Mary’s Choral Group began as the Youth Choir of St. Mary’s Church in 1973 when Redemptorist Priests Gino Henriques & Shanti Abeysingha conducted a youth program at St Mary's and introduced a more vibrant style of music to the Mass. Basil Weeratunge, and his Assistant was Fr. Reginald Saparamadhu. It was in many ways an off-shoot of the St. Mary's Choral Group and Youth Choir begun by the Rome-orda
ined Rev. Claver Perera when he was Assistant Parish Priest, in 1967. (see: Centenary Souvenir page 27-28 for more). Their initial selection comprised songs such as; My Sweet Lord, I’d like to teach the world to sing, and selections from the off-Broadway musical Godspell. Claver had been tenor soloist with the Propaganda Fidei seminary choir which regularly sang at the Vatican at services for His Holiness the Pope. This distinctive tenor sound can be heard with the tenors who sing to this day, under St. Peter's crowning dome. The choir grew informally by word of mouth, the average age being 19. Soon the choir was singing at the 8.30am Sunday mass, calling themselves the Youth Choir. Though it initially began with guitars, there was the addition of an organ which accompanied a mixture of modern songs and ballads such as He ain’t heavy he’s my brother and songs by the Beatles, Bread, Blood Sweat and Tears and Queen. More instruments such as bass and electric guitars, saxophone, piano, clarinet and flute were added in 1978. In 1980 Fr. Claver, the new parish priest guided the Youth Choir and introduced serious mixed voice choral harmonies. He further shared his singing experience in Italy. Claver built up the Choir’s repertoire in Choral music and plainchant. The Parish invested in a Viscount Domus 8 organ for the church, further enriching the standard of the choir. In 1986 the choir under the direction of Fr. Claver, released its first cassette entitled Pass it On which was popular. The choir went on to perform at concert venues, hotels in Colombo, Choral festivals and at the National Seminary in Ampitiya. The current church organ is a Yamaha EL-90, complete with brass and timpani effects. A major milestone was its participation in the Mozart Death Bicentenary Choral Festival held at the Anglican Cathedral of Christ the Living Saviour by the late Kalasuri Lylie Godridge. In June 2007 the choir changed its name back to St. Mary’s Choral Group or SMCG, a name dating from Fr. Claver's original male voice choir of 1967. The choir still sings at the 8.30am Sunday Eucharistic Celebration which is its primary function. They also sing for the Church Feast, selected other major Feasts of the Church, the annual Carol Service, Easter Tridium services and Christmas Midnight Mass. Most of its current members are non-parishioners, and are young school going and working professionals, giving of their time and talent. It could be said that the secret of its continuity and success in singing comes from a common love of music and good camaraderie.
