“Music has always played a major part in the life of St. Mary’s through regular concerts, recitals and in the Sunday services. For well over a century the church has maintained a strong choral tradition. There are currently two choirs: the St Mary's Choir, a traditional Robed Choir consisting of boy and girl choristers and a "back row" of Altos, Tenors and Basses, many of whom were formerly Treble
s in the choir; there is also the St Mary's Singers, an SATB choir of adult lady and gentlemen singers. The Robed Choir, as well as singing for the services of the church, undertakes singing holidays deputising for established Cathedral Choirs during their summer vacations. For many years they had a choral exchange with the Eschersheim Youth Choir in Frankfurt-am-Main, Germany. In February 2000 and again in February 2004 the choir undertook a singing tour to Atlanta, Georgia, USA. During August 2006, they were Choir in Residence at Washington National Cathedral, USA. Residencies have included Ripon Cathedral (2009), Portsmouth Cathedral (2008), St Asaph's Cathedral in Wales, Sherborne Abbey, Salisbury Cathedral and Romsey Abbey (2010), St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin (2011), St David's Cathedral in Wales (2012), Norwich Cathedral (2013) and Christchurch Priory (2014). They also sing occasional services on Saturdays during the year, including at Birmingham Cathedral, Hereford Cathedral, Bath Abbey, Gloucester Cathedral and Derby Cathedral. The St Mary's Singers has shared tours with the Robed Choir in Atlanta and the last few exchanges in Frankfurt, but also have undertaken their own short breaks in Frankfurt and Prague. In 2013 they began an annual visit to the Costa del Sol including singing at Malaga Cathedral and leading workshops for local singers. They have sung occasional services at Birmingham Cathedral and elsewhere. They sing for the opening and closing services of the 3D Course for the Birmingham Diocese at Birmingham Cathedral. Both choirs join together for concerts and for the major festivals of the church year. Both choirs have an active social life and new members are always welcome to join the fun! The church has a series of bi-monthly “Morning Coffee Concerts” on the last Saturday of the month beginning at 11.00am. Evening concerts are regularly presented by visiting groups. Open workshops for all comers are held on the afternoons of Remembrance Sunday and Palm Sunday leading to inclusion in evening service of a major work. Recently these have included the Requiems of Duruflé and Fauré, Jenkins’ Armed Man Mass, Mendelssohn’s Lauda Sion and Stainer’s Crucifixion.”
