THE ANNUAL NEWSLETTER FROMTHE MUSIC FOUNDATION OF WELLS CATHEDRAL

The Choir Courier

No. 2 28 November, 2014

Reaching Out to Wells and Beyond

Bob Chilcott (centre) with the Cathedral Choir after recording part of his St John Passion in May 2014

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www.wellscathedral.org.uk

Welcome to the second edition of The Choir Courier, published annually in St Ceciliatide. The choir and organists at Wells are the current custodians of an extremely important musical-worshipping heritage that goes back over 1100 years. My task, as Organist and Master of the Choristers, is to ensure that as we carry out our work, in Wells and beyond, we also build on the firm foundations of our predecessors, and hand it on to the next generation in an even better state than we found it. It is, therefore, very good to have this opportunity to share with you something of the recent work of the Wells Cathedral Music Foundation, and how we are developing it.

In June, the choir took part in the Installation of the new Bishop of Bath and Wells, The Right Reverend Peter Hancock. It was a very special day in the life of the cathedral, and the cathedral choir was privileged to be able to play a major role in this important act of worship. After the service, the Bishop of Bristol, The Right Reverend Mike Hill said, most affirmingly, ‘thank you for your ministry’.

This got me thinking again about the choir’s mission, not only locally but also nationally and internationally, through its many services, concerts, broadcasts, and recordings. Whilst our main task is to lead the congregation in worship within the cathedral, it is often these additional or external activities that help us to reach out to even more people, and raising the profile of the choir is an important way of ensuring its future. Arguably the best way to do this is by recording which, after our daily offering of worship, is one

of the most important things that we do. It is not an exaggeration to say that through our recordings we reach tens of millions of people, in a way that has a more wide-ranging effect than any other activity else we do. Recordings promote the cathedral and the choir through the advertising of the discs; the reviews in the musical, online, and national press; the internet and shop sales; the airtime on the radio; and, of course, by word of mouth.

We reach these tens of millions of people every year partly through the popular titles such as Jingle Wells (a title tested on many people in advance!) which was firmly noticed by the musical press and media and subsequently picked up by BBC Radio 3 and Classic FM. Classic FM made it disc of the week in December 2012, under the enthusiastic advocacy of John Suchet and others. Classic FM has also

given huge amounts of airtime to discs such as Christmas from Wells (which includes unusual tracks for a cathedral choir, such as Have yourself a merry

little Christmas) and the Bob Chilcott Requiem disc. Chilcott has a huge following in this country and also in the United States and Japan, where many copies of this disc have been bought. I am delighted that we were gifted the commission of Bob’s setting of the St John Passion which we premiered in 2013, and were able to make the first recording in May of 2014, for release in March 2015. Again, this disc is likely to be given huge amounts of airtime and will take Wells Cathedral and its message to all corners of the globe.

It is also important to recognize the role of what we might call the ‘Radio 3’ style recordings. These work in a different part of the market – they are the ones that attract attention from not only the musical press (Gramophone, International Record Review, BBC Music Magazine, The American Record Guide and so on) but we have also had reviews in all the

major national broadsheet papers. This really raises our national profile. These more specialist recordings earned us our accolade from an international

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panel of judges from Gramophone magazine in 2011 which placed Wells Cathedral Choir as the greatest choir in the world with children and the sixth greatest overall. This accolade helped the choir beat off some stiff competition to secure a concert at the prestigious City Hall in Hong Kong, on

which we were able to hang a whole tour to the Far East, back in the autumn of 2012.

Tours are also about outreach, mission, and making connections: connections with different people and different cultures; they are about sharing our culture and becoming immersed in another; they are about taking musical excellence from England’s smallest city to places such as School No 80 in Beijing, or to the Alliance Primary School in Kowloon (where the choristers and I gave a workshop to 200 local schoolchildren); or giving another workshop to over one thousand children from Hong Kong and nearby cities in mainland China (a workshop, which we are told, is the largest ever hosted for children in the City Hall of Hong Kong, the premiere venue there); we shared our love of music and its powerful transcendent nature with the children of a Salvation Army School in one of the poorest areas of Hong Kong.

That 2012 tour also included the choir singing Evensong to a full St John’s Cathedral in Hong Kong; and singing at various concerts and receptions in Beijing and Hong Kong, including a full evening concert at the City Hall, to a capacity crowd of over 1400 people. This concert had sold out over three

weeks before we arrived, such was the thirst to experience what we can experience every day here in Wells, and often take for granted. In reporting on the tour in the last edition of The Choir Courier we did not report on the coverage that the choir received. You may be interested, therefore, to know that we reached the following people:

• 43,000 readers from Discover Britain

• 2.3 million readers of the Cathay Pacific Discovery magazine

• 66,000 listeners from a programme on BBC Radio Somerset

• 200,000 listeners from a Cathay Pacific iPad download video

• An estimated 2 million people on the Cathay Pacific inflight entertainment

• 2.9 million listeners to a seven minute programme of Hong Kong Radio of RTHK 3 (Radio Television Hong Kong)

• Another 2.9 million listeners on RTHK Radio 4 (across 7 channels)

• 1.1 million viewers on RTHK television

• 39,000 readers in the Western Daily Press

• 9,000 readers of Somerset Life

• Over 410,000 readers of the South China Morning Post (103,000 over four editions of the paper)

• 19,000 readers of the Mid Somerset Series

• 20,000 downloads of a Gramophone Magazine podcast

• A further 66,000 listeners of a second programme on BBC Radio Somerset

These are big numbers and we are indebted to Mark Coote from Wells Cathedral School and Marianne Sweet from Damselfly Communications who were responsible for this. Similarly, the Cathedral’s Marketing and Communications Officer, Lindsay Mann is helping to promote what the choir is doing currently.

Other, more local outreach includes events such as our annual Be a Chorister for a Day (see p. 8). This brings in children from Somerset and also much further afield; the record holder is a child and his parents who came all the way from Inverness! This event is so important as it brings children into the cathedral who otherwise might not have visited. The day starts with a video presentation about chorister life, and is followed by a series of singing workshops for the children; a talk from the Precentor about the cathedral and the service of Evensong; a demonstration of the cathedral organ; and a tour of Wells Cathedral School. The day finishes with the children singing with the cathedral choir during Evensong.

