WATCH VIDEO FOR THIS EPISODE ON OUR WEBSITEIn this special remotely recorded episode, Thomas and Richard talk about Vespers at St Mary’s Cathedral: in particular the daily streamed service of sung Vespers (Evening Prayer), available to view on

Passion Play

Jun 24th, 2021 49m 27s

Thomas and Richard are back after nearly a year to talk about the singing of the Passion during Holy Week. The ‘Crowd’ parts sung by the Choir have taken a lot of preparation! Can the Choir be expected to walk and sing at the same time? Plus, w

Locked down

Jul 1st, 2020 55m 58s

In this episode, Thomas and Richard talk about Thomas’s time in the UK, which was cut short before he had to dash back to Australia before quarantining started. Then he participated in one of the strangest sets of Holy Week and Easter liturgies

Long-Service Leave

Feb 26th, 2020 24m 9s

In a special episode recorded in the car in the dead of night, Thomas reveals his plans for his long-service leave, while also recounting details of his trips to Ballarat and Brunswick Heads in January. (Apologies for the even-worse-than-usual

Departing Scholars

Dec 3rd, 2019 1h 3m

In this episode, Thomas and Richard give an exit interview to two of the Choir’s departing Scholars, Blaize and Perrin. But first, Thomas recounts his experience going to Dubbo to see Moorambilla Voices. Finally, Thomas teases us with informati

Modern Music

Nov 7th, 2019 46m 1s

In this episode, recorded in June 2019, Thomas and Richard talk about some of the more ‘modern’ music which was on the Choir’s programme at the end of the Easter season and around Trinity Sunday. Music discussed includes Gerald Finzi’s Lo the t

Lent, Holy Week, and Easter 2019

May 20th, 2019 55m 21s

With Holy Week and Easter—and all the work that goes into the music then—safely behind us, Thomas and Richard are able to get together for another episode of Staved Off. They discuss the concert Bach, Sorrow and Joy with The Song Company in the

2019 is a new year

Feb 16th, 2019 39m 8s

After the January break, including Thomas’s trip to Japan, the Choir is back for another year’s singing. In this episode, Thomas and Richard talk about the induction of new Choristers which recently took place. They then discuss best practices

Christmas 2018

Dec 12th, 2018 53m 32s

Thomas and Richard convene for a special Christmas episode, where they discuss everything from A Choral Christmas Celebration to the towns of New Zealand, taking in the great cling-wrap controversy along the way.Music in this episode:William G.

Remembrance Sunday

Nov 9th, 2018 21m 33s

Thomas and Richard discuss Remembrance Sunday, and what will be happening at Mass this Sunday to commemorate the centenary of Armistice. But first, Thomas bemoans the fact that Bonfire Night is not observed in Australia. Then they are joined by

Choir history and the 200th anniversary

Aug 15th, 2018 45m 18s

Following the recent celebration of the Choir’s 200th anniversary, to which many former members of Saint Mary’s Cathedral Choir returned to sing, Thomas and Richard look at the history of the Choir from its foundation by Catherine Fitzpatrick a

Tour travelogue: Italy and the Netherlands

Jun 29th, 2018 35m 35s

In the second part of our discussion about the Choir’s European tour in May 2018, Thomas and Richard are joined by Carolyn Lewis, one of the teachers who accompanied the group, to discuss the Choir’s reception in Italy and the Netherlands. A ma

Tour travelogue: Belgium

May 30th, 2018 36m 18s

The Choir is on tour in Europe! In this first of two episodes, we follow the Choristers and Scholars as they participate in the International Gregorian Chant Festival, Watou, while also enjoying Belgian hospitality and taking the opportunity to

Weddings

Apr 24th, 2018 33m 45s

Let the bells ring out! The recent wedding of our Music Administrator, Hannah, provides the opportunity to discuss the musical side of weddings in St Mary’s Cathedral. Meanwhile, as 2018 continues apace, next month the Choir will be going on to

Simon Niemiński, new Assistant Director of Music

Mar 24th, 2018 33m 35s

As we get closer to Easter, Thomas describes the huge number of pages of music that have to be prepared and printed for the Holy Week and Easter services. We are delighted to be joined by Simon Niemiński, the Cathedral’s new Assistant Director

Lent 2018

Feb 26th, 2018 23m 32s

Thomas and Richard discuss Lent in the Cathedral, and what changes musically with the penitential season. Discussion includes Gregorio Allegri’s perennial favourite—Miserere Mei, Deus—and people’s reactions when they realise that there is no so

Christmas 2017

Dec 5th, 2017 20m 59s

In the first episode, Thomas and Richard produce ‘a random and meaningless load of drivel’ about Christmas 2017, including how the Choristers are bribed to work on into their school holidays, what inspires the music choice for A Christmas Celeb

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