St Mary’s Singers has grown to a group numbering over 40 regular singers, mainly from Wivenhoe, but with members also coming from Colchester and around the area.  The group has also grown in musical experience and in 2007 performed the Requiem and a Missa Brevis by Mozart and also the Gloria by Vivaldi.

We welcome any singers for all voice parts who may like to join us.  We would particularly encourage any tenors and basses who would like to come along.  Like most singing groups these days, men are in great demand for St Mary’s Singers and are particularly welcome.

For more information, contact Graham Wadley, Director of Music, Church of St Mary the Virgin, Wivenhoe on tel: 01206 824036 or by e-mail:  

The day ended with a performance of the Thieressenne Mass by Haydn by St Mary's Singers.  

The concert opened with a short anthem Panis Angelicus by Camille Saint Saens, to be followed by a superb offering of 'My soul there is a country' by Parry - sung by a small group of singers from the choir - the Wivenhoe 8? 

The main work showed the group's enjoyment of music by Haydn which has featured in their programmes over the last few years.  The spontaneous applause at the end after Don Nobis Pacem was an indication that the large audience had appreciated the work.  Extensive solo parts in the mass were sung by Hilary Cook, Lucy Wadley, Graham Bell and Jonathan Lowe.  Very sensitive accompaniment from the organ was again by Brian Swallow, and Graham Wadley directed the Singers.

SUMMER CANTICLES AT ST. MARY’S - 11th July, 2004

St. Mary’s Singers changed their formal black and white for summer colours at their concert in July; however they didn’t drop their usual standards and a good audience enjoyed a musical treat.

There were canticles for both morning and evening with a Jubilate by Mozart, a Te Deum by Haydn and a Magnificat by Vivaldi, together with an organ interlude.  The choir was directed by Graham Wadley and the soloists were Lucy Wadley, Hilary Brunning and Graham Bell.  The organist was Brian Swallow.

If the Haydn Te Deum is any indicator then we should look forward to St. Mary’s Singers’ performance of his Maria Theresa Mass in November.  Austin Baines

MOZART VESPERS for REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY - SUNDAY EVENING, 9TH NOVEMBER 2003

St Mary’s Singers achieved one of their most difficult challenges so far with a worthy performance of the Mozart Solemn Vespers (Vesperae solennes de confessore K339). This was written around 1780 when Mozart was serving as court organist to the Prince-Archbishop of Salzburg. 

Our group of regular soloists made major contributions to the music, particularly Hilary Brunning for the Laudate Dominum in the Vespers.  Other soloists were Lucy Wadley, David Wood, Graham Bell and Jonathan Lowe. 

There were other smaller pieces, also by Mozart, including the very attractive Kyrie from the Missa Brevis in B and the anthem 'Unto Thee O Lord do I lift up my soul’. The choir was directed by Graham Wadley.

Last minute panic set in as Brian Swallow, the regular accompanist who had planned to play for this event, was called to hospital for a major back operation just two weeks before the concert.  We were very pleased to have Nigel Brown from Cavendish who stood in for Brian at short notice and really supported the choir from the organ most effectively.

SUMMER MUSIC AT ST MARY'S - SUNDAY 6TH JULY 2003

St Mary’s Church was filled with grand choral music on this summer evening as St Mary’s Singers gave their offering of celebratory music from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. 

The evening opened with the Jubilate Deo by William Boyce.  The next two pieces had a ‘bell’ connection.  'Rejoice in the Lord alway' by Henry Purcell is known as the ‘Bell Anthem’ due to the bell effect during the organ introduction.  Brian Swallow then played the Prelude and Bell Allegro for Organ by John Stanley with  the fugue having a bell like effect.

The main work of the evening was the setting of the ‘Te Deum’ by Marc Antoine Charpentier.  The Te Deum is a long hymn of rejoicing – ‘We praise Thee O God’.  ‘The heavens are telling’  from The Creation by Haydn brought the evening to a joyous ending.  

St Mary's Singers were again accompanied by Brian Swallow and conducted by Graham Wadley.  The many solo parts were sung by Hilary Brunning, Lucy Wadley, David Wood, Graham Bell, Malcolm Lench and Jonathan Lowe.

 Maria Theresa Mass by Haydn.