Cathedral Commissions is another way of bringing in new people to the Cathedral community. This was founded in 2006, and the scheme is now flourishing, allowing us to commission some of the most pre-eminent composers in the world, such as the recently retired Master of

the Queen’s Music, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies CH CBE, and, most recently, Sir John Tavener. We were all hugely saddened by his passing last November, especially as he was to have joined us for the premier of his new works. Next year, we will welcome the new Master of the Queen’s Music, Judith Weir CBE. This scheme is entirely self-sufficient and I am assisted in running it by members of a dedicated and efficient Advisory Board, chaired by Prebendary Helen Ball OBE. For further details, please see p. 17.

The first performance of these major commissions always takes place within our innovative festival, new music wells, which was founded in 2008. This festival celebrates new music and music of the previous 40 years. We are developing new music wells by moving

it from the summer to the autumn, in order to coincide with other festivals taking place in Wells, such as the WAC (Wells Arts Contemporary), Wells Food Festival, and the Wells Festival of Literature. Thus new music wells 75-15 will be from Sunday 11 – Thursday 15 October, 2015.

We also reach out, as a cathedral, when we take the cathedral choir out into the diocese. This helps us to connect with parishes across the county, and we do this three times a year, singing choral evensong in churches that often have not had such a service sung for years or even decades. Five years ago we extended these visits by beginning an annual ecumenical exchange with the community of Downside Abbey.

In a recent article for The Church Times, Dr Jonathan Arnold, Chaplain of Worcester College, Oxford, and former member of The Sixteen, suggests that “sacred music provides a way into religious experience, even for those who do not recognize the divine. People continue to flock to hear concerts, and even the most confirmed atheist can reach for religious language to describe the experience.” You may be interested to know, therefore, that in addition to our ‘outreach’ through the cathedral choir, other projects, through the greater Wells Cathedral Music Foundation, are attracting new audiences and bringing an even greater number of people into the building. Our free lunchtime organ recitals are very well attended and, given that the recitalists all give of their time for

Recording the hymns in Chilcott’s St John Passion with the Cathedral Choir, Chaconne Brass, and members of Wells Cathedral

Voluntary Choir and Wells Cathedral Oratorio Society

A workshop at the Tung Chung Salvation Army School, Hong Kong Local school children taking part in Be a Chorister for a Day

The choristers with Lady Tavener during new music wells 74-14

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travel expenses only, the generous donations of the audiences have been a small but significant help in fundraising for the cathedral. I have been doing a series of Messiaen recitals as fundraising concerts each year, which attracts a very different audience, and from January 2015, will be adding to this by doing a bi-monthly recital of music by J.S. Bach, in a survey of his complete organ works. Elsewhere, our Early Music Wells concerts, which take place by candlelight in the Quire, is an additional set of concerts run by the Music Foundation, which attracts a different audience yet again. Our fundraising concerts such as September’s The Armed Man by Karl Jenkins, and the traditional Christmas Candlelight Concerts continue to bring in a broad spectrum of people from across the community.

Since 2007 we have given a devotional p e r f o r m a n c e of a Requiem, interspersed with war poetry on Remembrance Sunday. This service always fills the Nave, and this year’s performance of the Fauré Requiem was no

exception. People want to come, remember, and reflect. Similarly, we

performed a setting of the Passion on Palm Sunday in both 2013 and 2014. Again, this attracted a large congregation on both occasions.

Of course, all of this requires an enormous amount of hard work, and we are fortunate to have an immensely dedicated team: the Vicars Choral, Choral Scholars, Organ Scholars, Assistant Organist, Choristers and their parents, various volunteers, staff and support staff at the school, and – of course – Melanie Lawlor in the Music Office, all work together to provide services, music, outreach, and mission through the cathedral choir.

In closing, I would like to tell you about a concert that the choir gave last November, at St Paul’s

Cathedral (please see p. 6). In this concert we reached a whole new group of people: corporate guests of the law firm Burges Salmon, who part-sponsored our tour to Hong Kong and Beijing. There were hundreds of senior business people, captains of industry, and lawyers from the likes of Eurostar, Marks & Spencer, and other corporate giants. After the event, the senior partners at Burges Salmon were overwhelmed by the emails and letters that they received, all of which were passed on to me. My favourite one was the following:

“Thank you, thank you, thank you! Louise and I had a wonderful time, although slightly embarrassing humming the Hallelujah chorus all the way home on the Northern Line. You’ve got your work cut out next year in terms of client entertainment. Short of sponsoring the Rolling Stones at Wembley Stadium, we’re not sure how you’re going to top last night.”

This lovely and amusing comment helps to illustrate a serious point: what we have here is extremely precious. It is also fragile and must never be taken for granted. Rather, it must continue to be nurtured and developed for generations to come.

Matthew Owens,Organist & Master of the Choristers

Royal Patron Visits WCCT

The Royal Patron of Wells Cathedral Chorister Trust, HRH The Countess of Wessex GCVO, paid a visit to the Trust on Thursday 25 September. The Countess arrived by helicopter and was welcomed by the very excited younger pupils from the School. Her Royal Highness went on to hear the choristers in rehearsal (main picture), and then met with chorister parents, trustees, the Cathedral organists, and staff from the School.

Choral Evensong provided the highlight of the visit as the Trust had commissioned much of the music for the service: a Prelude on “Wessex” by Matthew Owens and a Postlude on “Wessex” by Jeremy Woodside, both based on the hymn tune by Alwyn Surplice; Owain

Park’s anthem Beati quorum via, The Wessex Service Magnificat & Nunc Dimittis by Gary Davison, and Jonathan Dove’s anthem Te Lucis ante terminum, a setting of the ancient evening hymn.

The Trust requested that the composers dedicate their work to the Trust’s Royal Patron in recognition of the support and dedication Her Royal Highness has given to the Trust.

“The composers and everyone at the Trust were delighted to welcome Her Royal Highness to Wells,” said Trust Chairman, Iain

Ball. “The Countess has shown great dedication and given so much support to the work of the Trust since she became Royal Patron.”

The music was performed for the first time at Evensong in Her Royal Highness’s presence, and was published in Music for Evensong, a book specially designed for the occasion, which was presented to Her Royal Highness by The Dean on behalf of the Trust (inset picture).

