Summer Festival of Sacred Music at St. Bart's Continues 8/30

The 21st annual Summer Festival of Sacred Music at St. Bartholomew's Church continues on Sunday, August 30, at 11 am with Malcolm Archer's "Christchurch" Mass sung by St. Bartholomew's Boy and Girl Choristers, who will also sing works by Mark Blatchly and John Dankworth.

Malcolm Archer (b.1952) is one of the world's leading church musicians, and has enjoyed a distinguished career in cathedral music, which has taken him to posts at Norwich, Bristol, Wells Cathedrals and then Director of Music at St. Paul's Cathedral in London. He is now Director of Chapel Music at Winchester College, where he is responsible for the College's ancient choral foundation, conducting the Chapel Choir and teaching the organ.

His "Christchurch" Mass, scored for treble voices and organ, was composed in 1992 for the choir of Christchurch Priory, Dorset. Its accessible style with memorable themes and colorful organ accompaniment makes it a worthy successor to Benjamin Britten's Missa Brevis, also composed for treble voices.

St. Bartholomew's Boy and Girl Choristers will be conducted by Jason Roberts. St. Bartholomew's Boy & Girl Chorister program offers free professional music training (grades 2-12), touring opportunities, field trips, and other activities. The choir has earned national recognition through performances at Carnegie Hall and Washington's National Cathedral, as well as appearances on NBC's Today Show, Good Morning America and The Early Show. Other recent highlights include two acclaimed recordings and a tour to England. In addition to singing for the Sunday 11:00 a.m. service, the Choristers perform at many special events at St. Bart's and beyond.

The Summer Festival of Sacred Music takes place at St. Bartholomew's Church at the corner of Park Avenue and 51st Street. Subway: 6 to 51st Street. For more information, call (212) 378-0222or visit http://stbarts.org/music/summer-festival-of-sacred-music/for the complete schedule.