Choir of Leeds Minster

We are looking forward very much to this autumn's series of Friday Lunchtime Organ Music, which resumes next Friday 13th September, at 1.00pm. A wonderful line up of guest and resident organists awaits, along with a warm welcome, big-screen projection so that you can see the organist's hands and feet in action, and refreshments and sandwiches available from 12.30pm in the Minster Cafe. Come and hear our outstanding Harrison organ and enjoy some super music. We look forward to welcoming you soon!

St Peter's Singers of Leeds, our sister choir, sings for this Sunday's Eucharist to mark the 183th Anniversary of the Dedication of the present church.

The Minster Choir returns to its singing on Sunday 15th September.

Sunday 1st September - Dedication Sunday
10.30am Choral Eucharist (sung by St Peter's Singers of Leeds)
Missa quatuor vocum | D. Scarlatti
Locus iste | A. Bruckner
Very Bread, good Shepherd, tend us | S. Marchant
Praeludium in D (BuxWV 139) | D. Buxtehude

A final call for Choral Scholar applicants (closing one week today, Sunday 1st September). SATB applicants studying a university/conservatoire course at a Yorkshire institution are very welcome to apply for a Choral Scholarship at Leeds Minster.

Please do make contact with the Director of Music, Alexander Woodrow ([email protected]) for any further information, or to submit an application.

NOW RECRUITING!
Choral Scholarships at Leeds Minster from September 2024
(open to students aged 18+ including those at Leeds Conservatoire and the University of Leeds)
Please note the deadline of 1st September

We are delighted to announce opportunities for Choral Scholars to join the Choir of Leeds Minster in the new academic year. This is a well-established and popular scholarship scheme in the context of a dynamic, friendly and talented choir. Please see below for further details, and contact the Organist & Director of Music, Alexander Woodrow ([email protected]) for further information, or to pursue an application. We look forward to hearing from you!

For further details, please visit our Scholarships page on the Minster's website: https://leedsminster.org/music/scholarships/

A week ago, we were rounding off our weekend of singing at Lichfield Cathedral. Here is last Sunday's Choral Evensong from Lichfield, with the choral music as follows.

Responses | Clucas
Psalm 100 | Hurford
Gloucester Service | Howells
And I saw a new heaven | Bainton

1530 Choral Evensong on Sunday 18 August 2024 Welcome to this Choral Evensong on Sunday with Leeds Minster ChoirYou can find resources to help join in by clicking here: https://www.lichfield-cathedral.or...

A small selection of photographs from our visit to Lichfield over the weekend!

On Friday, we checked into the Cathedral Hotel and sang an intimate service of music by Adrian Batten (some superb verse work from a number of soloists), prior to enjoying free time in the city.

On Saturday, a number of us discovered the excellent Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum, with the famous dictionary on display on the fifth storey of the house where the famous writer was born in 1709. We were then taken on a guided tour of Lichfield Cathedral by Nigel Argust, the cathedral's Assistant Organist, who was our extremely helpful and friendly host throughout the weekend; after an Evensong of music by Harold Darke and Brahms, not to mention 50 verses of psalmody, we then enjoyed time together over good food and drink at Sorriso Restaurant to round off a busy day.

Sunday was a super day of music-making, with Vierne at the Cathedral Eucharist and then Howells and Bainton at Evensong. The full group shot just below the high altar was taken immediately after Evensong prior to heading back to Leeds.

We have all really enjoyed an action-packed tour!

We have just returned from a fantastic few days of singing at Lichfield Cathedral! Our thanks to them for the warm welcome.

Photos to follow, but meanwhile here is the livestreamed recording of the Sunday Cathedral Eucharist, at which we offered music by the Parisian organist-composer, Louis Vierne (1870 - 1937).

We thoroughly enjoyed our few days of cathedral singing and our time away together, and thanks must go to our talented choir and to our organists, Shaun Turnbull (Assistant Organist) and Euan Goodwin (Organ Scholar).

Our music can be heard as follows:
Music by Louis Vierne:
Gloria (Messe Solennelle) from 13' 20''
Sanctus and Benedictus (Messe Solennelle) from 56' 18''
Agnus Dei (Messe Solennelle) from 1 hour 7' 50''
Tantum Ergo from 1 hour 12' 50''
Final (Symphonie III) from 1 hour 23' 40''

1030 Choral Eucharist for Sunday 18 August 2024 Welcome to this Choral Eucharist, with Leeds Minster ChoirYou can find resources to help join in by clicking here: https://www.lichfield-cathedral.org/togeth...

We wish everybody receiving their A-level results tomorrow the very best of success. For any keen choral singers heading to Leeds to study this autumn, our Minster Choral Scholarships might be perfect for you! Remember to apply by Sunday 1st September. All information can be found here: https://leedsminster.org/music/scholarships/ and you are always welcome to contact the Director of Music, Alex, for further information.

NOW RECRUITING!
Choral Scholarships at Leeds Minster from September 2024
(open to students aged 18+ including those at Leeds Conservatoire and the University of Leeds)
Please note the deadline of 1st September

We are delighted to announce opportunities for Choral Scholars to join the Choir of Leeds Minster in the new academic year. This is a well-established and popular scholarship scheme in the context of a dynamic, friendly and talented choir. Please see below for further details, and contact the Organist & Director of Music, Alexander Woodrow ([email protected]) for further information, or to pursue an application. We look forward to hearing from you!

For further details, please visit our Scholarships page on the Minster's website: https://leedsminster.org/music/scholarships/

We are very much looking forward to visiting Lichfield Cathedral this weekend to sing the choral services. Here are details of the services for which we shall be singing.