The Wells Cathedral Chorister Trust this year marked the twentieth anniversary of the formation of the girls’ choir at Wells Cathedral. It is also celebrating the Trust’s first year of providing bursary support to all choristers, boys and girls, following changes to the initial Trust Deed in 2011.The choristers processing out of

the Quire at the end of Evensong

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On 21st November 2013, the choir went to London to perform a concert in St Paul’s Cathedral. Ella Corlett and Fergus Brown, the two head choristers at the time, tell us how it felt to perform in Christopher Wren’s glorious edifice...

The concert was part of the Burges Salmon sponsorship package for our fabulous 2012 Beijing and Hong Kong tour. The tour was a once in a lifetime opportunity, and those who were lucky enough to go had the most amazing experience.

Another experience in itself, we were honoured to travel to London and sing at St Paul’s Cathedral. It is a beautiful place and wonderful to sing in. After a long journey we were all made very welcome, shown to a reserved room for us to leave our belongings in and almost immediately taken up to the main body of the Cathedral for a short rehearsal.

Luckily, the majority of the rehearsal had already been covered back in Wells, so, being more relaxed, it did give us a bit of leeway to get used to the huge space we were about to sing in. The acoustics were like nothing we’ve ever sung in before. We created an echo of the sound that carried down the Cathedral Nave for over 12 seconds! The space that we sang in, underneath the dome, was the highest part of the Nave, so the sound carried incredibly well.

After our brief rehearsal, we were taken back down to our room whilst Evensong took place in the Cathedral. We ate a prepared snack and sat quietly as we waited for the concert.

Once Evensong had ended and we were robed up and ready to go, we were waiting on the steps almost immediately before being introduced and beginning the concert.

Singing underWren’s Dome...

We performed some of the repertoire from the tour, in order to give the guests a flavour of what we sang in the Far East. We sang Handel’s Zadok the Priest, Rachmaninov’s Nunc Dimittis, I was glad by Parry, Howard Goodall’s Love Divine (a particular favourite of the choir’s), Jubilate Deo by Britten, and Lux Aurumque by Eric Whitacre, which is a piece we often sing at Christmas. The last two pieces were Jesus Springing, a beautiful piece by Bob Chilcott, and the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah.

Later, after we had performed and Burges Salmon had thanked us and concluded the concert, we were ushered down to collect our belongings, de-robe and leave. Burges Salmon were hosting an after party, so we had to be quickly gone. Everyone was worn out, and by the time we were back, almost completely shattered! Nevertheless, it was a brilliant experience, and we wouldn’t have missed it for anything.

Ella Corlett,Head Girl Chorister (2013-14)

It was an extraordinary privilege to have sung in one of the most iconic buildings on earth: Burges Salmon made this possible for Wells Cathedral Choir in November 2013. The Bristol-based lawyers arranged for us to sing to an audience made up of their most important clients under the awe-inspiring dome of St Paul’s Cathedral. They had sponsored us on our tour to Beijing and Hong Kong in 2012. This was the second of two concerts in which we had sung for them, the first being in St George’s Church, Bristol. When inside St Paul’s, it was hard to take in the sheer enormity of the building we were in: every wall and statue was decorated with gold; we were not used to the extravagant decoration.

In rehearsal it was hard to get used to the phenomenal acoustic of the colossal cathedral: at its most the echo lasted over 10 seconds, reverberating down the Nave, but in the end we adapted to this and the music sounded better than ever. It was particularly impressive for the introduction to Zadok the Priest. We

performed a wide range of pieces throughout the concert, from the likes of Rachmaninov to Britten and Goodall to Parry. We all especially enjoyed singing the Lux aurumque, which was in direct contrast to the other pieces. While most of the pieces we performed were joyful and glorious, the Lux aurumque was solemn and prayerful.

After the concert we were all buzzing, getting onto the coach and departing through the dazzling Christmas streets of London. We spotted some of the city’s famous landmarks: the London Eye, the Houses of Parliament, and the Shard. This was a memorable end to a (calendar) year of singing in some remarkable venues across the world. We are extremely grateful to Burges Salmon for helping to give Wells Cathedral Choir these unique opportunities.

Fergus Brown, Head Boy Chorister (2013-14)

WCCA Reunion 2014

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Be a Chorister for a Day 2014On Saturday 11 October, Wells Cathedral hosted its annual Be a Chorister for a Day event. The 40 girls and boys, aged between seven and ten, came from schools across Somerset and beyond. They met in the Cathedral Choristers and participated in singing workshops with Matthew Owens, Organist and Master of the Choristers, Nicholas Freestone, Senior Organ Scholar, and Dorothy Nancekievill, Director of Music at Wells Cathedral School. The day culminated in singing Choral Evensong in the Quire of the Cathedral. Joining the Cathedral Choir, the children performed the anthem There’s a wideness in God’s mercy by Maurice Bevan. They learnt to process in and out with the Cathedral Choir, and helped the Choir lead the two hymns in the service. There were also events for the children’s parents, including a tour of Wells Cathedral School and Tea in historic Vicars’ Hall. If you are interested in the 2015 event, please contact the Cathedral Music Office on 01749 674483 or email musicoffice@wellscathedral.uk.net. If you can’t wait that long, you may like to join Wells Junior Choir, which meets on Tuesday nights. Contact us for more details.

Photographs by Jacinth Latta

The annual Wells Cathedral Choir Association (WCCA) reunion was held over the weekend of 26th and 27th April 2014. Every five years, the Association puts on a weekend reunion and a more formal dinner to celebrate the return of ex-choristers, ex-choral and organ scholars, ex-Vicars Choral, and ex-Organists to our wonderful Cathedral.

This year we had over 20 former choristers singing with the Great Choir (the boy and girl choristers together with the Vicars Choral) at Evensong and the Sunday morning Eucharist. The former choristers ranged from those in their 50s to those who had only left the choir the year before. Matthew had chosen music which lent itself to a larger choir and a good noise! The enthusiasm of

all those present ensured that the congregation was not disappointed.

The music sung was as follows:Evensong: Ayleward Responses, Psalm 145, Stanford in C, Handel Worthy is the Lamb (from ‘Messiah’)Eucharist: Widor Messe solennelle and Surrexit a mortuis

A reception, with some fizz and speeches, in the North Transept after evensong was followed by a super dinner in The Fountain Inn, which will be fondly remembered by many of you. It has recently changed hands and they did us proud with some 30 members of the Association, friends and family attending. We were entertained by our guest speaker, Dr Gordon Stewart (former Organist of Manchester and Blackburn Cathedrals) who had taught Matthew the organ in his youth! Gordon’s passion for music and humour shone through, and it was a fitting end to a hugely rewarding day.

