The Choir of Pilgrim Church
We are a lively and diverse group of musicians who share a love of sacred music, a commitment to performing it in liturgical context, and a conviction that there is inherent value in continuing to sing and play these great compositions, whether handed down to us across the centuries, or written only recently by living composers. We recognize that sacred music is profoundly meaningful for many different people in many different ways, and take great delight in welcoming kindred spirits to our services, both in our beautiful church in Adelaide, South Australia, and from around the world online.
The Choir of Pilgrim Church presents traditional Choral Worship services every Sunday at 11am, with a Choral Eucharist on the first Sunday of the month. The choir also sings monthly Evensongs, and there are numerous special services throughout the year, including an orchestral mass for Easter Sunday, Lessons and Carols on Christmas Eve, an ANZAC Day Evensong, a Service of Remembrance for All Souls’ Day, and a number of Bach cantata services featuring the Adelaide Cantata Band. Details about non-Sunday services and other events can be found under ‘Events’ on our Facebook page.
The choir toured England after Christmas 2017 and again after Christmas 2022, singing services in some of the country’s best-known cathedrals, including Lincoln, Canterbury and Salisbury Cathedrals, York Minster and Westminster Abbey.
Peter Kelsall: Organist & Choir Director
Peter Kelsall has been Organist and Choir Director at Pilgrim Uniting Church since 1995. He holds a Bachelor of Music in piano, a Graduate Diploma in Performance on the organ, and a Masters in Music Theory, all from the University of Adelaide. As an organist Peter has given recitals in venues around Adelaide, including Adelaide Town Hall and St Peter’s Cathedral, and has played with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra on many occasions, including performances of Saint-Saëns’ Organ Symphony, Holst’s Planets, and Mahler’s Symphonies 2 & 8. Peter has also performed with many Adelaide choirs, including the Adelaide Chamber Singers, Adelaide Philharmonic Chorus, Graduate Singers, and the Elder Conservatorium Chorale. He has been Musical Director of the Adelaide University Choral Society since 1997. Peter is also a piano, organ and music theory teacher and works as an accompanist and music tutor at Walford School.
Recitals
Lunchtime organ recitals take place on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of every month, and Pilgrim also hosts a visiting organist of international renown each year, with past guests including Olivier Latry, Shin-Young Lee, John Scott, Thomas Trotter, Daniel Roth and Simon Preston. For more information see ‘Organ music’ in the menu bar.
Pilgrim also supports occasional student recitals: see also ‘Young musicians’ in the menu bar.