The Choir

Dr Stephen Bullamore directing the Choir

The Choir

The choir of St Mary Magdalene, Newark is one of the finest and oldest of its type. Made up of both boy and girl choristers, “Magnus scholars” and adult volunteers, they sing for the 11.15am Parish Eucharist and 5.00pm Choral Evensong each Sunday and assorted civic services and events across the year.

Listen to the choir:

The Carol of the Shepherds by Thomas Hewitt Jones, sung the the Choir of St Mary Magdalene, Newark
Current Music List:

The choir is professionally led by the Director of Music (sometimes known as the Master of the Song School), Dr Stephen Bullamore. He is supported by the Assistant Organist, Mike Dutton, who both plays the organ and assists with the training of the young people in the choir. The music for the church is supported financially by the Thomas Magnus Foundation. This enables the choristers and “Magnus scholars” to be offered music lessons to support their learning.

The music that the choir sings encompasses a vast range of repertoire, from Gregorian chant, through Tudor verse services, Classical Mass settings and great Romantic anthems to twenty-first century music.

In 2019 the choir made a CD recording with Priory Records

Choristers (School Years 2-8)
The choristers (boys and girls) rehearse in the historic Song School next to the church twice a week and sing for three services a week during term time. They are drawn from lots of different schools around Newark. In addition to their group training, many receive individual singing or instrumental lessons, partly funded by the Magnus Foundation.

Visit this page to find out more about the benefits of being a chorister at our church

Listen to the choristers sing “Rocking”

Magnus Scholars
Up to eight Magnus Scholarships worth £1,000-£1,500 per year are currently available for singers, organists or choral directors in full time education. Recent scholars have gone on to sing in various Cathedral and Collegiate choirs, taken up Oxbridge organ scholarships and continued their musical studies at university.

The Magnus Scholars sing Joseph dearest, Joseph mine

Adult Singers
The choir welcomes adult singers of any voice part from all walks of life. They rehearse on a Friday evening and sing for two services on a Sunday most weeks of the year.

Recent Music lists:

September 2023
July 2023
June 2023
May 2023
April 2023
March 2023
February 2023
January 2023
December 2022
November 2022
October 2022
September 2022
July 2022
June 2022
May 2022
April 2022

March 2022
February 2022
January 2021
December 2021
November 2021
October 2021
September 2021