Peterborough Cathedral Choir is gathering forces for the Autumn Term, having returned from the summer break to sing services from 6th September onwards.
With ten new boy and girl choristers, four new lay clerks, two new choral scholars and a new organ scholar, there is certainly plenty of fresh talent in the department. That’s not to mention the new Director of Music, Tansy Castledine (pictured), who started work this week.
“I’m delighted to be joining the Cathedral community and am immensely looking forward to working closely with the members of the music department,” said Tansy. “The opportunity to help shape and lead the musical offerings within the Cathedral’s life is one that is hugely exciting. There is so much to enjoy as part of daily Cathedral life, be it liturgy and concert work, training the choristers, or working with the scholars, lay clerks, organists, and department’s support team. I’m also looking forward to reaching out to beyond the Cathedral walls to enable as many people as possible to enjoy and benefit from the talents of our musicians. With several major concerts in the diary already this year, it looks to be a very exciting time ahead!”
Although Tansy officially started this week, she was also in Peterborough in the summer for the IAO (Incorporated Association of Organists) annual festival. This five day gathering brought over 100 delegates to the Cathedral for a feast of events included a recital by Steven Grahl, former Director of Music and IAO President, a concert by Schola Cantorum of Oxford and an organ improvisation masterclass given by Martin Baker. Delegates also had a behind the scenes tour of the Cathedral’s re-pitched organ and there was the inaugural IAO-RCA Organ Competition. This was hotly contested by six hugely talented young organists and won by Callum Alger who is currently studying at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.
Events autumn 2018
These are just a few highlights from this term's programme (click on the titles to find out more):
A free taster session for children in Year 2 to see what it is like to be in the choir. Voice trials will take place on Monday 5th, Wednesday 7th and Friday 9th November 2018, for places in the Cathedral Choir starting in September 2019. For details contact Penny Wood (penny.wood@peterborough-cathedral.org.uk) if you would like to know more about either of these.
A joint concert with Peterborough Choral Society and the Festival Chorus. Rehearsals, directed by Tansy Castledine, have just started (on Wednesdays at 7.45pm in the Knights’ Chamber for the Festival Chorus and on Tuesdays at 7.30pm at Netherton for the Choral Society) and newcomers are welcome.
The annual concert of season music from the Cathedral Choir is always a favourite.
Introducing the newcomers
Will Bosworth, Tenor Lay Clerk, read Music at the University of Birmingham, then completed his PhD (on ‘Accentual counterpoint and metrical narrative in the music of Brahms’) at Magdalene College, Cambridge before coming to Peterborough.
Ben Etherton, Bass Lay Clerk, has held similar posts at both Cardiff and Guildford Cathedrals. Ben studied at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and read Music at Bristol University.
Sam Madden, Tenor Choral Scholar, has come from St Paul’s Cathedral, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Rose Spencer, Alto Choral Scholar, has come from Bradford Cathedral.
Chris Murphy, Alto Lay Clerk, who has come to us from the Royal Academy of Musc.
Adam Wilson, Organ Scholar, started out as a chorister and then an Organ Scholar at Dunblane Cathedral. He went on to read Music at the University of Glasgow where was Lanfine Organ Scholar. From there he became Organ Scholar at St Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh, and was also Organist and Director of Music at St Ninian's Episcopal Church in Comely Bank.
Owen Winter, Tenor Lay Clerk. After reading Music at York, Owen became a member of Genesis Sixteen before serving as a Lay Clerk at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, where he also sang in the choir at Jesus College.
They join existing Alto Lay Clerk, Joe Bolger. A new Bass Lay Clerk and a Bass Choral Scholar are currently being recruited.
David Humphreys is Assistant Director of Music.