Promenade Concert in aid of WCCT

We are delighted that the Tallis Voices, conducted by Peter Leech, are again putting on a concert in aid of the Trust. The concert will be given as part of Wells Cathedral's series of Promenade Concerts. These take place throughout January when the nave has been cleared of all furniture, allowing the audience to wander through this wonderful medieval space.

The concert is at 7.00pm on Friday 17 January and is entitled Light of the World. It promises to be ‘a feast of Renaissance choral music, including music for Candlemas and the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary’ and is sure to be a wonderful treat.

Tickets are £10 and are available from the Cathedral Shop Box Office (01749 672773) or on the door.

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Chorister Painting Competition Winners

At the start of Advent, the Wells Cathedral Choristers were invited to submit a painting about ‘The Real Meaning of Christmas’ for a competition sponsored by the Trust. The competition was judged by Annie Maw, HM Lord-Lieutenant of Somerset (pictured below). Annie was delighted to do this, not only because she has such a keen interest in the Choristers’ lives, but also art. There were two winners and three runners up, and the book-token prizes were presented by Director of Music, Jeremy Cole (all pictured above).

HM Lord-Lieutenant, Annie Maw judged the competition, and is pictured here holding the winning entries with the Cathedral Administrator, Jackie Croft (top left); Chairman of the Chorister Trust, Arnold Wills (top right); and Chorister Coordinator, Di Armstrong (bottom right).

And 'W' is for... Wells!

Fantastic to see Wells featured today as 'W' in the Friends of Cathedral Music's Advent Calendar... http://bit.ly/W4Wells

The FCM made a Small Revenue Grant earlier this year, to go towards chorister vocal tuition. This allowed the Cathedral to recruit a new Chorister Vocal Tutor, who provides singing lessons for all choristers throughout the week. According to Jeremy Cole, our newly appointed Director of Music, ‘This contribution has been a key part in our ability to set our choristers up to succeed with a focus on good vocal technique and vocal health throughout their time in Wells Cathedral Choir.’

Autumn / Winter Newsletter

We’re delighted to share our latest newsletter with you. Our Wells Angels received their copies last week and we’re now delighted to share it with our wider audience of supporters. With dates of not-to-be-missed forthcoming events, as well as recent news of both current and former choristers, we hope you’ll enjoy reading it.

There are two ways in which you can access the newsletter:

1. Read online by CLICKING HERE

2. Download a PDF to read on your computer at home by CLICKING HERE

Hard copies will also soon be available in Wells Cathedral.

On the Stage with Jethro Tull!

The choristers had a great time on Friday night when they shared the stage in Wells Cathedral with progressive rock band, Jethro Tull. Singing to a full crowd, the choristers delivered a fantastic performance.

Sophie Sings Solo at the Albert Hall!

‘Give it a big hug, Sophie!’ That was the lovely, affirming advice Annie the Director gave me seconds before I stepped on stage. The Albert Hall was huge and packed to the rafters, not at all easy to embrace in one go, but I gave it my best squeeze nonetheless. To sing before a sea of flash bulbs and five thousand appreciative faces was a thrilling, tingling, liberating experience. I only wish it had lasted longer than three and a half minutes! But as Pie Jesu reached its rising climax, the audience burst into warm applause and I nodded and smiled in grateful receipt. Funnily enough, this was the part I had worried about most - not the performance itself, but how to acknowledge the crowd! 

The whole evening proved memorable. It was a charity fundraiser for the Salvation Army. They do such good work taking care of the homeless and bringing hope to others laid low in life. Like Malaika Oringo, a Ugandan, who gave a humbling account of how she had been hoodwinked and trafficked into this country. Mary Berry added a little celebrity glam with a reading from the Bible, and we all sang a string of Christmas carols led by the Choir (known as the International Staff Songsters) directed superbly by Dorothy Nancekievill, one-time Director of Music at WCS. 

I have so many happy memories of this event - from lounging in my very own dressing room to rubbing shoulders (literally) with Mary B at the final photo call. We even swopped recipes. (Joke!) 

Let me take this opportunity to thank Mr Cole, Mrs Armstrong and Mr Kidd for making the occasion possible for me. You have my eternal gratitude! 

Rubbing shoulders with the famous

Sophie’s very own dressing room!

Some Congratulations and Farewells

The new joint Boy Head Choristers, George and Dan

It’s been so good to welcome many new Probationers into the choir this term, including three new boys and nine new girls. They have all made a great start and are settling in to the busy life of singing every day. Two of these new arrivals, George and Sophie, have joined us from other Cathedral Choirs, and have already received their surplices.

James was installed as Head Boy Chorister, and Daniel and George as Deputies, while Meg was installed as Head Girl Chorister, supported by Deputies Carla and Sophie. Since September, we have said sad farewells to three boy choristers, whose voices had changed: firstly Ozzie, who had done sterling service in the Choir for five years; then to Head Chorister James, who had shown excellent leadership during his short time wearing the red medal; and most recently to Harry . We miss them all hugely, but it has been excellent to ‘promote’ both Daniel and George to be joint Head Choristers in James’s place. They are extremely worthy successors and are already doing a brilliant job.

The team of Head and Deputy Head Choristers at the start of term: Carla, Sophie, Meg, James, Daniel and George. Sadly James has had to leave since his voice changed. Daniel and George are his worthy successors (see above)

New recruits, George and Sophie were quickly awarded their surplices as they have joined us from other cathedral choirs.

