Choral Outreach and Community Music

As part of our Christian mission to offer service to the community, the Minster acts as a centre for music in Rotherham.

Choral  Outreach

The Choral Outreach initiative, started in the Autumn of  2019, offers music support to local schools. Members of the Minster music team go into primary schools to lead group singing activities, for example developing a school choir. The programme is organised by the Senior Musical Director, and the Mission Partnership also has a Centenary Project Worker, a music specialist, to lead activities in schools and to welcome children and families into our church community and work with them. 

The Minster Music Team liaises closely with the Rotherham Schools' Music Service and the Minster is a partner in the Rotherham Music Education Hub.

Minster Music Makers

The Minster Music Makers meet on Saturday mornings in the Minster. This group is aimed at children between the ages of 6 and 10. The children take part in a variety of music  making activities including singing and using simple intruments. The focus is on fun, with opportunities for the children to learn about differnt aspects of music in the company of others. 

Singing in the community

The Minster also supports and encourages music in the community.  A new choir, The Tuesday Singers, was formed during the Autumn of 2019. The choir is open to all - no experience necessary - and usually meets in the Minster on Tuesday mornings at 11:00. 

Masbrough Community Choir has been running since 2016, and meets to rehearse on Monday Evenings. The choir sings a range of music, both popular contemporary music and classical music. It is an independent choir, but is a partner organisation to St Paul’s and the Minster and regularly performs at St Paul’s and at the Minster.

Concerts at the Minster

The Minster is also a popular concert venue. A number of local choirs and music groups perform there, including Rotherham Symphony Orchestra, Coryllion Choir and Masbrough Community Choir. Concerts by different instrumental groups formed by the  Rotherham Schools Music Service are also held regularly. 

The Minster also hosts performances by groups from outside the local area. For example, past performers at the Minster have included the world famous Black Dyke band and The Band of the Royal Armoured Corps. 

Concerts at St Paul’s

Although a smaller venue, St Paul’s also hosts concerts and recitals. Masbrough Community Choir rehearse and perform there, and past concerts have involved other choirs and music groups from the local community, including Herringthorpe Community Choir, Clifton Community Choir, Rotherham Sangeet Choir and Coryllion Choir. There are also free Saturday lunchtime recitals, both vocal and instrumental, which take place every two months during the Spring and Summer.

Further information on booking the Minster or St Paul’s as a venue for a performance by your music group, can be found on our venue hire page.