Music at St James'

When St James’ Choir was first established, some of its members were probably convicts. Through subsequent eras, the choir has combined paid choristers, boys for St James’ parish school and introduced women singers. Whatever the components of the choir, it has combined with organists and musicians of the highest calibre in creating an enviable tradition of Anglican worship..

Today St James’ Choir consists of some of the finest choral singers in Australia, placing St James’ among the highest standards of music-making in any church in this country.

In recent years, the St James’ Choir has received critical acclaim for its performances in the Early Evening Concerts. The choir has performed music previously unheard live concerts in this country, such as “Vox Patris Coelestis” by William Mundy.

An association with the fine instrumental ensemble ‘Salut! Baroque’, has made possible an annual presentation of some of the Cantatas of J.S. Bach. These works are particularly suitable to the St James’ acoustics for which the church has become well known.

St James’ now attracts musicians of the highest calibre.

To consolidate this, we now look to the longer term that allows the musical life of the church to progress unhindred by financial constraints.

St James' as a Music Location

Making St James’ synonymous with the highest standards of choral music will be achieved in a number of ways, especially through:

  • involvement and support of all choral liturgies
  • regular concert performances
  • providing choral music in context with significant events, such as festivals, State occasions, services for the legal community, weddings, funerals and other public events.
  • maintaining connections with established instrumental organisations, such as Salut! Baroque Ensemble, The Australian Chamber Orchestra, the Brandenburg Orchestra and others.

Excellence in Music Performance

St James’ current organ, was originally installed in 1907 and so a new instrument is required for the greater ambitions of music at St James’. A newer instrument of exceptional quality and excitment will automatically capture musical interest and this will be enhanced by:

  • Weekly lunchtime recitals
  • celebrity concerts
  • fine liturgical playing at every service
  • interest from overseas recitalists
  • providing a platform for incumbent international recitalist, Alistair as well as visiting recitalists from home and abroad, to bring the highest standard of organ playing to Sydney
  • attract and inspire potential organ students and lovers of organ music
  • increase the awareness of the general public to the availability of fine music in the city
  • associates the quality of organ music with musical performance at St James’, a feature we are not able to emphasise with our current instrument.

Orchestral Masses

One of the great assets is a strong, resourced and professional musical component has been the opportunity to perform some classic music for the purpose and in the setting for which it was written. There have been a number of fabulous settings for the Liturgy which because of the complexity are rarely heard except as choral performances. The funding provided by the Foundation has enabled many of these to be used in the context of the Eucharistic celebration of the Parish Church which delivers an added layer of authenticity to the music, and something very special to parish worship.

Outside Performances

  • A stronger musical force at St James’ will expand opportunities to provide outside performances.
  • These will increase our musical audience and build relationships with other churches and venues on the Sydney music scene.