The Benefice of:

The Brickhills &
Stoke Hammond

Buckinghamshire

Revd John Waller
The Rectory
10 Pound Hill 
Great Brickhill
Milton Keynes
MK17 9AS
Tel: 01525 261062  
rector@brickhillschurches.org.uk

Music and Choir in Great Brickhill

A view of the altar and choir stalls
          The view in the church looking towards the altar and choir stalls


The music and choir play a large part in the life of the church in Great Brickhill. There is a very fine organ and whilst there is no resident organist, we are fortunate in having a number of local organists who give of their time to come and play for our services on an ad hoc basis. There is a piano that is used on occasions for some services.

As there is no Choirmaster the choir are not able to hold regular practices. They team up with choristers from the other churches and sing as a Benefice choir at certain services under the direction of Jerry Breslin. The highlight of the year is the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols held in the church each year at 5 o'clock on Christmas Eve.

"Music in the Brickhills" was formed in 2007 when a group of local musicians and singers put on a magnificent performance in Great Brickhill church of Handel's Messiah, with all the proceeds going to a charity. This September saw the third annual performance and the fantastic sum of £4200 was raised for Willen Hospice. A series of other concerts are performed throughout the year at the other churches within the Benefice.

New singers are always welcome either for the Church Choir or for the concerts. Anyone interested should contact either:-

     Robin Dawson   01525 261425     robin.rosie@zen.co.uk          
     Jerry Breslin      01908 582952     jerrybreslin@hotmail.com  


Events in 2010

(1)  May Concert

The first of this year’s “Music in the Brickhills” concerts was performed in St Mary’s Church, Great Brickhill on Sunday 9th May. The £1374 proceeds from the concert were split equally between the St Francis Society (MK) and St Mary’s Church.

The performance started at 7.30pm and included:

  • Allegri Miserere Mei
  • Rutter's Gloria
  • Bach Whitsun Cantata BWV172
  • Bach's orchestral suite number 2 in B minor
  • Two anthems by Thomas Tallis to celebrate the 500th anniversary of his birth.

The Bach pieces were given with full baroque orchestral accompaniment. The Rutter piece was performed in the version for Organ, Brass and Percussion – with lots of fireworks!


(2)  Messiah 2010

Now in its fourth year and after raising over £20,000 for local charities, the talented local singers and musicians will be performing Handel's greatest oratorio again. All proceeds will go to Willen Hospice. Please come and join us:
   
       St Mary the Virgin Church, Great Brickhill  -  Sunday 3rd October at 7.30pm

Tickets: £10.00 (£7.50 Concessions) available on the door or from:

Jerry Breslin:       01908 582952       jerrybreslin@hotmail.com
Robin Dawson:    01525 261425       robin.rosie@zen.co.uk

REPORT:

On 3rd October in the church, under the direction of Jerry Breslin, the Brickhills Choir and a local orchestra gave their fourth annual performance ofHandel’s ‘Messiah’.  It was a truly inspiring occasion and was very well supported. The exact figure of how much was raised is not yet known, but it will certainly be excess of £4100, which will make a splendid donation to Willen Hospice.

Thanks go to all those involved in making this a very special evening – the musicians, the soloists and the choir - with special thanks to Robin Dawson for all his help, and to Jerry Breslin for masterminding the event.




 

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