St John's Church Choir

Tours   New choir members Organist: David Salter     Choirmaster: Richard Darke St.John's has a long tradition of excellent singing to complement the worship on Sundays and feast days. The choir leads the singing of the hymns and canticles and performs motets during the eucharist. Once a month the choir sings choral evensong with settings of the canticles and an anthem. Around 25 enthusiastic youngsters form the 'top line' of the choir, both boys and girls, who rehearse on Monday and Friday evenings. The choirmaster, Richard Darke, aims to develop their musical skills as well as coaching them in a repertoire of choral music spanning six centuries. The choristers are in demand for carols at Christmas and sing at many weddings throughout the year. The altos, tenors and basses are volunteers from the Knaresborough area and they rehearse on Friday evening. On special occasions the choir is supplemented by the Bradford Choristers. Tours Several times each year choir travels to one of the English cathedrals to sing services and each year a tour is organised that often takes them abroad. Since 1988 the choir has visited: 1988 Howden Minster & Wakefield Cathedral 1989 Pembroke College - Cambridge, Ely, Sheffield and Wakefield Cathedrals 1990 Denmark : Herning Kirke - Randers, Norre Uttrup Kirke - Aalborg, Freises Kirke - Horsens and Johannes Kirke - Randers) 1991 York Minster, Worcester, Blackburn and Wakefield Cathedrals 1992 Liverpool and Coventry Cathedrals 1993 York and Southwell Minsters and Norwich Cathedral 1994 York Minster, Durham and Liverpool Cathedrals France: Notre Dame - Paris, Noyon and Chartres Cathedrals 1995 Chester and Carlisle Cathedrals, Selwyn College - Cambridge, Exeter Cathedral and York Minster 1996 Germany: Bebra - (Friedrichroda, Steinbach, Waltershausen and Weimar) and Newcastle Cathedral 1997 York Minster, Sheffield Cathedral, Hexham Abbey, Durham and Guildford Cathedrals 1998 10th Anniversary tour to Cambridge and Ely 1999 Selby Abbey, Bangor and St.Asaph's Cathedral 2000 Birmingham Cathedral (Planned) Ireland : St.Coleman's and St.FinBarre's Cathedrals - Cork, St.Fatchna's Cathedral - Rosscarberry (Planned) St.Paul's Cathedral - London New choir members Any one wishing to join the choir or engage the choir for an event should contact Richard Darke on: 0113 266 3348. The Parish Church of St John the Baptist