performance of various ancient and modem psalm settings.

Our choristers were singled out for high praise of their individual vocal skills by the organisers. Indeed, the girls have been invited to attend the RSCM Cathedral training course (girls and adults only) at Edinburgh in the summer. This prestigious course is only available by audition so congratulations to Suzannah, Devaney and Sophie.

It was commented by those running the course that St. Peter's is a fortunate church to have so many musically talented youngsters in a choir. I echo that wholeheartedly and would like to add that it is a pleasure to sing alongside these young people who devote so much of their time and energies to attending rehearsals and enhancing our worship on a regular basis.

VOICE for LIFE
On Sunday 12th October 2009, Rosie Purvis was awarded her light blue ribbon during the morning service. As the congregation enthusiastically congratulated her, we wondered how many of them had any idea what the choristers had to do to receive their medals.

The Voice for Life scheme is published by the Royal School of Church Music. It teaches choristers about the music they sing, the Church's year, good vocal Technique, music theory and how to be a reliable and enthusiastic member of a team. It is quite demanding for the younger choristers to learn a new style of music, unusual vocabulary, new rules and customs and they need plenty of encouragement, patience and support.

Light blue, dark blue then red medals all require completion of a workbook and singing tests. This is taught during Friday practice. Sometimes during communion, the anthem will contain a solo which has been specifically chosen for their medal test. As they work through the medal scheme the choristers become confident and competent singers who go on to take higher awards. These are examined externally.

Not only do these choristers enhance the worship of God during services on Sundays and weddings on Saturdays but they also give hours of their time to rehearsals. We are extremely fortunate to have these young people contributing to the musical life of the church and in nurturing their talents, we hope they will not only enjoy singing now but also will be able to use the skills they have learnt to sing in choirs in the future wherever they may be.

Although the younger choristers do get some choir pay, the lasting reward for them is a musical education, an opportunity to contribute to the service and to feel they are a valued member of the church. Many thanks to those of you who listen attentively to the choir and take the time to congratulate the choristers on their achievement.

St. Peter's Church, Harborne