Jeremy Cole announced as new Director of Music

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The Chapter of Wells Cathedral is delighted to announce the appointment of Jeremy Cole as its new Director of Music.

Advised by experts in choral music* and selecting from an impressive and international field of prospective candidates, Jeremy displayed a passion, drive, vision, with a quality of musicianship that led to a unanimous decision to appoint him.

Jeremy joined Wells Cathedral in September 2017 as its Assistant Organist; and has led the Cathedral’s internationally renowned choir since late November 2018, becoming Acting Organist and Master of the Choristers in September 2019. He has also taken on the role of Musical Director of the Wells Cathedral Oratorio Society.

Before joining Wells Cathedral Jeremy held positions at St Paul’s Knightsbridge and St Martin-in-theFields in Trafalgar Square, where he was the principal organist, playing for all regular and special services, as well as concerts and special events, and worked as a conductor with its many vocal ensembles. . He combined this role with a busy freelance career as an organist, conductor and piano accompanist. While in London he was assistant conductor and accompanist of the Holst Singers, and worked regularly with leading choirs, and as a repetiteur for solo singers and instrumentalists.

The Dean of Wells, The Very Reverend Dr John Davies said: “Jeremy has been a huge asset to the Cathedral Choir since he was appointed. His personal style, skills and experience have begun to deliver the ‘happy excellence’ in the Choir that we are striving for here at Wells. Jeremy is a trusted colleague and a superb musician. We are all looking forward to working with him very much in his new role”.

The Head Master of Wells Cathedral School, Mr Alastair Tighe said: “I am delighted that Jeremy has been appointed. I look forward to working with him and the whole Cathedral Music Foundation to ensure the unique possibilities available to Choristers, pupils and the wider City and local community through the collaborative work of Wells Cathedral and Wells Cathedral School are enhanced as effectively as possible. Jeremy’s appointment heralds an exciting time in the development of musicmaking in Wells and in Somerset”.

Jeremy Cole said: “I am delighted to be appointed as Wells Cathedral’s new Director of Music. The Cathedral Choir has an enviable and richly deserved reputation for excellence which we will maintain and strive to enhance. I am looking forward to continuing to work with superb musicians and supportive colleagues here in Wells as we take the choir forward into the next stage of its life.”

The trustees of Wells Cathedral Chorister Trust join in offering Jeremy our warmest congratulations. We have enjoyed seeing him at work over the past 12 months and know that he has gained the well-deserved respect and affection of both the choir and wider community. We look forward to watching the Music Foundation continue to flourish with Jeremy at the helm.

Jeremy will be admitted to the Foundation at the Cathedral Eucharist at 9.45am on Sunday 12 January 2020.

* The Chapter was advised by Mr Timothy Noon, Director of Music at Exeter Cathedral and by Mr Hugh Morris, Director of the Royal School of Church Music.

Grateful thanks and farewell to Dr Jenny Kingston

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Outgoing chairman, Dr Jenny Kingston, with her successor, Arnold Wills

At their recent meeting, trustees took the opportunity to thank Dr Jenny Kingston for all the work she has done both as a Trustee and Chairman, as she stepped down from the role. During her tenure, Jenny initiated the Wells Angels fundraising campaign, introduced many changes which will help the Trust thrive in the future, built a strong team of Trustees, and undertook personal fundraising initiatives which included the recent successful Coast to Coast Walk.

Arnold Wills, the new Chairman of Wells Cathedral Chorister Trust, is a former Peterborough Cathedral Chorister and Wells Chorister Parent, and has a development role with the National Federation of Old Chorister Associations. He’s also Bath and Wells Diocesan representative for the Friends of Cathedral Music. Arnold is looking forward to working with all groups who share his passion and enthusiasm for Cathedral Music at Wells, locally and further afield. He recently retired after thirty five years in the financial planning world.

There will be an opportunity to formally thank Jenny following the Eucharist for St Andrew’s Day on Sunday 30 November at 5.15pm in the Quire of Wells Cathedral. All are welcome.

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Jenny (centre) with trustees, Robert Powell and Kate Baker

new music wells 79-19

This year sees the twelfth new music wells - our festival which celebrates the past 40 years of music, as well as seeing the world premiere performances of several new works.

new music wells 79-19 is runs from Friday 11th - Thursday 17th October 2019, during which time all music performed at the Cathedral’s services, and at five special lunchtime concerts, will be selected from repertoire written over the last 40 years.

Wells Cathedral is very pleased to be welcoming back Jonathan Dove CBE as this year’s distinguished Composer-in-Residence. Jonathan was Composer-in-Residence in 2012, when the festival included the first performance of his work, The Wells Service, which will be performed on Thursday 17th October at Evensong. He will be interviewed by Paul Whitmarsh at the Composer Conversations event, at 2:30pm on Wednesday 16th October in Quilter Hall (Wells Cathedral School) and will give a public composition masterclass in Cedars Hall at 2pm on Thursday 17th October.

At Evensong on Thursday 17th October, a new work by Owain Park will receive its World Premiere performance. Other first performances during the week include two pieces written by students at Wells Cathedral School (Rocket Brooks and Thomas Nettle), as well as works by Stuart Beer and David Bevan Jr.

Admission to all services and events is free. Please see this month’s Music List for more information.