Beverley Minster is noted for its diverse and varied musical traditions. It has a boys choir, a girls choir and a mixed back row of all ages. In recent years the choir has recorded a CD, appeared on BBC TV and radio and performed in numerous concerts in addition to the usual services. The Minster also has a music group which leads the music at All Age and Worship Teaching and Ministry services. There are regular concerts including the Beverley Early Music Festival in May and a series of organ recitals in the spring/summer. The Minster also hosts visiting choirs out of choir term.
The Minster Organ
The Minster organ is an exciting fusion of 18th century Sneztler pipework, 19th century Hill, early 20th century Norman and Beard and late 20th century Wood of Huddersfield. Wood’s undertook a rebuild and refurbishment in the late 1990’s that included tonal adjustments and a new console. A full specification of the organ can be found by following the link below: http://beverleyminster.org.uk/worship/music/the-organ The Girls’ choir
The Minster started its Girls’ choir in September 2009 and currently has 15 members. It is jointly directed by the Director of Music and the Assistant Director of the Girls’ choir, Dr Rachel Poyser. They rehearse on Thursdays and sing on the 3rd Sunday of the month as well as for other special occasions.
The Boys’ choir
The fifteen choristers who make up our boys’ choir rehearse on Tuesdays and sing for Choral Evensong on Thursdays as well as services on Sundays (except the third Sunday). As with the girls, they are drawn from across the area, some travelling many miles to sing with the choir.
Altos, tenors and basses
The Minster choir currently has a thriving back row who sing Thursdays and Sundays and whose only rehearsal is after evensong on a Thursday. They are therefore used to turning round a large repertoire on little rehearsal. The choir encourages boys whose voices have changed to join the ‘back row’ and sing alongside the adults.
Music Timetable
The current music schedule is as follows:
Tuesday 5pm-6.30pm Boys
Tuesday 6.45pm-7.30pm Music group (twice a month)
Thursday 5.30pm-6.30pm Girls
Thursday 6.45pm rehearsal Boys, Ladies and Adults, 7.30pm Choral Evensong, 8.15pm Adults practice
Sunday 9.30am rehearsal, 10.30am Eucharist (except first Sunday of the month)
Sunday 9.30am Music Group rehearsal, 10.30 All Age Service (first Sunday of the month
Sunday 3pm Baptism (fourth Sunday of the month – organ only)
Sunday 4.45pm rehearsal, 5.30pm Choral Evensong
Sunday 7.15pm Music Group, Worship Teaching and Ministry Service (Second Sunday of the month
Director of Music
Robert Poyser has been the Director of Music at Beverley Minster since March 2009. He has previously worked as DOM at St Mary’s Portsea, Assistant Organist at Chelmsford Cathedral and was Organ Scholar at York Minster. He is also Musical Director of RSCM Voices North in addition to work as an accompanist, teacher and recitalist.
Assistant Director of Music
Beverley Minster is fortunate to have the voluntary support of Mervyn King as Assistant Director of Music. As well as his conducting, singing and organist skills, he manages the Minster’s website, and is responsible for the Magazine and publicity design. Mervyn is a recently retired Assistant Headteacher.
Assistant Director of the Girls Choir
Dr Rachel Poyser is the voluntary Assistant Director of the Girls choir. Rachel is Head of Music at Wyke Sixth Form College in Hull and conducts local ensemble Invitatione.
Organ Scholar
The role of organ scholar is a joint appointment with the University of Hull and Beverley Minster and has existed for many years. James Longden is the current postholder and is in his second year.