Saint Philip’s in the Hills is delighted that the Saint Nicholas Choir and the Schola Cantorum have been invited to be the Visiting Choir at Wells Cathedral in England this July 11-17th. This is an exciting honor for the choristers; the invitation was based on the last two successful choral residencies at Ely Cathedral (2019) and at Worcester Cathedral (2016). Saint Philip’s will hold a special Choral Evensong as the choristers prepare for their departure on July 8.

You are invited to join us for the service at 5:30 pm on Wednesday, July 6. In addition, the choir will sing for our Sunday Eucharist on July 3 at 10 am. As you read this, the choir is in the midst of intensive preparation for their trip, affectionately called choir “boot-camp” as the children spend approximately six hours a day singing this week and next! The adults join them in the evening following a shared supper. Choral residency is a musical pilgrimage of sorts that offers remarkable formational value for the parish youths.

In the course of a residency, the choristers will sing eight full choral liturgies in one of the very places where the Anglican choral tradition developed and still thrives. The choristers can experience how their work in Tucson, Arizona is connected to that of Christians on the other side of the world. Singing music the choristers love in situ can have a powerful integrative effect on these budding worshipers, cementing their relationship to the Church for years to come.

The choir is under the direction of Dr. Justin Appel, and the principal organist is Dr. Jeffrey Campbell.