Latest News
from Wells Cathedral Choir
The Cathedral Choir has spent time during this second lockdown preparing music for an online Advent Carol Service. The Choristers, Vicars Choral and Organists have worked hard to produce what is a wonderful celebration of the start of Advent, at a time when the hope of light out of darkness is particularly poignant for us all.
This very special offering can now be viewed here:
This year there will be one Candlelight Concert on the 10th December at 7pm, and an online version available later in December on the Cathedral website. Together, these concerts are an unashamed festive fundraiser in aid of the Bounce Back Appeal as we seek to raise £8,000 to replace a small portion of the income lost through the second lockdown.
Tickets will be available from Eventbrite HERE from 9:30am on Monday 30th November.
Look out for news of the virtual concert here on our website soon!
As we know, Christmas will be very different this year. The requirement to be socially distanced means that far fewer people can be seated at services than in previous years. Therefore, the Cathedral team must operate a booking system for most services from 20th December 2020 (Christmas Carol Service) through to 25th December (Matins on Christmas Day) to provide a safe experience and to manage expectations fairly and transparently. There will sadly be no entrance possible on the day without an online booking.
The Cathedral and Chorister Trust recognise this is far from ideal, and we really wish it wasn’t so. However, it would be irresponsible to do anything else. For the avoidance of any doubt, there is no charge per booking.
All services can be booked through Eventbrite HERE.
For more details, please see the Cathedral’s website HERE.
Choral Evensong at Wells Cathedral this afternoon marked the work of Wells Cathedral Chorister Trust. Directed by Jeremy Cole and accompanied by Alex Hamilton, the Cathedral Choir sang at full strength - Decani singing from the West End and Cantoris on the Nave Dias - and we were treated to a musical feast including works by John Rutter, Percy Whitlock, Gabriel Jackson, William Harris, and Ralph Vaughan Williams.
During the service, thanks was given for the contributions of former supporters of the Trust, including Bill Baker, Iain Ball, Hon. Vice-Admiral Sir Donald Gosling, Sir Ronald Hobson, Janet Jones, and Angus Watson.
It was a particularly special service for the family of former Chairman of the Trust, Iain Ball, as the first Choristership in his name was awarded to Boy Chorister, George (pictured above, right).
Whilst it was sad not to be able to host the usual reception afterwards, it was wonderful to see so many of the Trust’s supporters present. Arnold Wills, the present Chairman, wrote the following in his preface to the service:
“Where children are unable to take up offered places to be a chorister, often through nothing more than a lack of funding, their voices may lost forever. Wells Cathedral Chorister Trust has a large and growing family of regular and occasional supporters, who appreciate and admire our Choristers. We would like you to be part of the WCCT family so that together we can all help to ensure that there are no ‘lost voices’.
Never has this been more true than now. Please do consider supporting us. You can find out more about the work of our Trust HERE and about our regular donor scheme HERE.
I am so very pleased to invite all of our supporters to attend the Annual WCCT Evensong in Wells Cathedral. This is a difficult time as we all know, therefore the seating will be limited and we are unable to hold a reception afterwards. However, the Boy and Girl Choristers and the Vicars Choral will sing Evensong in the Nave and it will no doubt be a joyous and uplifting occasion.
We will also use this occasional to launch the first Chorister Award in Memory of Iain Ball, former Chairman of this Trust.
Also, the Trustees wish to record at the Annual Evensongs a Thanksgiving in Memory of those who have been supporters of the Chorister Trust over the years. If you wish to include names of your loved ones to be included in this, please reply accordingly to the WCCT Administrator, Hannah Unwin who is compiling a list (not to the Cathedral Administrator, to avoid confusion)
Timescales are tight but at least we now know we can hold this event.
Next steps:
If you’re able to come, please confirm the number in your party (up to a maximum of six) as soon as possible and definitely no later than Tuesday 6 October to Hannah Unwin, our new Administrator (administrator@wcct.co.uk). We also need to be aware of any wheelchair users to ensure appropriate seating. These details will be passed to the Cathedral Office with your email contact so that they can send you final arrangements before the Evensong.
If you cannot join us but still wish to help by making a donation to the Chorister Trust then please click here to visit the relevant page on our website.
Send the names of loved ones who have been supporters of the Trust by email please to administrator@wcct.co.uk
At the Evensong, the collection this year is shared with the Cathedral's 'Bounce Back Appeal' as the Cathedral copes with the current financial uncertainty.
I would always love to hear from any individuals, even just to say ‘hello, here I am’! My email address is: chairman@wcct.co.uk
I hope to see you on the day and if not, to hear from you.
With very best wishes.
