with Michael Capon, the Cathedral's Organist and Choirmaster and Mary Rector, Music and Choir Director, St. Mark's Waterville

Twenty-five singers from the Adult Choir and Choir of Young Voices plus Organist Alan Wingard and Music Director/ Director of Choirs Mary Rector returned September 26th, 2004 from a full and joyful weekend of fellowship and music making to the glory of God at Christ Church Cathedral, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada. This visit was the second part of an exchange with Christ Church Cathedral; their Adult Choir with Music Director Michael Capon and Organist Paul Murray visiting St. Mark's a year ago almost to the date.

For the visit to New Brunswick, the St. Mark's choirs prepared the music for a uniquely scheduled Evensong Saturday afternoon, September 25th at 4 p.m. The music included processional organ voluntaries by Torres and Perrin, two hymns, responses by Gerald Neary and the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis in F by Harold Friedell as well as Freidell's well known anthem "Bind Us in the Spirit's Tether." The congregation numbered about seventy-five, including members of parish, community, Cathedral choir, and members of the St. Mark's family including parents, spouses, and "groupies" - members of the St. Mark's parish who like to travel and came to Canada to hear this weekend's music.

On Sunday morning, the congregation was large and the choir stalls were overflowing: the combined choirs, numbering 60, sang the major 10 a.m. service. Music for the Sunday service included the Missa Sancta da Maria Magdelena by Healy Willan, Mozart's Ave Verum (conducted by Mary Rector), Handel's "Hallelujah, Amen" (conducted by Michael Capon) and numerous hymns and descants. Three organists supported the choirs and congregation during the service. What wondrous sounds were raised to the glory of God!

Tidbits: The choirs were intermingled for the Sunday service,
encouraging blending of sounds and people...... The Cathedral choir hosted a welcome reception on Saturday afternoon, a formal dinner on Saturday night, and coffee hour on Sunday after the service...... An hour long tour of the Cathedral by Verger Hank Williams on Saturday morning included historical and architectural information, ancient and awesome artifacts brought from the vault, and wonderful stories...... The CYV putting the hotel swimming pool to good use often.....The art museum had a terrific collection.....Restaurants were plentiful and easy on the wallets......Do you know how long it takes to line up 60 singers for a processional so that the two choirs are intermingled? ...Everything was in walking distance of the cathedral and the hotel...The weather couldn't have been better......Everyone on the trip, from age 9 to 70-something found experiences that they will remember for quite some time.

Kudos to Alan Wingard for dreaming up this adventure years ago, Cindy Jacobs (St. Mark's) and Jack Walsworth (Christ Church Cathedral) for their terrific tour planning and follow through, and to Michael Capon (Christ Church Cathedral) and Mary Rector (St. Mark's) for their music leadership.

For those not able to be in Fredericton, the combined St. Mark's choirs will present Evensong at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 60 Eustis Parkway, Waterville, on Sunday, October 24, 2004 at 5 p.m. presenting the same music as was presented at Christ Church Cathedral. Evensong is open to the public and lasts about an hour.

The Cathedral Choir: The Adult Choir is one of the oldest groups at the Cathedral. In fact, its first director was none other than the Cathedral's first Bishop, John Medley, who was a talented amateur musician. Today, the choir is comprised of approximately 40 choristers ranging in age from 17 to 81. The Choir's repertoire ranges from traditional Anglican music to more contemporary composers and styles.