Bury Parish Church
Saint Mary the Virgin
Josh Stephens - Director of Music from September 2010
Born and based in Sheffield, Josh was, by the age of eight, a chorister at Sheffield Cathedral where he took part in the almost daily routine of choral services and rehearsals at the cathedral. As well as singing on tour in the U.S.A, Paris and Haarlem, he took part, with the choir, in performances of Britten's War Requiem, and Walton's Henry V with the Halle Orchestra. External singing engagements from the choir include Britten's Noye's Flude, Lloyd-Webber's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and coming second in the David Glover singing competition, as well as many solo performances as a counter-tenor. Past singing teachers have included Elizabeth Watts, a previous Cardiff Singer of the World Competition, Song Prize winner. He has also taken part as a string player in many concerts including performances with renowned harpsichordist Trevor Pinnock.
At the age of fifteen Josh began receiving organ lessons from Neil Taylor, of Sheffield Cathedral. After a few months he aspired to the role of organ scholar at St John's Church, Ranmoor, Sheffield, and soon after that as organist of St Aidan's Church, City Road, Sheffield. After a year, Josh took the post as Organ Scholar at Doncaster Minster. During his time at St John's, Josh accompanied the choir on tour to Brecon Cathedral, led local RSCM workshops, conducting, accompanying and rehearsing the church choirs on a regular basis, as well as working with school orchestras and instrumental ensembles. Whilst in Doncaster, he was responsible for accompanying and playing for all the services at the Minster and also occasionally to conduct and rehearse the three choirs of Boys, Girls, and Men. After leaving Doncaster, Josh sung counter-tenor in Sheffield Cathedral Choir, performing in the daily routine of services, in regular concerts and tours, recently performing at St. Etienne-du-Mont, Paris (Durufle's church). As an organist, recent recital venues include Leeds Parish Church, St Mark's Broomhill, Sheffield, Holy Trinity Church, Hull, and Sheffield Cathedral.
Josh is also an active composer with previous compositions premiering at the Sheffield Crucible Theatre, in numerous school performances, and by choirs and churches with whom Josh is associated.
Josh is a keen improviser, especially in liturgical settings and is known as a "sensitive musician and a potentially excellent player"; "incredibly dedicated and has a real flair, particularly for music of the Baroque period".
In September 2010, Joshua will commence studies at the Royal Northern College of Music, in Manchester, as well as the post of Director of Music at Bury Parish Church.
Annual Challenge Cricket Match - 11th July 2010
CONGREGATION LEAVES CHOIR FEEELING 'LES MISERABLES!'
All roads led to Bury Grammar School cricket ground on the afternoon of Sunday 11th July, as the choir locked horns with the congregation for the annual challenge cricket match. Following protracted negotiations with FIFA, it was agreed that the World Cup final would be put back to the evening; allowing media coverage of both events across the globe.
The choir’s preparation for the match differed from earlier encounters, as our good Rector’s wife, Christa took responsibility for team selection, tactics, order of batting, refreshments...the list is endless! Having won the toss, the choir elected to bat first, so out strode that impeccable pairing of Preston Hulse and Paul “I’m playing for the choir ‘cos I’m in Joseph” Whittam. However, both were not at the crease for very long, as they were duly dispatched with only a few runs on the board. Enter Andy Morris...eh, depart Andy Morris – victim to the bowling of young Seale as proud Dad, Dave looked on! A stuttering start by the choir – with the majority of the crowd expecting to be home before the Eastenders omnibus had finished! Enter John Findon Jnr; fresh from entertaining concert goers on Friday lunchtime. Would he prove to be ‘Master of the House’ or ‘At the End of the Day’ would he be on the losing side for the third year running? I’m not too sure what the Glaswegians had been feeding him for the past nine months, but he certainly hit the ball well and soon amassed his 25 runs! Particular mention should also be given to Laura Hassall, who demonstrated excellent batting skills. Enter Andy Morris again...eh, depart Andy Morris again – it’s not the winning; it’s the taking part that matters! Overall, a sound performance that ended with a respectable 77 all out for the choir.
Andy Page’s congregation team felt reasonably confident as they set about achieving the target of 78. However, they had not prepared themselves for the bowling onslaught that was to hit them! In a scene that was reminiscent of the infamous ‘Bodyline’ 1932/33 Ashes series, Messrs Findon and Parsons went on the rampage! No-one was spared this treatment as poor Elliot and James Seale were to find out; both making quick exits back to the pavilion (aka grass banking!). However, appropriate retaliation was handed out by Neil Moran and John Bentley, who were hitting boundaries for fun. Supported ably by Andy Richardson and Andy Page, the congregation XI reached the target with a couple of wickets to spare.
The choir had Dreamed a Dream that this would be their year, but the Little People of the congregation were victorious again!
A big thank you must go to all those who supported the event; both players and spectators – not forgetting the Lovely Ladies who provided the refreshments; both before and during the game.