Yours sincerely,
Arnold Wills
Chairman
chairman@wcct.co.uk
07808 803674
Elizabeth, one of our Deputy Head Choristers, is the winner of the Antarctica Creative Writing Competition in the age category 11 to 13 years. The competition – run by the Natural History Consortium, which includes the BBC, Bristol and Bath universities and the National Trust among its 13 members – was set up in celebration of Antarctica Day and formed part of the Festival of Nature in Bath and Bristol.
The judge commented on Elizabeth’s story: “This was an exciting and effectively structured story with a good build up and moments of tension. It is fluently written, with some lovely phrases and word choices. The writer has got involved in their topic: I can see that research has gone into creating a strong sense of place and activity. Well done.”
Elizabeth has now set her sights on the HG Wells Fiction Short Story Competition as she pursues her quest to be a published author.
Find out more about the work of Wells Cathedral Chorister Trust
On Saturday 5th of September, former Wells Chorister Harriet (Hattie) Peck married organist Robert Smith in the Lady Chapel of Wells Cathedral in a socially distanced ceremony. It was a lovely day with lots of sunshine and included a beautiful rendition of ‘Where’er you Walk’ sung by Old Wellensian, Kirsty Hobkirk. Hattie and Robert met in York where they were both members of the York Oratory choir.
Congratulations to the new Dr and Mrs Pecksmith!
Glad to be back! Photo: © Jason Bryant
Saturday saw a very special moment in the life of Wells Cathedral. After an absence of over six months, the Cathedral Choir once again sang at Choral Evensong. Carefully spaced so as to follow current guidelines, the Choir was divided into two groups - Decani singing on the Nave Dais, and Cantoris at the West End. The Choristers had been rehearsing since Thursday morning - a heart-in-mouth moment for Director of Music, Jeremy Cole, who had no idea as to what shape they would be in after such a long break. But all their previous training, maintained as best as had been possible via Zoom sessions in lockdown, had of course paid off and they were soon back in fine voice. With music by Bruckner, Stanford, Gibbons and David Goodenough, all sung to a socially-distanced capacity congregation, it was a wonderfully affirming experience for all to hear the Choir’s voices once again filling that glorious space. It is wonderful to have them back.
As is usually the case at the beginning of the academic year, the service gave opportunity to welcome the newest members of the Music Foundation; the six new Probationers - Clementine, Naomi, Michael, Alma, Stanley, and Joseph; two new Organ Scholars - François and June; and not forgetting our new Assistant Director of Music, Alexander Hamilton. We offer them all the warmest of welcomes to Wells.
Elsa joined Daniel and George to serve as Head Choristers for the coming year; and Elizabeth, Gabriel, and Shannon are to serve as Deputy Head Choristers.
For the first time three Choristers were also admitted to named Choristerships, all of which have been founded in memory of three former members of the Cathedral foundation who had a particular love of the Cathedral music. Elizabeth was admitted to the Choristership in memory of Dean Patrick Mitchell; Hannah to the Choristership in memory of Jean Lewis; and Emily to the Choristership in memory of Elsa van der Zee.
The new Probationers
The Heads, Deputy Heads and those Choristers who have been awarded named Choristerships
Last but certainly not least, we offer our heartfelt congratulations to those choristers who have passed their year's probation and were admitted to the choir as full surpliced choristers - Elizabeth, Madeleine, Belinda, Oliver, Hannah, Aleksei, Emily, Freya, and Natasha. Well done all!
The newly surpliced Choristers
Alexander Hamilton, our new Assistant Director of Music
The Choir will continue in its divided form at the weekly services for the immediate future. The Vicars Choral will sing Evensong on Mondays; the Cantoris Choristers and Vicars Choral will singing Evensong on Tuesdays; the Decani Choristers and Vicars Choral will singing Evensong on Thursdays; and the weekend’s services will be divided on a alternating basis. Full details of the services for the next two weeks can be downloaded here.
Please see below for further photographs from the service.
We are very grateful to Jason Bryant for taking these for us.
Over the past few days the Cathedral’s Mistress of the Wardrobe, Mrs Jenny Henderson, has been undertaking her usual pre-term job of fitting the Choristers’ vestments. However, with social distancing in place, this process was a little different to normal. In the photos below, we caught up with Jenny as she fitted George’s cassock and surplice this afternoon. You can read more about Jenny’s role here.
Dear Friends,
It’s so good to be in touch after a subdued and difficult period since Covid19 changed our lives. Enough of Covid... onwards.
We're delighted that this coming weekend the Choir will be returning to sing in Wells Cathedral after such a long enforced absence. We look forward to hearing them make music together once again. Below, you can read a message from Jeremy Cole, Director of Music, telling us a little more about how he and his team have been working hard for this moment.
Saturday 10 October is the Annual WCCT Evensong, and we will use this occasion to launch the Iain Ball Chorister Award. More details to follow but for now please save the date and join us.
