Music is central to the life of St Andrew’s. Rooted in the Anglican tradition, our music serves the liturgy, helping us to approach, encounter, and respond to God. We acknowledge the ability of both vocal and instrumental music to reflect upon and teach the Christian message, and its power to build up our community and encourage participation.
The Choir of St Andrew’s Zurich is a robed, SATB, volunteer choir. St Andrew’s has a cherished tradition of choral music going back to the 1940s when a Choirmaster was first appointed. We draw from the Anglican choral tradition and its repertoire. Central to our Choir’s mission is to sing the 10.30am Communion on Sundays from September to June, as well as a monthly weekday Choral Evensong.
Our Band, consisting of wind and brass players, provides music for our monthly Intergenerational Communion Service.
There is a rich variety of music on offer at St Andrew’s and our music reflects the different traditions we share, as well as the diversity of talent in Anglican church music today.
Choral Evensong
We hold a mid-week choral evensong service once a month. In addition, every autumn, the choir sings evening prayer at the historic Predigerkirche as part of their Vespers series.
For details, see our Calendar of services.
Join our Choir!
Do you read music and enjoy singing? Our Director of Music, Shaun Yong, is eager to hear from you!
In addition to our liturgical duties at St Andrew’s, we sing regularly at some of Zurich’s historical churches such as the Grossmünster, Fraumünster, and the Predigerkirche.
The choir possesses a high ambition and ability for choral excellence, at the same time being a friendly and welcoming group. Singers pay absolutely nothing to sing with the Choir of St Andrew’s.
Carol Services
Each year, we hold two services of Lessons and Carols at St Andrew’s and also at the Augustinerkirche in Zurich, as well as in our daughter communities.
Band
Our enthusiastic band of wind and brass players is made up of volunteer musicians of all ages and provides music for our monthly Intergenerational Communion Service, usually on the second Sunday of the month. We practise individually and then meet for an hour’s rehearsal before the service. We would love to welcome more players, including percussionists and strings players to our group.
This is a great way to begin playing as part of a group and participation can be on an ad-hoc basis.
Instruments
Much of our worship is supported by the sound of a fine two-manual organ built by Orgelbau Kuhn in 1898. It has been well-cared for with major improvements made over the last decades. We also have a fine Bösendorfer 200 grand piano in our Community Centre that we use for concerts and rehearsals.
Rental of the grand piano and the Community Centre is available at a reasonable hourly rate. Please contact our Church Office to find out more.
Music News
Choral Evensong 21st March
In a departure from modern day, our service on the 21st March marks the martyrdom in 1556 of Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury and English Reformer. He was the author of the original Prayer Book and the liturgy of Evensong. His prayers and forms of service have provided sustenance and beauty for centuries. At this…
Choral Evensong 31st January
Evensong is celebrated at monthly intervals at St Andrew’s. If you’ve never been to one, please do consider coming one Tuesday evening. There’s no friendlier reason to take a colleague or friend to church than to ‘hear the choir’! At St Andrew’s, we do a cathedral-style Choral Evensong, with the choir taking most of the…
Carol Services for 2022
Aside from our Nativity play, which takes place this Sunday, 11th December at 10.30am, our forthcoming Carol services will take place as follows: *Sung by the Choir of St Andrew’s Church We look forward to seeing you! If you’re planning to attend one of our carol services on Saturday 17th or Sunday 18th, please travel by…
“Sing with the Choir!”
Ever since I moved to Zurich, St. Andrew’s Church Choir has been one of the highlights of my life. I thoroughly enjoy singing with the choir at practices, Sunday services, Christmas Carols, and most of all the monthly Evensong.
If you are reading this, and would like to participate in a musically-enriching activity, do come and sing with us. Wonderful people and beautiful English music await you!
Crispin
Crispin has sung with the choir since 2017.
He also plays the organ and accompanies the choir.
“Thanks for the music”
I have enjoyed being in the choir for the last 4 years, singing with the group at our practices and services, learning new music, and getting to know new friends. I will miss it greatly when I go to London.
Iona
Iona sang with the choir for four years and is now a student at the Royal Academy of Music in London training in vocal performance.
“Vivat Regina!”
Everyone was friendly, enthusiastic, and they did a great job singing the pieces.
If any of you are interested in singing in the choir, I hope that you will take the plunge and give it a try – The music and the social aspect of choral singing are very enjoyable, and everyone looks good in a choir robe.
Chris
Chris is a professional singer in the chorus of the Opernhaus Zurich.
