A strong crowd attended a sacred music concert in honour of St Patrick on March 16 at St Anne’s Church in Belmont.
The Lumina Choir sang a variety of motets during the one-hour concert, which was organised by Fr Michael Rowe.
Some of the music performed included Aspice Domine de Sede by William Byrd, Factus est Dominus Firmamentum by Orlando Lasso, and Laudate Dominum by Giovanni da Palestrina.
The concert, which was held in the parish hall, concluded with Benediction before the crowd joined the choir for afternoon tea, which was prepared by Fr Brian Limbourn.
Choir director Cameron Van Reyk said he thoroughly enjoyed the concert.
“It was great to be able to sing some motets that we can’t really sing in Mass,” he said.
“We also got to sing in English, which was nice, performing William Byrd’s Sing Joyfully Unto God.”
Mr Van Reyk said the choir prepared and practised for the concert the same way they would for singing at Mass.
“We want to perform at our best every time. Whether it be a Mass, concert or even if it was just background music.”
Fr Rowe said the event was a great success and was enjoyed by all. “We hope to have more concerts in the future, perhaps three per year with afternoon tea,” he said.
“Lumina choir is a talented choir of people with a musical background and much ability in the singing of Church polyphony and music from the Church’s musical heritage.”
The Lumina Choir sings regularly at the 9.30am sung Mass at Belmont, as well as at other parishes occasionally, including St Mary’s Cathedral.
The event raised funds for the St Anne’s music fund, recently established to cover the costs of musical instruments and to eventually facilitate the construction of a choir loft.
The Lumina Choir will sing at St Anne’s on Palm Sunday and at the Office of Tenebrae on Good Friday.