We will be holding our next annual reunion on Saturday 25th April, 2015. Please look out for the flyer, but also get the date in the diary now.

As normal, the day will start with tea in the Friends Building, followed by sung evensong, and an informal dinner in The Fountain. It makes the event all the more rewarding if you can get hold of a few of your choir peers to attend. We hope to see as many of you as possible at the 2015 reunion. Also I would like to draw your attention to the fact that the Federation of Cathedral Old Choristers’ Associations is holding its national annual gathering at Wells on 29th and 30th April 2016. It will be a packed weekend with a formal dinner, tours, and sung evensong, among other events. It would be great to see as many WCCA members attending that weekend as we can muster.

Chris Seaton,Chairman, WCCA

Hong Kong School Makes a Return VisitOn Thursday 24 April the Cathedral hosted a special free lunchtime concert, by the children of Alliance Primary School in the Kowloon Tong area of Hong Kong.

The children were in Wells as part of visit to experience the UK. All aged between 7 and 11, they stayed in Wells for two nights with host families from Wells Cathedral School, arranged with the help of the Wells Cathedral School Foundation.

The children also performed a free concert at St Cuthbert’s Church the same evening.

When the Wells Cathedral Choir visited Hong Kong in October 2012, part of their outreach work took

them to the Alliance Primary School (pictured), where the choristers sang with the children.

Chicken Run!

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Alto Vicar Choral, Tim Angel, undertook a mammoth challenge

during Lent – running 40 miles over three half-marathons, dressed as a chicken, to raise funds for the Cathedral.

Starting with the Bath half-marathon on 2 March, whilst running Tim also carried a bucket collecting donations for the Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance. On Saturday 8 March Tim rose before the cock crowed to travel to Brean for the second stage of the challenge. Again in his chicken outfit, Tim started his run at 7.30am, travelling along the beach from Brean to Burnham and back, and at the end ran up the steps to the top of Brean Down to take his distance for the day to over 14 miles. The final part of the challenge took place in Bristol where, on Friday 22 March, Tim ran the Bristol half-marathon course, again dressed as a chicken!

The challenge caused a few injuries, including a pulled calf muscle and a

lost big toe nail, but Tim felt it was worthwhile having beaten his target and raising £550 to support the work of the Cathedral.

And the next challenge…Tim’s next challenge is to run, over the 2014/15 academic year, two half-marathons each month – again, in the chicken outfit!

Training started at the end of June, and Tim hopes to run each race in under two hours. He also hopes to be joined by some chorister parents at a couple of the races, which include events in Cardiff, Pembrokeshire, Weston-super-Mare, Brean, Bath, County Clare, and Edinburgh.

Tim has set himself the tough target of raising £25,000 to help fund the repairs to the roof in the North Nave Aisle. If you would like to sponsor Tim, please visit www.justgiving.com/Timothy-Angel1/

Keeping the Choristers WarmThanks to the hard work of a small team of helpers and the generosity of a large number of donors, the choristers received a lovely new set of cloaks in February 2014. Previously, the girl choristers had cloaks to wear over their uniforms when walking between the School and Cathedral, but when it was time for them to be replaced it was agreed that the boys, who had previously worn their own coats, should have matching cloaks too. Precentor, Canon Nicholas Jepson-Biddle, said “We are very grateful to the many who have given so generously: chorister parents, the parents of former choristers,

congregation members, as well as friends and supporters. The children of the choir work extremely hard to maintain the reputation that the choir has gained over many years. It is the least that we can do to keep them warm while they do it!” Matthew Owens, Organist & Master of the Choristers, added “The boys for years have had coats and hats to keep them warm and dry, but we are delighted that all of the choristers now look the same in one uniform and are recognisable ambassadors for Wells Cathedral.” Huge thanks go to Di Armstrong, Sophie Brown, Jenny Henderson, and Arnold Wills for all of their hard work.

Registered charity no. 1098277

Royal Patron:HRH The Countess of Wessex GCVO

For more information or to make a donation, please visit www.wcct.co.uk

Can you help?Human beings need beauty and inspiration as much as the physical necessities of life. For centuries, the sound of choirs has been at the heart of the worship of our cathedrals, conveying a profound sense of spirituality. The unique English choral tradition sets the standard for all church music and Wells Cathedral Chorister Trust wants to ensure that every child has the same level of opportunity to share in this rich musical heritage.

You can help us to achieve our target by making a donation to help ensure the future of the Wells Cathedral Choristers. Preserving this essentially English tradition of cathedral choral music is a worthwhile cause. Your contributions will prove invaluable. The Trust aims to:

Ø Provide scholarships for the choristersØ Provide bursaries for the choristersØ Create an endowment fund that will ensure the future of this 1100-year-old traditionØ Make sure that no child is barred from this opportunity on financial grounds

The Trust aims to provide support toward the total costs for each chorister place. Over a five year period, the total costs for a day chorister are upwards of £70,000, and £120,000 for a boarder. These costs are high but the Trust works to ensure that no child of ability and talent is denied a place as a chorister. These young musicians are the singers and musicians of the future who may take their place within the world of opera, singing ensembles and as soloists. Your support for the Trust’s appeal will help us achieve these aims.

Achieving Excellence

Through Opportunity

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The Start of the New Academic Year

The Cathedral Choir sang its first full service of the new academic year on Sunday 7th September. This was a day later than usual, owing to the choristers performing at the BBC Proms with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and Sir Simon Rattle (see p. 18).

We welcomed some new members to the Cathedral Music Foundation:

Dylan Cox, Xavier Hobday-Padamadan, Ozzie Latta, James MacGeoch, Carla Coombs, and Eliza Green all sang in their first service as probationer choristers. We also welcomed Daniel Brown, William Drakett, and Jack Wilde as Choral Scholars, Sean Frost as Junior Organ Scholar, and Nicholas Freestone as Senior Organ Scholar. A number of choristers were surpliced during the

service: Tom Bates, George Blundell, Alexei James-Cudworth, Natalie Borenstein, Erin Davies, Jessica Morrell, Sophie Morrell, and Harriet Perring; Greg Wills and Madeleine Perring were made Head Boy and Head Girl Choristers, whilst Max Davis, and Freya Carruthers and Niamh Davies were made Deputy Head Boy and Deputy Head Girl Choristers respectively.

