The Iain Ball Chorister Appeal

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE APPEAL BROCHURE

At the end of 2019, we were very sorry to hear about the passing of Iain Ball MBE. Wells Cathedral Chorister Trust owes a huge debt of gratitude to Iain, who served from 2004 to 2014 as Chairman of the Trustees. During his period as Chairman, the Trust supported young choristers, enabling them to benefit from a unique musical education which might otherwise have been denied them. 

To mark their gratitude and appreciation for Iain’s commitment and dedication, the Trustees wish to provide an annual chorister award (The Iain Ball Chorister) by creating a fund of capital to be professionally managed. 

The Iain Ball Chorister Award will encourage generations of choristers to excel in their musical field, ever mindful of the fruits of Iain’s commitment.  

The Trustees are increasingly concerned that ‘every child’s voice should be heard’, and that every talented child regardless of their family’s financial circumstances, should be able to take up an offered chorister place at Wells Cathedral. 

We know some families are unable to take up offered places for financial reasons. These ’lost voices’ are central to the Trust’s campaign strategy, soon to be launched, in an attempt to preserve the unique tradition of English Cathedral Music at Wells. The Trust’s aim is to raise enough money to fully fund all thirty-six choristers.

Boys have sung in Wells Cathedral for over 1100 years; girls began in 1994. Day by day, the boy and girl choristers sing in their own treble lines with the men – the Vicars Choral. Occasionally they all sing together – the Great Choir.

With the support of our Royal Patron, HRH The Countess of Wessex, the Trust is determined that no child with musical talent should miss out on these opportunities for financial reasons. 

Arnold Wills 
Chairman of Wells Cathedral Chorister Trust
chairman@wcct.co.uk

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE APPEAL BROCHURE

Iain Ball [centre] welcomes HRH The Countess of Wessex to Wells Cathedral School on her first official visit in 2007

He has supported the whole choir through the opportunities for new and interesting music which Trust activities have given, and many people have had hours of quality entertainment through Trust events. And Iain is, above all else, generous. He shares his contacts and his friends – like Lady Marina – and he shares his hospitality. (He once told me that he believes it is a sacrament.) He thanks people warmly, quickly, and personally. He is trenchant, and he is kind. So he achieves things!

Helen [Iain's wife] has been a willing, generous and thoughtful ally and supporter through all these years, and needs our thanks as well. There are choristers now in the choir and the school who would not be there if it were not for Trust funding. There are young adult musicians making an impact for good in the world who started their musical careers in the choir because of the support of the Trust.

And perhaps his greatest success is that he leaves the leadership of the Trust at a point when it is both solid and developing, with clear ambition for the future, and the ability to realise that ambition. We owe Iain a great deal!

Elizabeth Cairncross
Former Principal, Wells Cathedral School