The Choir of St James’ Rays of Light

The Choir of St James’ directed by Warren Trevelyan‐Jones presents Rays of Light, a stunning programme of luminescent music 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, McDowell, Dove, Rutter, Chilcott, and Whitacre.

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

As the arts world emerges from restrictions of the pandemic, The Choir of St James’ looks forward to returning to its busy schedule of concerts, broadcasts, and tours.

The Choir of St James’ is reputedly one of the finest choirs in Australia and one of its oldest musical establishments, linked to the earliest days of the colony of New South Wales. Some of its early members were convicts. The choir’s schedul includes regular weekly choral services, Sunday Cantata Services, Orchestral Masses, and its own subscription concert series. Its repertoire is large and varied, 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.