The Swiss Church London Choir has recently been formed to enhance worship during services with choral singing of an even higher standard than is already being performed. Music will take its place alongside the church’s important visual arts programme with active encouragement of community participation. The choir usually sings an introit and anthem on the first Sunday of the month with two full mass settings a year: a Requiem mass in November for the Commemoration service and another mass in the spring or summer. Mozart’s Coronation Mass in C is planned for the 2nd of June 2024. The church has been very fortunate in its partnership with the excellent High Holborn Chamber Choir for the last few years and this will continue alongside its own choir. Choral music in 2023/2024 has included Fauré’s Requiem, O magnum mysterium by Victoria, In the bleak midwinter by Harold Darke, Es ist ein Ros entsprungen by Praetorius, The nativity carol by John Rutter and Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit by Bach. See our music list
Joining the choir
The choir is very friendly and is mainly made up of young professionals but singers of all ages (over 18 years old) and backgrounds are very welcome. The main qualities we are looking for are an enthusiasm for singing, a pleasant voice that blends, ability to read music, to sing in tune and to be part of a team. Basic sight-reading skills or the willingness to practise your part outside of rehearsals would be very helpful. Rehearsals are usually on the two Thursdays before a service from 6.30pm to 7.00pm with some extra rehearsals on other evenings of the week when necessary.
If you are interested in joining the choir please contact our choir director Yang Ooi (see below) by emailing: choirdirector@swisschurchlondon.org.uk
THE MUSIC TEAM
Peter Yardley-Jones, Organist and Director of Music
Peter Yardley-Jones FRSA BMus(Hons), is a first-class honours graduate in music from the University of Glasgow. From 2006-2008 he was University Organ Scholar and in 2008 he was appointed Assistant Organist at St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, Glasgow and Organist at Houston & Killellan Kirk. During his time in Glasgow, Peter studied organ with Kevin Bowyer and renowned Bach scholar, Prof. John Butt OBE. Widely respected as a performer, Peter was awarded the Muriel Thorne Hague Memorial Prize, by his University for achieving the greatest distinction in performance and in 2005 won first prize in the nationwide Geoffrey Spiers Organ Competition.
As a recitalist he has performed at many UK Cathedrals and Concert Halls and has performed on many solo USA tours. In addition Peter has been organist for several BBC Radio 2 and Radio 4 broadcasts and for BBC Television’s Songs of Praise.
Outside of his music profession, he works in online advertising and is also a licensed flying instructor for aeroplanes.
Yang Ooi, Choir Director
Yang has been conducting the choir at the Swiss Church in London since December 2022. He is also Music Director of Southwark Chamber Choir and conductor of the Staff Choir at the Godolphin and Latymer School. He founded The Tiger Vocal Quartet in 2022 which has performed popular operatic ensemble pieces in various locations in London. He was Choir Director at St John the Evangelist Church in Charlton, Worcestershire and a bass lay-clerk at Tewkesbury Abbey previously. Yang is also a bass-baritone soloist and has taken the solo parts in Orff’s Carmina Burana, Bach’s Magnificat, Fauré’s Requiem, Dvořák’s Stabat Mater, Mozart’s Coronation Mass and Bach’s St John Passion as Jesus and Pilate among others.
Contact
Director of Music: pyj@swisschurchlondon.org.uk
Choir Director: choirdirector@swisschurchlondon.org.uk
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