“We have enjoyed welcoming The Plaxtol Scholars to sing at York Minster – their repertoire choices have been superb, and they have always led worship with a great sense of purpose and confidence.” David Pipe, Assistant Director of Music, York Minster
The Plaxtol Scholars is a chamber choir based near Sevenoaks, Kent. The choristers come from London, Sevenoaks, Edenbridge, Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells and surrounding villages and also from Sussex. The choir was set up by Marius Carboni in 1996, with a particular emphasis on the choristers having little or no vibrato. The Scholars spend much of their time serving as a visiting choir in Cathedral churches and Minsters whose own choirs are on holiday. Chichester Cathedral was the first church to offer the choir the opportunity to sing the services, since when the choir has sung the length and breadth of the country. With nearly 30 cathedral and abbey churches under their belt, including St Paul’s, Westminster Abbey, Canterbury, Rochester, Durham Cathedrals and York Minster, the Scholars are highly experienced in the music required for sung worship in the Church of England. The last few years offers a glimpse of the range of churches they have been invited to sing the services for: Rochester, Durham, Worcester, Christ Church Oxford, St George’s Windsor, St Paul’s, Lichfield, Hereford, Winchester, St Alban’s Abbey, Bath Abbey and Winchester. 2025 includes return visits to Canterbury, Durham and St Paul’s; and new invitations to Bristol and St David’s Cathedrals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkhug9dzNwM
Sunday 31st May 2026 Sung Eucharist at York Minster
Mass setting Charles Wood (Phrygian mode)
Communion anthem Byrd Ave verum
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-rI1DHrUcE
Sunday 31st May 2026 Evensong at York Minster
Responses Ayleward
Canticles Wood in C
Anthem Wood Father All Holy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGAxl8U46Y0
Sunday 22nd February 2026 Sung Eucharist at Bath Abbey
Mass setting Howells Collegium Regale
Communion anthem Wesley O Lord my God (Solomon’s Prayer)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1aplrKxM5w
Responses Sanders
Canticles Blair in B minor
Anthem Stanford Purest and Highest
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UShkhYHKPvk&list=PLPWrcHf2bX_b4XPMAM9Ef8acMwXVq2fw4&index=100&t=977s&pp=iAQB8AUB
Saturday 15th February 2025 Evensong at Canterbury Cathedral
Responses Sumsion
Canticles Stanford in F
Anthem Bruckner Os justi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZZM_KoN9Fw&list=PLPWrcHf2bX_Y28Ur4DzPCu2k_VYPr7YDF
Sunday 16th February 2025 Sung Eucharist at Canterbury Cathedral
Mass setting Stanford in C
Psalm 1
Gospel response and sentence
Communion Anthem: Tallis If ye love me
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUzzOe_oOpM&list=PLPWrcHf2bX_b4XPMAM9Ef8acMwXVq2fw4&index=106&t=10s&pp=iAQB8AUB
Sunday 16th February 2025 Evensong at Canterbury Cathedral
Responses Sumsion
Canticles Stainer in Eb
Anthem Stopford Beatitudes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Afi0QbayPGY
Choral Evensong Saturday 25th February 2023 at Beverley Minster
Introit Stopford God be in my head
Responses Millington
Canticles Wood in Eb
Anthem Corp Take up your cross
https://www.youtube.com/live/10Wv8ulUVls?feature=share
Sunday 26th February 2023 Sung Eucharist at Beverley Minster
Mass setting Darke in A
Communion anthem Palestrina O Domine Jesu Christe
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gU2LqVVBF-M
Choral Evensong Sunday 26th February 2023 at Beverley Minster
Responses Millington
Canticles Noble in B minor
Anthem Lloyd Blessed be Thou, O Lord God
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2fgoS_tZcE
Sung Eucharist at St Albans Abbey – Sunday 29th May 2022:
Mass setting Casciolini in A minor
Communion anthem Byrd Ave Verum
The Plaxtol Scholars also give occasional concerts with their sister choir Voce Sacri.
Voce Sacri is an a capella group of 16 voices. Formed in 2017 the group usually sing without a formal conductor and their recitals are usually an hour and a quarter with a short interval to reflect on the music just performed, and the music about to be sung.
They offer a wide range of music, some of it rarely performed 16th and 17th century music by British and European composers.
This was illustrated in a recital from a couple of years ago in which they sang music by Vivanco, Steffani, Guerrero, Carissimi, Lobo, de Monte, Du Mont, Blow, Victoria and Gibbons. In June 2024 they gave a concert in Hadlow, Kent to celebrate music from the 19th and early 20th centuries, with works by Stanford, Vaughan Williams, Ireland, Wood, Bridge, Holst, Whitlock and ending with Parry’s magnificent piece Hear my words ye people.
“It has always been a pleasure to welcome The Plaxtol Scholars to Durham; their singing has enriched our worship on several occasions over the years when our own choir has been on holiday. It has been a particular pleasure for me, since my father was Rector of Plaxtol at the end of World War Two, and my older brother and sister were born there; my family had a great affection for the place.” James Lancelot, Retired Organist and Master of the Choristers, Durham Cathedral
Marius Carboni Conductor
Marius was Press Officer at Decca Classics and then EMI’s Head of Press and before leaving to set up his own media consultancy. Over the years he has acted for a range of artists and organisations including Warner Classics, Decca International, the late conductor Bernard Haitink, The BBC Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and BBC Proms. He is a Fellow of both the Royal Society of Arts and Advance Higher Education Academy, member of the Royal Philharmonic Society and has recently been invited to join the Council of the Incorporated Society of Musicians. He studied music at Huddersfield where he participated in the early days of the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, and then took a Business Management diploma in London. In 2000 he was awarded an MA in Performance and Visual Arts from King’s London and in 2010 completed his PhD at Hertfordshire University.
He lectures in Music Business, entrepreneurship and research modules at Morley College, London and Arts Policy at the University of Surrey. His previous lecturing positions include City and Hertfordshire Universities and the SAE Institute, London.
“It is not often at St George’s that we come across a choir that is both delightful to deal with, and also sings the office so well. Many thanks indeed.” Simon Whiteley, Liturgical Assistant, St George’s Chapel, Windsor
The Plaxtol Scholars’ visits to Wells are always enjoyable – both musically, and because the choir are so lovely to work with. We are looking forward to welcoming them back.” Melanie Lawlor, Assistant to the Organist & Master of the Choristers, Wells Cathedral
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