Rays of Light 2022

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The Choir of St James' presents stunning programme of musical light, featuring the mass setting by Renaissance Portuguese composer, Filipe de Magalhães, Missa O Soberana Luz ('O Sovereign Light'), among other fine choral works by Tallis, White, Elgar, McDowall, Dove, Rutter, Chilcott, and Whitacre.

Organist, Alistair Nelson, will also perform Dubois' Fiat Lux, and this will be the last choir concert at St James' to feature the current pipe organ at St James' before it is dismantled in December to make way for the new Dobson Pipe Organ.

The Choir of St James', directed by Warren Trevelyan-Jones, enjoys a reputation of being one of the finest choirs in Australia. It is one of the oldest musical establishments in Australia and is linked to the earliest days of the colony of New South Wales; some of its early members were convicts. The Choir maintains a schedule of regular weekly choral services, Sunday Cantata Services, Orchestral Masses, and its own Subscription Concert Series. It has a large and varied repertoire encompassing music from the Middle Ages to the contemporary, and it is committed to supporting new Australian works, including compositions written by past and present members of the Choir. Past collaborations include working with Paul McCreesh and the Gabrieli Consort & Players, The Tallis Scholars, The King's Singers, Opera Australia, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Australian Baroque Brass, The Australian Haydn Ensemble, and soloists Yvonne Kenny, Greta Bradman and Teddy Tahu Rhodes.

The Choir also undertakes a comprehensive programme of recording, broadcasting and touring, interstate and overseas. In 2018, it returned to Gallipoli and sang at the ANZAC Day Dawn Service, as well as performing to critical acclaim at the Coriole Music Festival in Adelaide, and in Hobart at Festival of Voices.

As the Arts world emerges from restrictions imposed by the pandemic, The Choir of St James' looks forward to returning to its busy pre-pandemic schedule of concerts, broadcasts, and tours.