[NOTTINGHAM, UK, 15 JULY 2022] Nottingham’s ancient church of St Mary’s in the Lace Market has today announced that it has appointed Lucy Haigh as choir director to lead a new music programme for children in the city centre. Lucy will lead the creation of three children’s choirs at the church while also building links with local Nottingham schools. The church is excited to be creating opportunities for children in the city to get involved in singing.
Tom Gillum, the vicar of St Mary’s, explained, “St Mary’s is well established as a centre of musical excellence in the city. We are delighted to appoint Lucy, who has an outstanding track record and abilities, as our new Children’s Choir Director. From the moment we met her, we were impressed by her love of music and we are thrilled at her ambitious plans for children’s singing at St Mary’s.”
Lucy Haigh has over thirty years’ experience as a choral director. She has directed successful children’s choirs in both the UK and Australia, giving promising young singers the opportunity to sing to the highest standards. Before moving to Nottingham, Lucy held the post of Cathedral Choral Director for the (RC) Diocese of Leeds, where her Cathedral Junior Choirs broadcast regularly on television and radio and she taught a busy programme of whole-class singing sessions at schools throughout Leeds.
Lucy said ‘Our exciting new programme ‘Sing Nottingham!’ aims to build strong partnerships with local schools. We were delighted to be able to offer free, weekly singing sessions (in line with the new Model Music Curriculum) to selected schools. In addition, I am visiting as many schools as possible on an occasional basis, with the aim of discovering promising young singers who will benefit from everything our new Children’s Choirs at St Mary’s have to offer.’
Lucy is setting up three new children’s choirs at St Mary’s church: a boys’ choir and a girls’ choir for singers aged 7-11 and a training choir for children aged 6 and above.
Lucy goes on to say ‘The choirs will give the children opportunities to develop their singing to a high standard, to learn lovely songs and musical games in many styles (not only church music!) and to make new friends from all over Nottingham. In addition to the group audition sessions in schools, I’m very happy to hear from parents who are interested in the choirs for their children. There is just a short, informal audition consisting of fun musical activities: no previous experience is necessary.’
The Director of Music, John Keys, added, “our successful choral scholarship scheme has been giving opportunities for university students to sing in our choir for well over a decade. Singing in choirs is well known to have many benefits and we want more people to come to appreciate the joys of choral singing.”
Parents of children who are interested in joining one of the new children’s choirs and local primary schools that would like to be involved in the programme can register their interest on the church’s website at www.stmarysnottingham.org/childrens-choir or contact Lucy directly on lhaigh@stmarynotts.org
St Mary’s in the Lace Market is the ancient Parish and Civic Church of Nottingham. The present building, well over 500 years old, is believed to be at least the third church on the site. The church holds regular services throughout the week, usually supported by the choir of St Mary’s which has built a reputation as one of the region’s finest church choirs. More information about the church can be found at www.stmarysnottingham.org
If you would like more information about this topic, please call Ed Mills at 07766 391622 or email stmarysnottingham@outlook.com. Photographs of the church and choir are available on request.
