Sunday, 25 October 2026 | St Peters Chapel, Indooroopilly | 9am Service time (with preservice rehearsal time TBC)
Choral Director: Tricia Elgar | Organist: Gregory Mayer
Join us at St Peters Indooroopilly for a special Reformation Sunday celebration centred on J.S. Bach’s Cantata BWV 79, Gott der Herr ist Sonn und Schild. This collaborative project brings together the St Peters Church Choir with singers from Brisbane’s wider church music community to sing Bach’s monumental work in its original liturgical context.
Registered choristers will commit to attend 4 weekly evening rehearsals in the heritage-listed St Peters Lutheran College Chapel from Thursday 1st October. Rehearsals will commence at 7:30pm, and will include warm-ups and exercises tailored to assist singers to meet the technical demands of the cantata.
The cost to be part of this choir is $10 (Free for RSCM Members and Affiliate Choirs). A retiring offering will also be taken at the service, in support of the congregational music programme at St Peters.
The Festival of the Reformation commemorates the 1517 publication of Martin Luther’s propositions for debate within the church, which came to be known as the ‘95 Theses’. The central focus of these theses, God’s gift of grace to all humanity, transcends denominational boundaries, and the Come and Sing Bach Cantata Project offers an opportunity for singers of all backgrounds to celebrate faith, heritage, and shared musical expression.
Cantata BWV 79 was composed in Leipzig for the Reformation Festival of 1725. In it, Bach integrates a grand opening chorus with intimate solo movements and well-loved hymns including Nun danket alle Gott, set in traditional congregational chorale style.
Singers will prepare the work over 4 rehearsals rather than a single “scratch” event and will be provided with links to online rehearsal resources to help their at-home learning. The cantata will be sung in full within the 9am Reformation Sunday service on 25 October. Whether you are an experienced chorister looking for a fresh challenge or simply wish to sing Bach’s music in its liturgical context, this promises to be a rich and uplifting celebration.
Tricia Elgar is a highly respected choral director. A professional mezzo soprano, she has performed with many leading Brisbane ensembles and sang with Opera Queensland for 15 years. As well as nurturing hundreds of singers through private vocal tuition, Tricia spent almost 2 decades developing and directing a large, award-winning choral program at Kenmore State High School. She has conducted the St Peters Church Choir since 2006.
Gregory Mayer is a prize-winning organist, accompanist and composer. Now playing for services at St Peters Lutheran Church Indooroopilly, his past musical appointments have included St Stephen’s Cathedral Brisbane, St Patrick’s Cathedral Toowoomba, St Andrew’s Anglican Church Indooroopilly and Christ Church St Lucia. Gregory was the accompanist for the Australian Catholic University Choir for 25 years. His compositions are published by Fagus Music and Morton Music.
