Hexham Abbey

Choirs 

   The Choir of Boys and Men rehearses on Mondays (Boys) Wednesdays (Full, after Choral Evensong) and Sundays (before Eucharist and Evensong). There is a large repertoire of anthems, responses & settings. (Listen) The choir have recorded and broadcast on a number of occasions in the past, and regularly visit other cathedrals and sing overseas. Meetings of a more fun and social nature are also a feature.

   Any boys are eligible for trial, and begin as probationers. Training is provided. (Being a Chorister is a tremendous opportunity for developing musical skills.) The ideal starting age is 7 or 8, though boys sing treble up to about 14yrs., often moving to Alto, Tenor or Bass after that.
A small bursary is paid to the boys each term, and opportunities arise for other bonuses during the year. April 2001 saw four choristers gaining the St. Nicholas Award and four achieving a Bishop's Award.

    The Girls' Choir sing Choral Evensongs on Thursdays each week and once a month on Sundays. The age range is 10 - 18. The Girls' Choir begun in September 2001 has also sung at concerts in addition to their regular duties.

    The Hexham Abbey Chamber Choir (mixed adults) comes together once or twice a term for services or concerts, and the Pr@ise Choir (children and adults) sings on the first Sunday morning of every month in term time.

Enquiries from potential choristers and musicians willing to aim for high standards and to make a commitment should contact the Director of Music, Michael Haynes via the Parish Office.

Music List | Voice Trials

Director of Music:
Michael Haynes studied at The Birmingham Conservatoire and The Royal Academy of Music. He has been Director of Music at Hexham Abbey for 6 years. Previously he had worked at St Alban’s Cathedral (as Organ Scholar), Winchester College (as Assistant Organist), Clifton College (as Assistant Director of Music), Roedean School (as Organist) and The University Church in Cambridge (as Director of Music).
Michael holds the Fellowship and Choir Master Diplomas of the Royal College of Organists and has recorded and broadcast both as an organist and choir director. (Most recently, a new solo organ recording on the organ of Hexham Abbey, and a CD of the choirs.). He has given recitals in a number of English Cathedrals, as well as King’s College Chapel in Cambridge, Westminster Abbey, Germany and the USA. As an Examiner for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, Michael has worked in Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Europe.

Assistant Organist:
Hugh Morris has been Assistant Organist at Hexham Abbey since April 2001. Educated at Abingdon School, Oxfordshire, he subsequently gained an Organ Scholarship to Magdalene College, Cambridge, reading music. Following a year as Organ Scholar at Salisbury Cathedral, he moved to Bristol to teach music at Colston’s Collegiate School, as well as being Assistant Organist at St Stephen’s, City of Bristol.
Hugh ensures he is kept busy by combining his various duties at the Abbey with teaching music part time at the Kings School, Tynemouth, and working as a tutor in harmony at Newcastle University. As an organist, he has given solo recitals at numerous venues, including several cathedrals and greater churches, and has played continuo with the Northern Sinfonia. He appeared as a soloist in the 2002 and 2005 Hexham Abbey festivals. He is regularly in demand as an accompanist, and has played many concerts and services for choral societies and other groups across the Northeast. Hugh holds the Fellowship and Choral Direction diplomas of the Royal College of Organists; he continues to study the organ with renowned teacher David Sanger.