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The main objects of the Association are:
- To arrange events on a national or regional basis, the form of which would be at the discretion of the host choir.
- To share or exchange services between individual choirs.
- To provide a channel for the exchange of information and discussion of mutually relevant matters.
- It is hoped that the Association will help provide a wider platform for modern liturgical music, specialist training and a network for directors, organists and singers on the move or requiring assistance.
In the early stages it was envisaged that nationwide events would be held at intervals of between 18 and 21 months. As geography makes it difficult to have a committee of representatives from different choirs, the Association would be run by one choir at a time. In addition to planning, financing and organising a main event, the host choir would handle the administration of the Association during the period running up to it. It was also hoped that member choirs would arrange and invite “neighbours” to regional events.
The inaugural event was held in Wells Cathedral on Saturday 26 April 1997 under the direction of the late Dudley Holroyd. Choirs from Derby, Exeter, Guildford, Peterborough, Truro, Worcester and Wells sang Evensong and gave a concert.
The second event was held over the weekend of 10/11 October 1998 at Guildford, hosted by the Guildford Cathedral Occasional Singers under the direction of Martin Ham. Representatives from the choirs in Birmingham, Chester, Derby, Exeter, Truro, Rochester, Worcester, Wells and Guildford sang Evensong on Saturday and a Festal Eucharist on the Sunday morning. The conducting was shared between Martin Ham, xxx (Truro) and Douglas Henn-Macrae (Rochester).
The Millennium event was held at Chester, hosted by Chester Cathedral Nave Choir, on Sunday 2 July 2000, and subsequent festivals have been held at Worcester, Exeter, Rochester, Peterborough, Derby and Chelmsford.
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