The service included an inspirational sermon from The Right Reverend Bishop Martin Shaw, formerly Bishop of Argyll and the Isles, and a former Chaplain of King’s College, Cambridge, who happens to be a fine baritone singer as well.

At the beginning of November, we were also pleased to welcome two new boy choristers: Zach Everson and Taylor Thompson, which means that both boy and girl treble lines are currently full, which really is very good news.

Matthew Owens

Our three new Choral Scholars...Daniel Brown (Countertenor)Daniel’s singing career began with a failed orchestral audition at the University of Virginia. A violinist for ten years, he joined the University Singers as a way to keep music in his life, and quickly fell in love with choral music. He eventually switched his degree from History & Politics to Music, and a term spent rehearsing for Bach’s Mass in B minor led him to shift from tenor to alto. After graduating, Daniel decided to return to his adopted country to pursue a performance career. Last year, he served as the alto choral scholar at Lincoln Cathedral. In the instances when he is not singing, Daniel enjoys the Oxford comma, and writing about himself in the third person.

Jack Wilde (Tenor)Jack has been singing in choirs since the age of seven, when he joined the choir of his local parish church of St Alphege in Solihull. He was educated at Solihull School before going on to study at Royal Holloway where he graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Astrophysics.

As well as studying for his degree, Jack was also heavily involved with the musical life at Royal Holloway; he was a choral scholar with the Choir of Royal Holloway for three years and performed with several university societies including the Savoy Opera Society, Opera Holloway, and the Royal Holloway Early Music Society, which he co-founded with two friends in his second year. Whilst with the Choir of Royal Holloway, Jack performed in well over one hundred concerts across the UK and abroad, appeared on several BBC radio broadcasts, and featured

on four recordings for Hyperion. He also enjoyed touring with the choir to various countries including France, Belgium, and the Baltic States. After graduating, Jack worked for a year in the music department at Royal Holloway, as the administrator for the choir.

Jack is very excited to be living and working in Wells as a member of the Cathedral Choir and as a graduate music assistant at Wells Cathedral School.

William Drakett (Bass)William graduated in 2014 from Birmingham Conservatoire with First Class Honours, having been awarded a scholarship to study there. He studied organ (Henry Fairs), improvisation (Alexander Mason and Ronny Krippner), harpsichord (Martin Perkins), and voice (Gordon Sandison and Andrew King), and was awarded the Corton-Hyde

continuo scholarship for three consecutive years.

Will’s musical education started as a chorister at Bristol Cathedral, going on to become Head Chorister and reach the final of BBC’s Young Chorister of the Year in 2004. From 2009-10, Will was organ scholar at Portsmouth Cathedral, later filling the role of Acting Sub-Organist from 2011-12, whilst studying at Birmingham Conservatoire. In addition to playing for the regular services at the Cathedral, Will toured with Portsmouth to Antwerp, Salzburg, Berlin, Stockholm and Uppsala, Malta, and Alpe d’Huez. He also played for their BBC Choral Evensong Broadcast in December 2011, and played and sang on numerous CD recordings.

After his two years’ singing at Wells, Will hopes to continue postgraduate studies in London, and find time to ski and play cricket.

From left to right: William, Jack and Daniel

...our Senior Organ Scholar...Nicholas Freestone joined the Music Foundation as Senior Organ Scholar for the 2014/15 academic year. Born in Ipswich, Nicholas was Organ Scholar at St Mary-le-Tower Civic Church in his sixth-form years, whilst also being a music scholar at Ipswich School. Nicholas spent a gap-year as Organ Scholar at Tewkesbury Abbey, where he regularly accompanied the Schola Cantorum and Abbey Choir in the daily round of services, assisted in the training of the probationer choristers, and also worked in the music department of Dean Close School in Cheltenham.

Nicholas graduated this summer from the University of Oxford, after spending three years reading for a degree in

music at Worcester College. Whilst there, Nicholas was the college’s organ scholar, a role that involved directing and accompanying the college choirs (of undergraduates and boy trebles) in the regular term-time services. In addition, the college choirs undertook a busy schedule of extra-liturgical events, with Nicholas directing and accompanying the choirs in concert including at St Paul’s Cathedral, St John’s Smith Square, and the Buxton Opera House. He also directed the choir in four recordings, on two BBC Radio 4 broadcasts, and on tours to Belgium, France, Germany, and Italy. Nicholas is enjoying getting to know the choristers and Vicars Choral, not to mention the Cathedral organ!

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Yet another fantastic opportunity was thrown our way on Monday 6th October when we were invited to perform with The Script at the Pride of Britain Awards 2014.

The Script is a very popular band and quite well known with the ‘youngsters’. When we were told about this invitation, it went down very well, especially with the girls... The song we had to sing is one of their latest songs, quite different to what we sing on a daily basis in the Cathedral!

After rehearsals with Mr Owens we were finally on our way to London. Everyone enjoys coach trips, including the choristers! We had a running commentary through London from our bus driver and we soon arrived

at The Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane where the awards were taking place. It was a grand hotel surrounded by very expensive shops. I think I can safely say we all felt like royalty! We checked in and were led through what felt like a maze to get to our ‘green room’. We were all eager to meet The Script but we had to wait for a while before our scheduled slot for rehearsal.

Eventually, the time came. We were taken to a beautiful, large ballroom with a stage, and at that point, we all felt like pop stars. Meeting The Script for the first time was incredible. They were all so friendly! They made us feel at home, they couldn’t do enough for us, and best of all; they wanted our autographs! It was like a dream. Some of the choristers

were asking me to pinch them! After our crazy rehearsal, we had dinner back in our room and then we had to prepare for the big performance. Everyone was running cues through their heads; where to look, when to come on, when to come off. Time dragged by, making us more nervous by the minute.

Eventually, we were called to the stage. We looked over the balcony and saw countless celebrities (including Prime Minister David Cameron!). That was when the nerves really kicked in. But, I think I can safely say we all performed brilliantly (judging by the playback on TV), and I can definitely say we all thoroughly enjoyed it. All I can say now is: what’s next for the Wells Cathedral Choristers?

