Latest News and Events of The Rudgate Singers
Home | About us | Comments | Music | Venues | Churches | Latest News | Links | Calendar

Latest News and Events updated 4th January, 2021.


Our next Major Service will be 

Announced here.
All being well, this will be our 25th Anniversary Service!



Compline by candlelight will resume most weekends at 9pm. 
Friday or Saturday. when it is safe to do so.

Vespers, Evensong (DW) and Typika occasionally. 

(Please check the calendar for details) 

Venue: St. Mary's Church, Bishophill Junior, York.

All welcome! 

* * VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED * * *

We are looking for singers of all voices, (SATB), particularly Sopranos & Tenors to come and join us. It doesn't matter where you're from, or whether you belong to any religious denomination or none, because we sing anywhere, and in any church - within reason! The closer you are to Yorkshire & North East England, the better though, as this region is where most of our events take place. All singers will be made very welcome!

For further information, please click here! 

Like most choirs, our schedule was devastated in 2020 by the Covid-19 pandemic. We managed a Missa Cantata in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite on 22nd February, and haven't done anything since. The advantage we have, if you can call it that, is by virtue of being an ad-hoc choir, we will be ready to go as soon as it is deemed safe to do so!

We have plans for our 25th Anniversary this year, and hope to fulfil them. :-)

At Barnard Castle in 2013, we were the first choir ever (we think!) to perform Pearsall's setting of the Requiem Mass liturgically. In 2011, in addition to our 15th anniversary celebrations, we took part in what is believed to be the first Catholic Sung Mass celebrated at the High Altar of York Minster since the reign of Queen Mary Tudor - some 450+ years ago!  

In 2008 we were delighted to perform for the first time in Europe, a Mass by the very talented young American composer Jeff Ostrowski. This has attracted considerable interest, and we hope to perform other similar pieces in their correct liturgical setting. We are already in contact with some composers with a view to singing their works.

It's a matter of when we can fit them into our schedule!

A few of us now sing regular services [usually from The Divine Office] in York City Centre at St Mary's Church, Bishophill Junior, York where we have been made to feel so welcome. We sing Latin-Rite Compline (by candlelight) and Vespers there on a regular basis. These are usually Gregorian Chant only, but we also sing (when numbers permit) a full choral service with polyphony.

This can be either Latin or Byzantine Rite!

St Mary's is also the venue for our Traditional Carol Service. 

In addition to this, some of us sing for other churches and cathedrals throughout the North of England.

Please refer to our Calendar for regular updates.



* * * INVITATIONS TO SING * * *

We receive invitations to sing in venues all over the North of England. In 2012, our Schola received an invitation from a parish in the Austrian Tyrol to go and sing there. We had a wonderful time! In 2015 Members of the Schola visited Germany, and Co. Wicklow in Ireland.

We hope to take up more offers like this from abroad - and with the full choir too... Any suggestions for possible future venues for us to sing? Just email Mike Forbester(mike4b1_at_gmail.com. As soon as dates & venues are confirmed, you will see them here!






Contact
Mike Forbester (email: mike4b1_at_gmail.com) for more information or
Please fill in the form below for all your enquiries regarding
The Rudgate Singers and the Schola Cantorum

Comments or Suggestions
Your name:
Email address: *
Website/URL:
Postal Address:
Your Comments: *