The St Mary's Cathedral Choir is the oldest musical institution in Australia. In 1818 a group of choristers was formed to sing Vespers before the Blessed Sacrament in the Dempsey Household, the centre of Roman Catholic worship in Sydney as a penal colony. When St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney was constructed, the successors of these choristers formed the Permanent Cathedral Choir under the guidance of Catherine Fitzpatrick.
Now over 192 years old, the Choir is formed of approximately forty choristers and sings at High Mass every Sunday and on special holy days, and has gone on many tours and concerts, and sometimes singing with the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra (2003, 2005).
Contents |
Pre-dating the Cathedral's foundation in 1833 and led initially by a woman, the choir began as a mixed group of singers (male and female) as was the custom of the 19th century. The repertoire, both before and under John Albert Delaney(Choirmaster largely between 1872 and 1907) and then continuously prior to 1955, favoured Gregorian chant, polyphony and the classical masses and operatic style sacred works popular in the 19th century. Under Benedictine episcopal leadership and then diocesan episcopal leadership the choir was variously mixed or single sex.
In 1955, the mixed choir of men and women was reformed under Fr Ron Harden into a choir of boys and men and incorporating a choir school. Since 1955, consistent to the Benedictine English tradition from which the Cathedral's founders came, the choir has been a liturgical choir for male voices, boy trebles and adult men, thus finally confirming to the motu proprio of Pope St Pius X aimed at restoring the tradition of Catholic liturgical and musical heritage. The musical heritage of Gregorian chant and polyphonic masses including composers typified by Palaestrina and Victoria was prioritised in the reformed choir. Fr Ron Harden's successor as Director was Fr John De Luca.
Under the direction of the successor of Fr John De Luca, David Russell (1976-2009), the choir undertook three international concert tours, two to Europe and one to the United States.
The Choir is currently conducted by Thomas Wilson (Director of Music) with Oliver Brett (Principal Organist). The Choir is involved in the Cathedral's life of prayer and worship. New choristers (who usually join as boy sopranos in Grade 5) learn not only about music, but also about the Catholic faith, history and culture.
The Choir continues to perform works by Palestrina, Victoria and other well-known composers from times past and the present.
As part of the Cathedral, the Choir has its own Coat of Arms. This crest appears on the medals worn by head-boys, corner-boys (assistant head-boys) and others with a special role. The crest is divided into two equal parts, both with much symbolism. In colour it is blue (the colour of St. Mary), crimson and white (the choir colours), and gold (colour for feasts of the Lord).
The left panel bears the arms of the Cathedral itself. The cross, symbol of Christian faith in the redemption, is mounted on the crescent moon, symbol of the Blessed Virgin, the Patroness of the Cathedral. Christian tradition represents her as the Fair Moon, preceding the rise of Christ, the Sun of Justice.
The right panel displays a musical stave of Gregorian chant, imposed upon an archbishop's cross. The stave bears the first notes of the famous Gregorian hymn to the Virgin "Alma Redemptoris Mater" (Hail, thou Mother of the Redeemer). It is a reminder both of their musical vocation and of the Cathedral's special consecration to the virgin Mary. The archiepiscopal cross with its double cross-bar belongs exclusively to archbishops, and may be carried before them in procession. It is the sign that the Cathedral is the personal seat of the Archbishop, the centre of unity in the diocese.
| Year | Headboy(left) | Headboy (right) | Cornerboys |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Tim Bowen | Richard Banzon | Roberto Keryakos, Jacob Ryan, Marcus Whale, Joseph Kennedy |
| 2003 | Joseph Kennedy | Roberto Keryakos | William Marshall, Michael Butterfield, Guy Tesoriero, James Overton |
| 2004 | James Overton | Christopher Masson | William Dawes, Taylor Gramoski, Tom Kennedy, Jacob McInnes |
| 2005 | Tom Kennedy | William Marshall | Robert Bamford, Peter Roehrig, Ben Taylor |
| 2006 | Ben Taylor | William Dawes | Francis Ratnakumar, Clarence Ratnakumar, Michael Arney, Max Rafferty |
| 2007 | Michael Arney | Max Rafferty | Joe Bourke, Joshua Taylor, Yohanes Santoso Oei, Clarence Ratnakumar |
| 2008 | Joe Bourke | Joshua Taylor | Jack Chandler, Eddie Medrano, Christopher Arney, Harrison Lowrencev |
| 2009 | Jack Chandler | Eddie Medrano | Brian Endravian, Christopher Wong, Patrick Vasquez, Ethan Taylor |
| 2010 | Ethan Taylor | Christopher Wong | (Deputy Headchoristers) - Brian Endravian, Jeremy Lowrencev |