A December gift of music at St Augustine’s – all welcome

The Cathedral Choristers Collective is a vibrant group of young singers who have grown up within the rich tradition of cathedral music.

On Sunday, 7 December at 9 am, St Augustine’s Church, Palmwoods warmly invites the public to a special Advent service featuring the remarkable Cathedral Choristers Collective, a vibrant group of young singers who have grown up within the rich tradition of cathedral music.

This touring octet is supported by a mentoring quartet of experienced musicians, most of whom are current lay clerks at St John’s Cathedral, Brisbane. Their shared mission is to create a nurturing environment in which emerging choristers can flourish. Among the younger singers, the youngest will begin high school next year, while the eldest is about to graduate, yet all share the same discipline, passion, and joy in sacred music.

Life in a cathedral choir is uniquely demanding. The repertoire changes every single week, meaning these singers effectively prepare a fresh 30-minute concert every seven days. This ongoing challenge has allowed them to develop an extraordinary level of musicianship at an early age.

For their Palmwoods visit, the choristers have followed a fully professional rehearsal schedule, preparing both the 9 am service at St Augustine’s and a companion concert at Holy Trinity Kawana Waters – with only three rehearsals.

The music chosen reflects the quiet beauty and anticipation of Advent. The Mass setting features a melody by Spanish Renaissance composer Tomás Luis de Victoria, drawn from his sublime O Magnum Mysterium, inviting us into the contemplation and hope of the season. The programme also includes O Radiant Dawn, a luminous modern motet heralding the approaching birth of Christ.

These young musicians are at a meaningful stage, transitioning from children’s choirs into more demanding adult ensemble singing and they deeply appreciate the opportunity to share their gifts with the community.

Everyone is warmly invited to join us at St Augustine’s, Palmwoods, at 9 am on Sunday, 7 December, for this uplifting service and a beautiful beginning to the Advent season.