Maddie Perring, Head Girl Chorister

The girl and boy choristers on their respective stages in rehearsal

Pride of Wells

...and our new Junior Organ ScholarSean Frost first experienced music as a Chorister at Salisbury Cathedral. After this he became a Specialist Pianist at Wells Cathedral School and studies the organ with Daniel Moult. He is now in Lower Sixth studying Music, Maths, Chemistry and Computing at AS Level. As the Wells Cathedral Junior Organ Scholar, he accompanies the cathedral choir for evensong, and the

school’s Chapel Choir in rehearsals and services. He also plays for the boarders’ services and the school’s cathedral assembly. Although a busy organist, Sean is still a specialist pianist and is currently learning the Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto for the school concerto auditions in June. He is hoping to apply for an Oxbridge Organ scholarship to read Music after Wells.

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A Homily for the Vicars ChoralThis address was given by the Precentor, during the annual service of Holy Comm2union, sung by the Vicars Choral in the Vicars’ Close Chapel, to commemorate Bishop Ralph of Shrewsbury, whose tomb in the Cathedral is pictured below.

I often marvel whenever I walk into the harmonious whole which is our Cathedral that someone, at some time had immense vision, foresight and stamina to undertake such a task.

It is also true that Bishop Ralph, and all who endowed this great place put their money where their faith was, knew two things: firstly, they were certain that only the very best was due to God in worship, and secondly, they knew of the affectivity of music.

That the Church of England should be offering the very best of anything at all in 2014 is laughable to some and a surprise to others. That such an offering might be as professionally wrought and rely on the honed skills

of many and be so affective helping those who come here to engage with God is near miraculous. It may seem a strong word to use, but what for us is (almost literally) the ‘everyday’ of the Anglican Choral tradition is for others the unencumbered, undiluted, unfathomable experience of the presence and mercy of God.

Two and a half years ago a report, Spiritual Capital undertaken by the Grubb Institute and the theological think tank, Theos, described Wells as one of the most spiritually charged of the English Cathedrals. Despite visits to places like Durham and St Paul’s, their research pointed to this place above others as a thin place for the divine meeting his creation.

For many it is music which describes, connects and most importantly partakes of the divine. The days are gone when doctrines and creeds were the stuff of faith or indeed were of interest to many. The thing about music is that it speaks OF God rather than ABOUT God.

It is one of the reasons that for me, what we do is at the forefront of theological endeavour here: we are not just feeding on God and encouraging others to do so by listening to us. There is something we

do in connecting the essence both of God and his created humanity together which gives voice to what for many, otherwise, is not so much silence as emptiness. Anyone listening to Nicholas Gombert’s Lugebat Absalom as we did earlier this week, would be hard pushed not to take both the undoing of bereavement and the investment of God in humanity’s rich expression, seriously.

There are many privileges which we enjoy as artists and creators: as people who foster a particular sort of community; who know how to listen and to let others have their moment; who perhaps make sacrifices in other areas of their lives to enable this to happen; who know that their contribution is a small but necessary part of the whole. But for us, I think the question is this, how do these Arcadian virtues, all great and laudable graces of musicianship, spill over into the mission of the Church, and flood its life? It isn’t just the music that converts dry souls, it is the virtuous environment which produces that expression of God, that beauty, which is the treasure.

For which, to Bishop Ralph and for all who have endowed and continue to endow this great foundation, we give thanks. Amen.

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new music wells 74-14

Wells Cathedral celebrated its seventh annual festival of new music in May 2014. Building on the success of previous years, all the music during the Cathedral’s services and at three special concerts, was selected from repertoire written during the last 40 years.

This year’s featured composer was the late Sir John Tavener who had been commissioned by Cathedral Commissions early

in 2013. Artistic Director of Cathedral Commissions, Matthew Owens, had asked Tavener to write two pieces for Wells Cathedral Choir, for what was to have been the year of the composer’s seventieth birthday. Tavener completed the works shortly before his death in November 2013.

The premières took place on Sunday 18 May: Missa Wellensis at the Cathedral Eucharist, and the Preces and Responses at Choral Evensong.

Tavener’s music was also featured in services and concerts throughout the week. The cathedral was very pleased to welcome Lady Tavener for the weekend.

The festival also included world première performances of works by Brian Chapple, Ronald Corp (who was born in Wells), and Adam Hickox, a student at Wells Cathedral School.

There were two lunchtime concerts during the week given by students from Wells Cathedral School, which included music by the school’s student composers and Sir John Tavener; and the International Concert Organist, Margaret Phillips, performed a recital which included Lionel Rogg’s Hommage à Franz Liszt, Brian Chapple’s Six Bagatelles, and Tavener’s Mandelion.

Judith Weir CBE, the new Master of The Queen’s Music, will be next year’s featured composer, and the Festival will take place in October.

To find out more about Cathedral Commissions and support the exciting new music scheme at Wells, please see the article on the opposite page.

Jeremy Woodside, Ronald Corp, Matthew Owens, and Judith Bingham (President of new music wells) with the boy choristers

A Fundraising Concert and Pancakes!One of the most popular pieces of contemporary choral music, The Armed Man by Karl Jenkins, was performed by the Girl Choristers and Vicars Choral on 27th September, in a special concert which raised over £3,600 for Cathedral funds. The concert, performed to a full Nave, also included works by Jonathan Dove, J.S. Bach, and Rachmaninov.

On Shrove Tuesday, after Evensong, senior choristers performed at a special instrumental concert in Cedars Drawing Room at the School. As well as singing, many choristers also play instruments and this was

an opportunity for them to perform in front of the other choristers and their parents.

The concert was followed by a Pancake Party, which was organised by the Chorister Parents Social Committee. It is hoped that this will become an annual event!

Established in 2006, Cathedral Commissions is a scheme run by Wells Cathedral to raise funds for the commissioning of new works from some of today’s most exciting composers, and to share the thrill of commissioning with as many people as possible. The scheme is open to anyone and is a rewarding and enjoyable way to support living composers, the glorious English choral tradition, and the Choir of Wells Cathedral. Our Commissioners provide the essential financial support for a new piece of music to be brought into being.

Each new piece of music requires a group of Cathedral Commissioners to donate ‘Commission Units’ in multiples of £100. As a Commissioner you normally have the following privileges:

• An invitation to attend special rehearsals, with the composer in attendance, and be a VIP guest at the premiére of the new work • Receive a signed copy of the score, which will have your name printed in it

• Meet the composer at a special Commissioners’ Reception and discuss their work with them • Directly support a composer’s work and the ancient Music Foundation of Wells Cathedral and the wider English choral tradition.

