NEWS

Friday 20th January - New Girls Choir
Our girls choir will make its debut at our confirmation service on Sunday 5th February at 10.00am. The girls will sing alongside the boys and men and will thereafter take a prominent role in the music and worship at St Thomas'. Do come along if you are able, and lend your support to this exciting time in the choir's life. 

Saturday 14th January - Concert Series Launched
Our 2012 series of concerts, recitals and other live music events was recently launched. Take a sneak preview on the concerts/events page - the printed brochure will be available for download shortly. 

Tuesday 3rd January - Epiphany Choral Evensong
After a very successful Christmas, the choir returns on Sunday 8th January at 6.30pm. Our Epiphany Evensong includes music by Vulpius and Mendelssohn - do join us if you are able. 

Sunday 4th December - Don't Miss Carols by Candlelight
Don't miss our wonderful annual candlelit celebration of lessons and carols, sung by St Thomas' Choir. It's on Sunday 18th December at 6.30pm and includes music by Sheppard, Joubert, Poulenc, Darke, and Tavener. A perfect union of old and new, traditional favourites and modern carols, that is sure to delight and entertain during this Yuletide season.

Wednesday 12th October - Forthcoming Choral Services
St Thomas' Church is delighted to have been asked to host this year's Annual Service for Birmingham Organists' Association. St Thomas' Choir will sing a special Choral Eucharist at 7.30pm on Monday 21st November. And don't forget to put Sunday 18th December in your diary: our ever-popular 'Nine Lessons and Carols' by candlelight will take place at 6.30pm on that day. Further details for both events are on the concerts/events page.

Thursday 21st September - Church re-opening
St Thomas' Church has been closed over the summer months to faciliate the final phase of the major church restoration project. The newly refurbished Georgian plasterwork ceiling will be on view for the first time on Saturday 1st October when Paul Carr, Organist of St Paul's, Birmingham gives our lunchtime recital at 1.00pm. Do come along to hear the music and admire the building! Details on our concerts/events page.

Friday 16th September - Website Launch
To reflect the launch of our new girls choir, our newly redesigned website was launched today. There is now much more information about the choir and how to join us. An extended members' section also includes the choir schedule for the first part of the term, and parents are encouraged to make use of this resource.

Friday 16th September - Organ Scholarship
We are delighted to formally announce that Oliver Parry has been appointed Organ Scholar at St Thomas' from September 2011. Ollie has grown up through the choir, first as a treble, latterly as a bass. This marks a return to the 'home grown' organ scholars of past years, such as Chris Totney and Peter Holder. Ollie is presently studying at Old Swinford Hospital School, Stourbridge, and receives organ lessons from Jon Payne. We very much look forward to Ollie's development as an accompanist and choir director in the months to come. The organ scholarship is a very important part of our work, and provides young organists with a solid grounding in parish church music: many of our former organ scholars have gone on to achieve success in cathedral and public school posts. 

Tuesday 13th September - Launch of Girls Choir
Though the present choir of boys and men has existed for over 40 years, there has not - until now - been an opportunity for girls to benefit from the fantastic singing opportunities we offer. This September, Jon Payne and Matt Rose will be recruiting extensively for a new girls' choir, which will have its own identity and workshop/rehearsal/performance routine. We anticipate bringing together the boys, girls and adults for major performances and look forward to welcoming our founder girls choir members soon!

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