Music at Sunday Services

The 9.00am Singers

The 9.00am singers are an enthusiastic, friendly group who regularly get together to support music for the 9.00am church service with the exception of second Sunday. We are also members of the church choir and join them for the 10.00am service on the first Sunday of each month.

At present we do not have regular choir practices except for the first Sunday service and then we usually join with the choir to practise before for a short time. We also take part in special services of worship such as Nine Lessons and Carols; there are practices on Friday evenings to prepare for this.

Choir vacancies – we are always looking for new members and will welcome you warmly.

• Dress – smart casual

• Age – from 10 upwards

• Qualifications - ability to sing and enthusiasm to learn new hymns

If you are interested in joining our numbers please come to talk to us at the end of the service. We look forward to meeting you, don’t be shy.

The 10.30am Church Choir

We are a traditional four-part robed Choir, affiliated to the Royal School of Church Music since 1955. However, please don’t be misled into thinking that makes us a bunch of stuffy fuddy-duddies! We enjoy a “good sing”, enjoying good choral music from all periods whether ancient or modern, and enjoy a “good laugh” too. Singers of all ages are welcome to join us.

You will find us leading the congregation at the weekly 10.30am Sung Eucharist; at the various festivals and special services through the year; and at Sung Evensong. This much-loved service is the last surviving sung service at this church using the beautiful language of the Book of Common Prayer. It takes place currently on the first Sunday of the month – but watch the notices for when a “special” has been substituted!

For 10.00am combined Parish Eucharists, we are joined by singers from the 9.00am Service, and by those who do not feel able to commit themselves to a more frequent participation - the larger group singing unrobed as the St Andrew’s Singers. We warmly welcome new voices, particularly younger people (from around 8 years old and reasonably fluent readers). Meet at 9.15am on the day for a practice, and/or on the previous Friday at 7.00pm if you can.

In addition we are available to sing at weddings and other special services, which are always a joy to take part in.

Our normal practice night is Friday at 7.00pm – ask an existing choir member to check the diary for forthcoming dates, and then come along. We’ll be pleased to see you!

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Rowena Calvert - cello

Eleanor Turner - harp

The Calvert Turner Duo gave its first performance in 2003 and has performed in numerous venues across the UK to public acclaim. In addition to their busy schedules both instrumentalists enjoy burgeoning careers as soloists. Harpist Eleanor gave her concert debut aged 15 with the Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London and has a glittering number of awards to her name. Rowena, also an impressive award winner, studied at the Royal Northern College of Music and has received masterclasses from, amongst others, Rostropovich and Isserlis. Their debut CD, El Pano Moruno, has been released to critical acclaim.

‘The Calvert Turner Cello and Harp Duo brought unlimited energy and virtuosity.’

Herts Essex News

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St Andrew’s welcomes a popular veteran of the Bedford musical establishment, the Bedford Town Band, which has been in existence for 114 years. The Band is an organisation which consists of four different ensembles catering for a range of different abilities of player aged from 10 - 81. Tonight’s band is proud to be in in the First Section of the National Brass Band grading scheme. Bedford Town Band has a long record of contributing to the local community through its many performances and has represented Bedford playing around the country and abroad including in Bedford’s twin town of Bamberg.

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The Armed Man - Karl Jenkins

Conductor - Ian Smith

Following the format of our previous five Bring and Sings, you are invited to rehearse at 2.30pm before performing in the evening. Dress for the concert is preferably black and white. Tea at £2.00 is available after the rehearsal.

The Armed Man has already become a huge favourite with choirs and audiences. We are sure that many will want the opportunity to sing this again or for the very first time. This is a concert that audiences will enjoy. The spectacle will be enhanced by the use of percussion to augment the performance. So come and enjoy the experience.

Fusion Choir

Director Caroline Muzolf

Fusion is a vibrant youth singing group based at All Saints Church, Queen’s Park, Bedford. They received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2008 and performed for HRH The Prince of Wales during his visit to Bedford in 2006. They will perform in the first half of the concert.

Pre-concert talk by Roger Wright at 7.00pm - Controller of BBC Radio 3 and Director of BBC Proms

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Sir Thomas Allen is an established star of the great Opera Houses of the world. Equally renowned on the concert platform, he appears in recital in the United Kingdom, throughout Europe, in Australia and America, and has performed with the world's great orchestras and conductors. Recognised as much for his acting ability as for his fine singing, Thomas Allen brings a strong sense of style and character to all types of music. His broad repertoire includes works by Monteverdi, Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Britten's Billy Budd and Janacek's The Cunning Little Vixen. We are indeed thrilled to have Sir Thomas join us, with Joseph Middleton on piano, to enhance our Patronal Festival celebrations.

The pre-concert dinner is sold out