Schools Singing Programme Director Tom Leech and Choral Director Joe Tilling walked the arduous route of Yorkshire’s Three Peaks, raising money to enable our young choristers to go to this year’s Gabrieli ROAR concert and singing workshops at Ely Cathedral.
On behalf of the all the young people who were able to attend the event through the generosity of Diocese of Leeds parishioners and others, Tom sends thanks – as well as this report from the Choristers’ week-long visit to East Anglia!
Schools Singing Programme Director Tom Leech (L), Choral Director Joe Tilling (2nd L) and Organist Will Campbell (R) with Choristers from the Diocese of Leeds at the 2024 Gabrieli ROAR
We had a wonderful time on this summer’s Gabrieli ROAR project – thank you for your generosity in supporting our children’s participation; we wouldn’t have been able to offer the crucial level of subsidy to our choristers without your help. The Three Peaks walk was great fun – we managed it in a few minutes over eight and a half hours!
As soon as we arrived in Norfolk for ROAR – late and very hot after an unfeasibly long coach journey from Leeds – we were thrown straight into rehearsals, exploring the wonders of Verdi’s Requiem with Gabrieli Consort Musical Director, Paul McCreesh, and guided through expert vocal warm-ups, exercises, and cool downs by Emily Dickens and Charles McDougall.
An average (and hugely inspiring) day on the week-long trip included three hours of tutti (whole choir) rehearsal, an hour or two of sectional work with Gabrieli’s expert vocal faculty leaders, a choice of break-out sessions (vocal masterclasses, musicianship, composition) and some great socials, including a quiz night, talent show and ceilidh.
For the first time Gabrieli ran a chamber choir for the oldest singers (we were delighted so many of ours took part) and offered individual singing lessons. I was also delighted to take the lead with Gabrieli’s Young Leaders programme, working with three early-career choral directors throughout the residential.
On the Sunday we took our singers, along with a group from National Schools Singing Programme colleagues the Diocese of Salford, to sing Mass at St Joseph’s Church in Sheringham, where we were very warmly welcomed by Fr Trindade and congregation.
St Joseph’s Sheringham, Norfolk
The final concert itself was fabulous – brilliantly directed by Paul McCreesh, with a sensational line-up of soloists and great playing from the band, all in the awe-inspiring setting of Ely Cathedral. It was a testament to the quality of vocal work throughout the week that they could electrify us with the Dies Irae, provide such elegant musical tracery in the double choir Sanctus, capture such warmth and beauty in the Agnus Dei, and end amazingly with the virtuosic Libera me fugue.
Our Choristers performing with Gabrieli ROAR at Ely Cathedral
After the concert our group moved on to Cambridge, where we had a lovely day visiting King’s College Chapel, spending some time on the river, and then enjoying a visit to Trinity College, where their Director of Music, Steven Grahl, hosted us for lunch, gave an introduction to choral scholarships at the University and worked with the choir, before visiting the Wren Library and seeing its treasures, including Newton’s copy of Principia Mathematica, Shakespeare’s First Folio and a medieval chant manuscript, where one of our choristers instantly identified the chants!
The week was an amazing experience for our young singers; many thanks, once again, for your support – we all really appreciate it!
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