A New Patron
I’m delighted to say that David Morgan-Hewitt has agreed to become a Patron of the WCCT, and he shares my enthusiasm for the Trust. Like me, he is a former Cathedral Chorister and we sang together in Three Choirs events, me with Peterborough, and David with Norwich, together with Ely. They were glorious days and he was a junior chorister whilst I was ‘almost over the hill’! I have no doubt at all that he will be a significant friend to the Trust, with ideas, suggestions and wisdom along the way. David introduces himself in a message that you can read here.
Welcome Hannah Unwin
I’m thrilled to announce that after a robust application process, as a Trust we now have our own permanent Administrator, Hannah Unwin, who will work on the mornings of Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Welcome Hannah.
The Trust has for some years funded part-time occasional help from the school but by redirecting that contribution we are now able to have our own dedicated person. As ever thank you to Wells Cathedral School, and now especially for finding Hannah a desk and a room to share.
Hannah has been with us for two weeks and her initial task is getting to grips with a new software system, which we have explored and selected during lockdown. This will enable us to be in touch with the friends and supporters of the Trust, managing responses etc. A kind donor has created an ‘Enablement Fund’ which we can use for such items as Hannah’s laptop, printer, and also a dedicated Trust telephone line which will soon be up and running.
We’re getting there, so watch this space, and thank you for your ‘love for the Chorister Cause’.
Contact Us
Remember, having been a Cathedral Chorister and also a parent of three former Wells Cathedral Choristers, I am committed as Chairman, and value hugely your love for the Choristers, your interest and your generosity. You are very welcome to email me at any time via chairman@wcct.co.uk; I am always delighted to hear from any of you! We are also always delighted to hear from new supporters of the Cathedral Choir, so please feel free to forward this email to your friends and family and perhaps encourage them to sign up to our newsletter here.
More than ever the Trust needs to be in a position to support Choristers and their families, and these very special young professional singers are the future of the unique Cathedral Music tradition.
At the superb performance of Brittens A Ceremony of Carols in January, I invited those present to reflect for a moment on a life without Choristers. Little did I know that was on the horizon. We’ve so missed the Choristers.
You are part of a family that love the Choristers and The Chorister Cause, and one of my tasks is to bring you all together and to grow the family. More details to follow.
Very best wishes,
Arnold Wills
Chairman
A Message from the Director of Music
Greetings to all our supporters! It’s been a year unlike any other for the Cathedral Choir, and for the Choral Tradition as a whole, and hopefully one that won’t be repeated. Many of you will have followed our online offerings during lockdown, and we thank you for your engagement with those. It was way back on 17 March that it became clear the Choir wouldn’t be able to sing together for a while. As a temporary farewell, the Choristers, Sub-Assistant Organist David Stevens and I made a hasty video recording of Gary Davison’s O Lord, support us all the day long – the text of which took on a particular poignancy that day.
There followed much thought about how the Choristers could continue during the pandemic, to carry their musical education, to keep in touch with them and make sure the community was still alive, and also to provide some sort of musical offering to those people who would miss coming into the Cathedral each day to be involved in choral services. The Choristers and I continued to meet regularly via Zoom, which was a very useful way of being able to see and hear them. There were some frustrations along the way, thanks to unreliable internet, technical glitches and the rest - any attempt at ensemble singing quickly collapsed in chaos! However, small group sessions working on the technical aspects of singing, and learning bits and pieces of repertoire, were quite successful. The Choristers also made two virtual recordings, one of which was of a hymn for Easter Day and was well-received by our online community. The other, of Peter Hurford’s Litany to the Holy Spirit, was released to mark Pentecost.
Nearly six months later, the time has finally arrived when the Choir can return to singing again. This is extremely welcome news, but unfortunately it won’t be ‘business as usual’ quite yet, as we have to do everything we can to provide a safe environment for all our singers and music staff in the midst of Covid-19. Following government guidelines and professional recommendations, the Choristers and the Vicars Choral will be singing in two separate groups for the time being. There will be 15 Choristers and 6 Vicars Choral in each choir, and they will split the singing of services between them.
Our first Evensong back will have both choirs present in the Cathedral, but singing separately from two ends of the building. Within the choirs, the singers will all be spaced 2 metres apart, with their seats in an interlocked formation to prevent anyone singing over anyone else. There have also been many Covid-related logistical challenges to do with rehearsals, copies of music, robes and many other things! This will be our ‘new normal’ for the time being, and I’m sure we will adjust quickly and enjoy making music together again. After such a long time away, it will be a joy to restart our great tradition, and hopefully it will to be too long before the Choir can all sing with one voice once again.
Jeremy Cole
Director of Music
