Saint Charles Borromeo
Church Choir

Director of Music at Saint Charles, Edyta Prajsnar

The choir of St Charles Borromeo stands as one of the parish’s most committed and long-established ministries, offering music for Sunday Mass, feast days and major liturgical seasons. Under the leadership of Director of Music, Edyta Prajsnar, the choir has developed both musically and organisationally while remaining rooted in the warm, communal spirit that has always defined it.

Edyta’s Background and Musical Foundations

Edyta’s role at St Charles is supported by a lifetime of musical experience. She has served as a cantor, organist and director of music since her youth, working in parishes in Poland, the USA and the UK, as well as teaching voice, piano and aural skills across Hull schools and the University of Hull. She has been Director of Music at St Charles since 2008, responsible for all liturgical planning, hymn selection, psalm preparation, choral training and accompanying on both the pipe organ and the electronic organ. Her academic background includes an MMus in Vocal Performance and an MA in Music Education and Choral Conducting, alongside organ and piano diplomas.

When she first arrived in Hull, Canon Michael Loughlin was parish priest. Edyta began as a cantor that led the singing. Since then, she has shaped the choir into the well-structured and faithful group it is today.

At present, the choir list contains 23 members — 18 women and 5 men — including Tanyar and Simon Guzdek, Ruth and Stephen Driver who were there from the very beginning, and many others. Although the choir’s overall balance is strong, Edyta notes that more altos would be especially welcome.

Socially, the choir is genuinely a family-like community - an international group of people coming from all walks of life and backgrounds gathering together to worship the Lord through their music, and therefore united and equal. The youngest choir member is 13 and the oldest 88. Kathleen, the most senior of the singers, used to come to St Charles regularly as a little girl, when her father was a choir master, and she used to turn pages for him. Now, after 80 years, she is back singing and turning pages for Alan when he plays an organ piece

Members often gather at one another’s homes for friendly events that naturally include singing. These informal gatherings reinforce the bonds between members and help create the supportive environment that underpins their regular rehearsals. The sense of friendship and shared commitment is one of the reasons the group has remained stable for so many years.

Rehearsals are held on Thursday evenings and last around 90 minutes, providing structured time to develop vocal parts, practise psalms, and work on hymns for the coming Sunday. Much of the choir’s progress is due not only to these rehearsals but also to the considerable unseen preparation that Edyta undertakes during the week. She spends several hours preparing material, studying the readings for the upcoming liturgy, and selecting hymns that correspond closely to the psalm and Gospel themes for that Sunday. She also produces recordings and teaching materials so that singers — many of whom do not read music — can learn and revise their parts between rehearsals. This tailored support is essential in ensuring that the choir can tackle more complex repertoire confidently.

One of the ongoing challenges for Edyta is teaching parts to singers who have little formal musical training. Yet despite this, she consistently manages to bring the group together into a cohesive sound. Parishioners often remark that the music at St Charles is uplifting and beautifully blended; they rarely, if ever, notice the small imperfections that the choir themselves may hear. Edyta attributes this to the congregation listening with appreciation rather than technical expectation — their focus is on prayer, not perfection.

Within the parish, Alan Edwards — well known for his many roles in the church — is also able to assist with organ playing when required. His support is particularly helpful at moments when Edyta needs to focus fully on directing the choir or preparing another musical element of the liturgy.

Festivals, Community Engagement and External Events

The choir’s work extends beyond parish liturgy. Each year they take part in the Hull Music Festival. Such events offer the choir an opportunity to present their work in a wider community setting and to explore repertoire outside the Sunday Mass framework. The experience also strengthens ensemble skills and gives members the confidence to develop their vocal abilities further.

Edyta’s public work is evidenced by her past leadership of the Intergenerational Choir Project (2017), in collaboration with St Charles RC Primary School and NHS Hull CCG, aimed at reducing loneliness and promoting wellbeing through singing. Though not an annual event, it stands as an example of how she sees music as a tool for community connection, not merely performance.

The choir’s weekly contribution is especially visible during major liturgical seasons. Advent and Christmas require a significant amount of preparation, as do Lent, Holy Week and Easter. During these periods, Edyta selects music that reflects the theology and tone of each season, helping the congregation to enter into the rhythm of the Church’s year. Parishioners frequently express their appreciation for how the music enhances the prayerfulness of the Mass — something that is the result of many hours of unseen effort.

Under Edyta’s guidance, the choir continues to evolve. While maintaining the warmth and friendliness that long-time members cherish, Edyta is always looking for ways to strengthen musical unity, improve technical ability, and expand repertoire. Invitations for new members remain open, especially those willing to commit to Thursday rehearsals and to the collaborative spirit that defines the group.

For all its achievements, the choir’s greatest success is perhaps its consistency. Week after week, through ordinary Sundays and high feast days, through festivals and personal commitments, a small group of volunteers gathers to support the parish through music. Their work is not a performance but a ministry — a contribution that helps the entire congregation pray with greater depth, clarity and joy.

Under the steady direction of Edyta Prajsnar, whose professional skill and dedication are evident in every aspect of her work, the choir of St Charles remains one of the parish’s most valuable and vibrant ministries. Their shared commitment to liturgical music enriches not only the worship but the community life of the parish, ensuring that the tradition of sacred song continues to flourish for years to come.