Cathedral Commissions is delighted that Judith Weir CBE, the new Master of The Queen’s Music, will be next year’s featured composer. Her new work will be premièred during the cathedral’s innovative annual festival, new music wells, in October 2015.

Weir was born in Cambridge, England, to Scottish parents. She studied with Sir John Tavener whilst at school and subsequently with Robin Holloway at King’s College, Cambridge, graduating in 1976. Her music often draws on sources from medieval history, as well as the traditional stories and music of her parents’ homeland, Scotland. Although she has achieved international recognition for her orchestral and chamber works, Weir is best known for her operas and theatrical works. From 1995 to

2000, she was Artistic Director of the Spitalfields Festival in London. She held the post of Composer in Association for the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra from 1995 to 1998. She received the Lincoln Center’s Stoeger Prize in 1997, the South Bank Show music award in 2001 and the ISM’s Distinguished Musician Award in 2010. In 2007, she was the third recipient of The Queen’s Medal for Music. She was Visiting Distinguished Research Professor in Composition in Cardiff University from 2006 to 2009.

In 2005, Weir was appointed CBE for services to music and on 21 July 2014 became the first ever female Master of the Queen’s Music, succeeding Sir Peter Maxwell Davies CH CBE.

To support Judith Weir’s new work for less than £10 a month, please contact us using the details below.

Commissioning the Future

Composer Jonathan Dove discusses his new workwith a Cathedral Commissioner

To become a Commissioner please download and complete a form from the Cathedral’s website, wellscathedral.org.uk, or send an e-mail to the scheme’s Administrator, Dr Nicholas Hooper,via administrator@cathedralcommissions.co.uk, or call 01749 674483 for more information.

Composer James MacMillan CBE signs his autograph for a chorister

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The Choristers’ BBC Proms Debut!

Singing at The Royal Albert Hall, in September, with Sir Simon Rattle

Just before the summer break, I found out I was given the opportunity to be the Head Boy Chorister at Wells Cathedral. I was looking forward to the new experiences and pieces that would face us this year. We all sang together for what we thought was just a normal afternoon rehearsal. Then Mr Owens walked into the practice room with some exciting news. He told us we had just been given the opportunity to sing with one of the most prestigious orchestras in the world, the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra at the BBC Proms in London. The conductor would be the famous Sir Simon Rattle. The whole choir cheered with pleasure and smiled with excitement. We couldn’t wait to tell our families.

We stayed in a hotel called the Lancaster Gate and spent the next few days rehearsing at the Royal College of Music where I met Sir Simon Rattle for first time. He was so kind and encouraging, making us feel confident to perform with his conducting.

One evening we went to the Rainforest Café and had a lovely dinner together. We also had the opportunity to go on

the London Eye and visit our first 4D cinema, which everyone enjoyed.

On the day of the performance our rehearsal was in the Royal Albert Hall. The first thing I noticed when I walked into the hall was the giant organ: it was as tall as a house. Then I looked up at the ceiling which looked like floating balloons, perfectly made to balance the acoustic. The whole room was red and gold and we were amazed by the number of seats and boxes that filled the room. I was so excited and nervous to perform to such a large audience.

We walked onto the stage with bright lights shining on our faces and thousands of people watching us. The first person in the whole room I noticed was my Dad. He gave me a massive smile and I knew it would all be fine.

Sir Simon Rattle [left] talking to the Wells and Winchester choristers on stage at the Royal Albert Hall

Outside the stage door

The music was beautiful and I felt like I was part of something amazing. I loved every moment of the performance and before we knew it, it was time to leave.

I am grateful for having been given this amazing opportunity at only thirteen years old. I have memories I’ll never forget and met people who have inspired me to become the best musician I can be. I’m looking forward to the next adventures to come.

Gregory Wills,Head Boy Chorister

Top: On the London Eye Above: Lunch at Da Mario’s PizzeriaBelow left: Sharing the stage with one of the world’s top orchestras

Below: The Head Choristers with Sir Simon

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‘Bis Orat Qui Bene Cantat’

Saint Augustine’s saying, “Bis orat qui bene cantat,” often is translated as, “He who sings, prays twice.” However, a more precise rendering might be, “He prays twice who sings well.” I love that the adverb well, connoting a quality of excellence, is also the same word as the noun well, from which life-sustaining waters flow. How remarkable it is – though not merely coincidental, methinks – that both are found so beautifully demonstrated in your fair city at Wells.

Over the past decade, Wells has become a sort of home away from home for me. The bucolic setting at the foot of Somerset’s Mendip Hills is breathtaking. The cathedral, along with Vicar’s Close and the Bishop’s Palace, may well be the loveliest ecclesiastical environs in the land. And the choir, recognized as one of the best in the world, is reason enough to be attracted so strongly to England’s “Smallest City.” But it is within these contexts that the best of all is to be found: the vibrant, welcoming community of people I’ve come to know.

Of course, the musical riches at The Cathedral of Saint Andrew are what keep pulling me back as a composer of choral and organ music. To write for such a talented group of musicians is nothing short of inspiring (if not a wee bit daunting). Mr Owens and Mr Vaughn are a formidable team in leading an equally formidable back row, along with the stellar front row of trebles, whom I hold dearest. I’m here to tell you, the accolades they have received are more than well-deserved!

support of new music

This past June, a dream became a reality. The choir of men and girls recorded an all-Davison disc for Regent, which will be released next year. An endeavour such as this takes a good bit of planning and hard work on everyone’s part. But without Mr Owens’ clear vision and his unwavering support of new music for the Christian Church – even from these distant shores across the pond(!) – none of this would ever have happened. But it has, I am pleased in excelsis to say!

The preliminary playbacks during the sessions already exceeded my hopes for the project. But from the start, I held every confidence that my compositional efforts would be rewarded with the finest possible performances; that is exactly why this was brought to Wells. Happily, the fundraising efforts were met with enthusiastic, very generous support from music-loving family and friends who have come to know of my affinity for Wells. We managed to exceed the costs related to the disc, which was our intent all along so that the Wells Cathedral Chorister Trust might receive the supplemental funds. It is also our intention that the proceeds from direct purchases of the disc from the Trust will return to the same. I have to say, this may be the most exciting part of the entire undertaking for me. To help benefit the continuation of such a fine choral tradition, that which has sustained so many for so long, including me, makes my heart truly grateful and glad.

