The
Parish Choir, an organisation of St. Peter's Church,
Bandra, is a happy amalgam of young and not-so-young
singers degrees. In the very early years, this
was an all-male chorus under the baton of Fr.
Irache, accompanied by the rich strains of the
pipe organ in the choir loft.
The choir today comprises mixed voices and sings
in 4-part harmony under the dynamic and creative
conductorship of Alfred J. D'Souza. This committed
and dedicated group sings at the Parish Mass on
sunday mornings and is effectively proficient
either in leading the congregation in common hymns
or in rendering sacred songs, motets and religious
music written for 4 voices.
The Parish Choir also does duty by rotation at
Holy Week Services, the Christmas Midnight Mass
and at important parish celebrations, e.g. Feasts
of St. Peter & Paul, St. Ignatius of Loyola,
among others. There have been several special
occasions, viz. funerals, anniversaries and jubilees,
where the Choir has made the liturgical services
more meaningful.|
Normally, the Choir does not accept secular assignments,
but it has performed at the Annual Festival of
Festive Music presented at the Natonal Centre
for the Performing Arts, Mumbai.
The Choir is self-supportive and generates its
own finance from its engagements in singing at
weddings in and out of the Parish. Recalling the
dictum "He who sings, prays twice",
parishioners are invited to join the Choir in
its ministry of sacred music. You need not be
a Maria Callas or a Luciano Pavarotti to praise
God in song... but it helps!
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