St Matthew's choir is opening its doors to new members! On Tuesday 12, Friday 15 and Sunday 17 May prospective choristers aged between 8 and 14 are invited to come and find out what it is like to be a Chorister.

The choir is well known as being one of the best of its type in the country and continues a proud and distinguished musical tradition at the church which stretches back over 100 years. We offer equal opportunities for both boys and girls to gain choristerships, and current members of the choir come from all over the town and county. The choir is well

supported by the church community and this has been shown in exciting fundraising projects which help expand the activities of the choir beyond the weekly round of services.

St Matthew's choir rehearses twice weekly in term time and the Choristers rehearsal on Tuesday 12 May (5.15-6.45pm) will be open to new faces to come and learn new music, make new friends and spend time together with other children who love to sing. On Friday 15 May the regular rehearsal (6.30-8.15pm) will again be open, and there will be an opportunity for parents to meet current choir parents over a drink and enjoy a presentation about what the commitment is like as a member of the choir here. Finally, on Sunday 17 May the choir will rehearse (9.30am) and perform together with its new recruits at the Parish Mass (10.15am) before they are given the opportunity to consider long-term membership of the choir which can begin after Half Term or in the new academic year from September onwards.

St Matthew's Choir offers a wonderful opportunity to musically gifted children to work and perform together. Recently, the choir has performed at Leicester, Bristol and Peterborough Cathedrals and enjoyed week-long residencies at St Davids, Portsmouth and Carlisle Cathedrals with further trips to Exeter and Chester Cathedrals planned in the next two years. Over the last two years the choir has recorded two professionally produced CDs which have been released on national labels. The choristers are paid for their attendance at all services and rehearsals and are offered singing lessons from a professional tutor which are paid for by the church. Every adult that is involved with the choir is subject to an enhanced DBS disclosure.

Parents who are interested in the Week in the Life events are encouraged to contact St Matthew's Director of Music, Stephen Moore. Attendance at all three events may not be necessary, and those who are interested but who cannot commit to all three are still encouraged to get in touch.