Music at St Michaels
St Michael's has had a much valued choral tradition for many years. An adult choir regularly lead the singing at the weekly Sunday morning Parish Communion service including an anthem to accompany the taking of Holy Communion.
The principal role of our church choir is to enrich worship on a Sunday and at other key occasions during the year. Christmas is a particularly busy time with a Processional service at the beginning of Advent and, later in the month, a Carol Service. All Saints earlier in the year is marked by a Way of the Cross Service. And of course there are special services to mark Lent and Easter. The choir is also called upon to sing at Civic events and at other times which gives the choir prominence in the local community.
From time to time, the choir joins with other local choirs for concerts and services, including the York Junior & Youth Choir, the West Buckrose Choir and the White Star Brass Band.
There is a junior section of the choir (the choristers) who often join the adults or perform on their own on a Sunday and for most of the special events listed above.
The adult choir rehearses on Thursday evenings 7.30-9pm, with the choristers rehearsing earlier that same evening at 6-7pm.
Joining the Choir of St Michael’s Church
We are always happy to welcome new members to the Choir of St Michael’s. Although the choir sings every week, except for the 1st Sunday of the month, attendance can be flexible.
For prospective choristers (age 7-16), we suggest coming along to a chorister rehearsal on a Thursday evening at 6pm to see how they like it. There is no audition.
For older singers, we recommend either coming to a service to see and hear the choir in action, followed by an informal chat with the Director of Music over coffee; or coming to a “taster” Thursday evening rehearsal. There is no audition and while experience and the ability to read music is helpful, it is not essential.
You can also contact us about the choir using the "other matters" email link at the bottom of the page.
Director of Music: Alison Forster
Alison Forster has been Director of Music at St Michael's since 2020, having been Director of Music at York Minster's choir school. Having completed a BA and a post-graduate Masters in 'Scottish Sacred Music of the Renaissance', Alison started teaching Music at Queen Margaret's School, Escrick, before being appointed at The Minster School.
In addition to directing the music at St Michael's, Alison teaches piano and singing both at The Mount School and privately. She is Musical Director of The York Junior & Youth Choir and a governor at St Paul's Primary School, York.
Stop Press!!
We are joining with the choir from the West Buckrose group of churches at Burythorpe Church for a service of Evensong at 6pm on Sunday 5 July 2026. The music for the service will be:
Responses: Ferial
Canticles: Stanford in C
Psalm: 148 (Stanford)
Anthem: Locus Iste (Anton Bruckner)
Hymns:
- Bright the vision that delighted
- The kingdom of God is justice and joy
- How shall I sing that majesty
Organ Postlude:
“La Réjouissance” from
The Music for the Royal Fireworks (G.F. Handel)
The Church Organ
The organ was built in 1907 by Harrison and Harrison of Durham. It was originally located in St Leonard’s church, Malton but subsequently moved in about 1950 to the present location of St Michaels, New Malton. The pedal section was converted to electric action in 1974 together with a new Pedal Faggot 16’ instead of the Open Wood 16’ by J W Walker & Sons Ltd. Additional expression shutters were also added to the swell box. In all other respects the organ is original and a fine example of its type.
In 2010 it was fully renovated by A J Carter at a cost of just under £50,000. The organ has two manuals, the Great and the Swell as follows:
Great
Fifteenth 2’ • Principal 4’ • Saubeflote 4’ • Dulciana 8’ • Hohlflute 8’ • Open Diapason 8’ • Bourdon 16’ • Swell to Great
Swell
Oboe 8’ • Horn 8’ • Lieblich Gedeckt 8’ • Harmonic Flute 4’ • Viola 8’ • Salicional 8’ • Octave
Pedal
Sub Bass • Faggot • Swell to Pedal • Great to Pedal