Most of the works in the lineup have been heard in services in Wells,

including The Holy Eucharist, Matins, Evensong, and a Memorial. All tracks are first recordings with only one exception. And the very first piece I wrote for Wells, the anthem on Thomas Ken’s “Glory to thee, my God, this night” (2010), is included. In addition to Mr Vaughn’s masterful accompanying, he graces the disc with two of my chorale prelude settings: one on Laudes Domini and the other on Michael. Another highlight for me was the involvement of Wells Cathedral School violist Matthew Souter on Easter (Rise, heart!) and trumpeter Simon Jones on the Palace Garden Service (Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis). The title track, The Armour of Light, comes across beautifully in its use of the space in the nave. There is a semi-chorus that is in dialogue with the full choir. The smaller group was placed at a distance, thereby producing a marvellous three-dimensional aural

effect of that larger open area of the cathedral.

It will be a great joy to return in 2015 for the launch of the disc (date tba). Inevitably, thanking specific people will leave omissions. But at the risk of such, I still must thank, for now, the following for their part in this happy endeavour: Dean John Clarke and the Chapter, Matthew Owens, Jonathan Vaughn, Iain Ball and the WCCT, Gary Cole, Di Armstrong, Melanie Lawlor, all of our donors, the Vicars Choral, and last but by no means least, the amazing girl choristers (and their amazing parents!).

“My song shall be alway of the loving-kindness of the Lord:with my mouth will I ever be shewing thy truth from one

generation to another.”Psalm 89:1

Gary DavisonPotomac, Maryland, USA

Recording complete: Gary Davison [centre] with the girl choristers, Vicars Choral, and Matthew Owens,with Jonathan Vaughn just visible in the organ loft!

The girl choristers look on as Matthew Owens, Gary Cole (producer), and Gary Davison

discuss the music during the recording session

Choristers don their antlers for the Reindeer Parade!On Sunday 8th December 2013, the boy choristers sang in the Market Square as part of the Wells Reindeer Parade. Organised by the Rotary Club of Wells, in aid of the Somerset Air Ambulance, the event began with the reindeers pulling Father Christmas up the High Street on his sleigh. The crowds then gathered around stalls and activities, and listened to the boys singing carols in their green and red velvet reindeer antlers!

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The Summer Organ FestivalMatthew Owens writes:The Cathedral’s annual Summer Organ Festival took place from April to August. I opened the season and we then had a very distinguished line up of guest organists: International Concert Organist, Margaret Phillips (who is also a Professor at the Royal College of Music) whose recital coincided with the annual new music wells festival and featured a major work by the late Sir John Tavener, who was the featured composer of the festival.

Particularly large crowds gathered to hear Dr Stephen Cleobury CBE (Director of Music at King’s College, Cambridge) and Dr Barry Rose OBE (formerly Organist of Guildford, St Paul’s, and St Albans

Cathedrals). Barry performed a special recital to celebrate his 80th birthday, which paid tribute to composers associated with or who were born or died in the year of Barry’s birth, 1934. This included pieces by Mathias, Elgar, and also a former friend and colleague at Canterbury, the late Alan Ridout. Jonathan Vaughn concluded the series in August.

The Summer Organ Festival has a video link which allows the audience to watch the player’s hands and feet during the recitals. People find it absolutely fascinating and we continue to be grateful to the Friends of Wells Cathedral who provided the funding for this equipment. Look out for details of next year’s series.

A Concert at Marlborough CollegeOver 73 seasons Marlborough College Concert Series has hosted many an internationally acclaimed artist or ensemble – from Alfred Brendel, to the London Symphony Orchestra; from The Sixteen and the King’s Singers to Jonny Dankworth and Cleo Laine, but the concert given in Marlborough College Chapel (pictured) on 12 October by Wells Cathedral Choir with Jonathan Vaughn, (organ) and conducted by Master of the Choristers, Matthew Owens, was undoubtedly up there with the very finest.

Wells Cathedral Choir, hailed recently by an international jury from Gramophone magazine as the greatest choir with children in the world and the 6th greatest overall certainly lived up to its reputation. In fact, I’d go further. Based on this concert, with its intoxicating blend of tone, colour, shape, balance and sublime

musicianship exquisitely crafted by Owens this is a choir with platinum status, no question.

The gentlemen of the Vicars Choral were simply astonishing, and spearheaded by some sumptuous solos, the audience was left spell bound by their consummate artistry.

The acoustics of the splendid Marlborough College Chapel and its Beckerath organ provided ideal support, and the programme with music ranging from Haydn to Eric Whitacre, Parry to Duruflé’s beautiful Requiem in the second half ensured that the packed Chapel was treated to an unforgettable experience.

It simply doesn’t come much better than this.

Philip Dukes, Artistic Director, Marlborough College

Celebrating 20 Yearsof Girl Choristers at Wells

Some 33 former girl chorister and their families were re-united at Wells Cathedral and Wells Cathedral School on 18th October, to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the founding of the Girl Choristers. They were joined by former Cathedral Organists Anthony Crossland and Malcolm Archer, and former Assistant Organist Rupert Gough.

There were words of welcome at the pre-lunch drinks reception in Cedars Drawing Room from Wells Cathedral School’s Director of External Relations, Mark Coote; Cathedral Organist, Matthew Owens; and the Head of the school, Elizabeth Cairncross, whose predecessor, John Baxter was present via a video message. All 86 guests, including the current girl choristers, then enjoyed lunch and a speech from Malcolm Archer. Both the former and present girl choristers spent the afternoon rehearsing for and singing Evensong in the Cathedral, where they sang with the Vicars Choral. A new introit, Christus Est Stella, written by Stuart Beer, in honour of this anniversary service, was premièred. Our thanks to all the girls that came back to their cathedral and school, who made it such a special day and celebration as a result.

Former choristers and their families enjoy the reunion lunch

Above: Organists Past and Present -Malcolm Archer, Matthew Owens and Anthony Crossland

Below: Former choristers Nelleke Ladipo, Frances Henderson,Nicola Kingston and Polly Baker

WELLS CATHEDRAL CHOIR

www.wellscathedral.org.uk www.wells-cathedral-school.com

An amazing opportunity for your son or daughter

“one of the most impressive oftoday’s British cathedral choirs”Gramophone

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