Alexander Aylward, who turns 17 on April 29th, is a junior at the Nichols School and a piano student of SUNY Fredonia Professor Phyllis East. He is definitely a rising star on the Buffalo music scene, and perhaps that was his destiny—he is the son of the BPO’s Assistant Concertmaster Ansgarius Aylward. In addition to his father’s good genes and guidance, Alex credits his membership in the St. Paul’s Cathedral Choir of Men & Boys (2004-07) as a tremendous formative influence. It was there, under the expert direction of then-Organist/Choirmaster Andrew Cantrill, that he not only learned how to read music, but also was trained in the fine art of ensemble performance and educated in a vast range of musical genres and styles. The benefits of his Cathedral Choir experience, he says, are “immeasurable,” “priceless.”

Not content with constantly honing his pianistic (and violinistic) skills, Alex has recently taken a turn at composition. For a sample of this young musician’s prodigious talents, check out a remarkable Musical Moment at the Nichols School on https://www.nicholsschool.org/podium/default.aspx?t=52562&a=213496&play=1

Congratulations, Alex—we’re very proud of you!

St. Paul’s Girls’ Choir is part of the music program that has been in existence at St. Paul’s for 150 years. At present there is a training choir for girls ages 6-8 where they learn the skills necessary to sing with the older girls’ choir. This rehearsal is on Wednesdays from 4:30 pm until 5:20 pm.

The older Girls’ Choir is traveling with the Men’s Choir at the end of April 2012 where they will be singing a Sunday Eucharist and Evensong at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, Ontario.

We are very proud and pleased that the Girls’ Choir of St. Paul’s Cathedral is the first to be chosen in this new program on WNED-FM.

In addition, there were many baskets to be bid upon, filled with great items. Then there was the food! Four kinds of French cheese, delicious homemade pate, crudités, baguettes, uncured salami, grapes, breadsticks, and olives to enjoy while we were sipping wine. Our evening started with champagne, and Tom introduced us to several varieties of whites and reds throughout the evening. We finished with a dessert wine to accompany the delicieux desserts, many of the chocolate variety, since it was just before Valentine’s Day. The best aspect of this annual event is the opportunity it offers us to socialize with friends, both old and new! All in all, it was a wonderful evening and a successful fundraiser for Friends of Music. We hope you will join us for this annual event next year!

They will be featuring John Cameron’s Lux Aeterna, a choral setting of Nimrod from Elgar’s Enigma Variations. This is a free concert with a suggested donation of $10.00.

For more details on coming Holy Week services, please refer to our choral service schedule.