The Parish Choir of St Thomas.
Copyright © 2004 JCM Studios, Brentwood
The PARISH CHOIR, directed by David Rooke, is a member of the St Nicolas Guild of RSCM-affiliated choirs. Comprising 17 boys, 14 men, 3 deputy men and 8 student members who sing when home from university, the choir sings at the Sung Mass and Choral Evensong on Sundays from a large and varied repertoire, performing a mass or canticle setting and a motet or anthem at each service.
Members attend RSCM events and courses and participate in the RSCM Bronze and Silver and Bishops' Chorister Senior Award schemes. Seven are holders of the prestigious Saint Nicolas Junior Award (now known as the RSCM Gold Award).
Rehearsals are held on Wednesday evenings, and the choristers also practise at 9.00am on Sundays, prior to the Sung Mass.
The choir has sung services in 18 different cathedrals (including a Mass in Westminster Roman Catholic Cathedral) and has appeared on the BBC World Service and on BBC1, GMTV and ITV. Members have also taken part in the Festival of Remembrance in the Royal Albert Hall and on BBC Songs of Praise. In 2005, the choir sang Evensong in Brentwood and Rochester Cathedrals. In 2006, the choir sang in Peterborough Cathedral, St Mary's Bocking for the Bocking Festival, All Saints Stock Harvard, St Alban's Abbey and Brentwood Cathedral.
In 2007, the choir sang Evensong in Southwark Cathedral and St Edmundsbury Cathedral.
In 2008, visits are planned to sing in St Barnabas, Tunbridge Wells, All Saints Stock Harvard, and Guildford Cathedral.
The choir has made three recordings and also receives invitations to sing Evensong and for weddings in parish churches in the diocese.
The choristers receive a free musical education through the operation of 'VOICE FOR LIFE', the RSCM Chorister Training Scheme. New members from the age of seven are always welcome.
