Information current as at MARCH 2014

Choir's Email Address: pnicholls@stpaulscathedral.org.au

Choir's Website: www.stpaulscathedral.org.au/music/choir

Vision statement / Artistic goals: To enrich the worship of the St Paul's Cathedral congregation and its many visitors; the Choir has become an accomplished exponent of the English choral tradition

Voice type: All Male Singers

Choir performs: Both unaccompanied & accompanied

Year Choir formed: 1888

No. of Singing Members - Currently: 25 boys, 20 men Desired: 25 boys, 20 men

Musical Repertoire: The Choir's repertoire is large and varied, ranging from the 13th Century through Tallis, Gibbons, Byrd, Purcell, Bach, Mozart, Haydn, Handel, Stanford, Elgar, Sumsion, Rutter, to works written or arranged by contemporary composers

Musical Director: Philip Nicholls

No. of years in current post: since 2013

Previous musical experience: Philip was a chorister and Head Chorister at Christ Church Brunswick under Paul Harvie and Terry Norman, a principal and children’s chorus member of the then Australian Opera and Victoria State Opera, a Senior Choral Scholar under John Kirkham and Martin Rutherford at Melbourne Grammar School; Philip began undergraduate studies at the University of Melbourne, working with secular choirs, most notably Melbourne Voices (directed by his brother, Richard Nicholls) and the National Youth Choir of Australia; he made his conducting début with the Choir of Trinity College aged 14; in 1996 Philip won a choral scholarship to the College, and was appointed Assistant Director of Music (under Michael Fulcher, and later Michael Leighton Jones) and Music Tutor later that year; Philip was Director of Music at Christ Church South Yarra from 2001-2012, a member of the Chaplaincy and Music staff at Trinity College since 2007, and General Editor of the Australian Hymn Book Company since 2006; Philip studied conducting with the late Robert Rosen, firstly as part of his undergraduate studies, and privately afterwards; he has participated in masterclasses with choral pedagogues and conductors Stefan Parkman, Margaret Pride, Bob Chilcott and Weston Noble in Australia, and Geoff Weaver, David Willcocks, John Rutter and David Hill in England; recordings of Philip directing the Choir of Trinity College singing works by Josquin, Stanford and Arthur Wills are released on the Cherubic and ABC Classics labels; his musicological studies in liturgical music at the University of Melbourne culminated in a dissertation on the music of the Chapel of Trinity College between 1917 and 1957; Philip holds a graduate degree in Theology from MCD University of Divinity, and is currently engaged in postgraduate research on the liturgical music of inner-city Melbourne worshipping communities

Audition: Yes: Men - ability to read music and general attitude; Boys - musical ear, intelligence and general attitude

Minimum Attendance policy - Rehearsals: Yes Concerts: n/a

Membership Fees: none; Choral scholarships available for men; boys can receive scholarships to Trinity Grammar School

Ability to read music: Essential

Sight-reading ability: Essential

Av. No. of rehearsals/week: 2 for Men, each of half hour duration

Usual rehearsal night(s): Tuesday and Friday

Suburb: Melbourne CBD

Rehearsal venue: St Paul's Cathedral

Off-street parking: Yes

Performance Apparel: Cassock and surplice

Av. No. of Concert Programs/year: During school term, the Choir sings the 10.30am Choral Eucharist on Sundays and Sunday Choral Evensong, as well as Evensong during the week, on Tuesdays to Fridays; the Choir is involved in many major diocesan and civic services, including carol services at Advent and Christmas, as well as its Easter services

Av. No. of Performances/year: 300

Sample of the Choir's past Concert Venues: St Paul's Cathedral

Examples of musical pieces performed: The Crucifixion (Stainer, performed every Good Friday), Missa Brevis in D, G, B flat (Mozart), Requiem (Durufle), Masses in F and E (Rheinberger), numerous settings and anthems

Touring: No

Administration / Governance arrangements for the Choir: Precentor, Dean, Choir Director

Types of Committees: Choirboys' parents attend to social and fundraising matters

Own collection of music scores: Yes

Available for hire to other groups: No