Sleepless nights, then it was music to the ears of cathedral worshippers

Sydney
13 July 2003

Sleepless nights, then it was music to the ears of cathedral worshippers

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Sleepless nights, then it was music to the ears of cathedral worshippers

By Damir Govorcin

Peter Roehrig admits he had a few sleepless nights as he prepared for his debut as a soloist with the St Mary’s Cathedral Choir. It was a big occasion for Peter on an historic occasion for the Church in Australia, the bicentennial celebration of the country’s first official Catholic Mass.

So it was little wonder that the butterflies were churning in the 11-year-old’s stomach as worshippers packed St Mary’s Cathedral.

“I was really nervous because I didn’t want to mess up my first solo,” says Peter, pictured outside St Mary’s Cathedral.

“I had trouble sleeping because I was thinking about it so much.”

But the anxiety subsided as he sang his solo like an old pro, for which he was rewarded later with a party with family and friends.

“I think I was just relieved to get my first solo out of the way,” he says. “It made me feel good to be able to sing well and that so many people got enjoyment from my performance.”

Peter is in Year 6 at St Mary’s Cathedral College.

He has a two-year scholarship which can be extended into high school if a boy is progressing well and is keen to continue.

His mother, Kristen, says that Peter’s time at the college has seen him grow from a shy, little boy into a confident young man.

“Peter went to another Catholic primary school, but the school wasn’t suiting him and he seemed lost,” she says.

“Since he has been at St Mary’s, his self-esteem has improved and his musical talents are being fully utilised.”

The choirboys are placed in a special class of 20, consisting of 10 fifth grade and 10 sixth grade students.

The class is taught by Richard Stevens, who strives to ensure they are progressing well with their singing and schoolwork.

“It can be a heavy work schedule for the boys, but at the same time very rewarding,” he says.

“It’s a tremendous honour for the boys to be in the choir, but I think they are still too young to appreciate it.

“I have taught this class for 13 years and only one boy has pulled out because he found it too hard.”

Mr Stevens says teaching such talented children does have its challenges. Keeping their egos under control can be one of them.

“Sometimes the constant affirmation the boys receive goes to their heads, so it’s my job to be tough and pull them back into line,” he says. “Their egos can be bruised when they don’t get to do their solos, but they have to learn they can’t always be centre stage.”

Each choirboy is given the opportunity to learn a musical instrument.

Stringed instruments are suggested initially because they help with pitch development.

The standard of the school orchestra, jazz band, big band and various rock combinations is of a high quality. Music lessons take place during the school day and the boys attend band camp once a year.

This is followed by a concert at which the boys showcase their talent.

St Mary’s Cathedral Choir is the oldest musical institution in Australia.

In 1818 a group of choristers was formed in the then penal colony to sing Vespers before the Blessed Sacrament. The successors of these choristers formed the permanent choir when St Mary’s was built.

Now 185 years old, the choir comprises 60 choristers - 40 boys and 20 men - who include a few father-son combinations.

The boys perform at Sunday Mass for most weeks of the year (except school holidays), on feast days and at special occasions such as Easter and Christmas.

The cathedral boasts two other choirs - St Mary’s Singers, a choir for both male and female voices, and the Cathedral Girls’ Choir - which sing at regular Masses and join with the Cathedral Choir on special feast days.