At Lichfield Cathedral:
Friday 16th August, 5.30pm: Choral Evensong
Responses | Ayleward
Psalms 84 (Parry) and 85 (Gauntlett)
The Fourth Service | Batten
O Sing Joyfully | Batten
A Fancy for Two to Play | Tomkins

Saturday 17th August, 5.30pm: Choral Evensong
Responses | Clucas
Psalm 89 (Stanford, Howells, Ware)
Evening Service in F major | Darke
Geistliches Lied | Brahms
Prelude on a Theme of Palestrina | Milner

Sunday 18th August, 10.30am: Choral Eucharist
Messe Solennelle | Vierne
Tantum Ergo | Vierne
Final (Symphonie III) | Vierne

Sunday 18th August, 3.30pm: Choral Evensong
Clucas Responses
Psalm 100 (Hurford)
Gloucester Service | Howells
And I saw a new heaven | Bainton
Paean | Howells

Choir of Leeds Minster
Alexander Woodrow (Director)
Shaun Turnbull & Euan Goodwin (Organists)

Summer choir library re-jigging is underway, with fresh capacity for another 200-300 sets of copies downstairs in the choir vestry, not to mention our additional/overspill storage space upstairs in the Wesley Room! The hope is to have it all ready for the start of the new choir year next month...

One month remains for incoming or existing university students to apply for a Choral Scholarship at Leeds Minster. We look forward to hearing from you, and wish those waiting on A-level results the very best of success. Please don't hesitate to contact the Director of Music, Alex Woodrow ([email protected]) for any further information or help with the process. Otherwise, please visit https://leedsminster.org/music/scholarships/ for further information.

NOW RECRUITING!
Choral Scholarships at Leeds Minster from September 2024
(open to students aged 18+ including those at Leeds Conservatoire and the University of Leeds)
Please note the deadline of 1st September

We are delighted to announce opportunities for Choral Scholars to join the Choir of Leeds Minster in the new academic year. This is a well-established and popular scholarship scheme in the context of a dynamic, friendly and talented choir. Please see below for further details, and contact the Organist & Director of Music, Alexander Woodrow ([email protected]) for further information, or to pursue an application. We look forward to hearing from you!

For further details, please visit our Scholarships page on the Minster's website: https://leedsminster.org/music/scholarships/

Our Friday lunchtime organ recitals have taken a break for the summer, resuming on Friday 13th September for the new academic year. Our great thanks to all the organists (home team and visitors from the UK and overseas) who have performed such varied music so brilliantly over the last year, to our audiences who have supported the series, and to our volunteers and staff who have provided hospitality and a warm welcome. We will publish the autumn term 'line-up' of recitalists next month!

JOIN OUR CHOIR! (please email [email protected] for more information)

If you are an avid choral musician, why not find out more about the Choir of Leeds Minster!

We are pleased to hear from keen and experienced choral musicians who might like to take up a new musical challenge in the autumn term. As well as singing for a wide variety of services at Leeds Minster, the Minster Choir enjoys an annual cathedral residential weekend (Carlisle 2023, Lichfield 2024), has appeared on BBC Television and Radio (BBC1 Easter Day Eucharist, televised live, 2022) ; BBC Radio Leeds Carol Service, 2022), and, this autumn, will be recording a commercially-available CD with a leading record company (more anon!)

The Minster Choir is a blend of experienced Volunteer Adult Singers, who sing alongside full-time university students who serve as Choral Scholars, across all four parts (SATB). Having begun our recruitment process for Choral Scholars for the forthcoming 24-25 academic year, we are now looking to reach out to volunteer singers across the Leeds area who may be looking for an excellent liturgical choir, and seeking new musical opportunities in the new academic year.

Here are the headlines for anybody interested in finding out more:

ELIGIBILITY
Anybody who has a passion for singing, who passes a friendly voice trial, and can commit to a reasonable extent, especially to one or more of the Sunday services on a regular basis.

WHEN DO WE SING?
Our standard pattern is: Thursdays 6.30pm - 8.30pm, with Choral Evensong at 7pm, followed by a rehearsal for the following Sunday; and then Sundays 9.45am - 11.45am, with Choral Eucharist at 10.30am, and also on Sundays 4.30pm - 6.30pm, with Choral Evensong at 5.30pm. Of course, we sing for the major festivals of Christmas and Easter too, and a termly schedule is published which lists the choir's engagements.

Although many of our members offer the full commitment across all three weekly services, we are pleased to hear from people who could offer a hybrid/part-time commitment, including a substantive contribution to the Sunday singing: e.g. a regular commitment either to the Sunday Eucharist or to the Evensong, or an am/pm mixture that is regular in its nature but also has an inherent flexibility around other commitments and family life, etc.

We publish a monthly online 'Doodle' poll, which our singers complete according to their availability.

VOICE TRIALS
These are held by mutual arrangement. It is often possible to invite prospective choir members to a rehearsal and service prior to undertaking a voice trial, as this can feel friendlier and more comfortable. The emphasis is very much on seeing what you can do, and encouraging you to show us something of that, and not expecting you to be the totally finished product from the offset!

OPPORTUNITIES
- Singing regularly in Leeds Minster, one of the country's most iconic parish churches, and home to a friendly musical and worshipping community. We have a magnificent musical tradition, with S. S. Wesley and Edward C. Bairstow among our former organists. You do not need to be religious to sing with the Minster Choir, but many find a spiritual home here on all sorts of different levels and we are inclusive and respectful of each other at all times.
- Singing a wide range of excellent quality music, rehearsed to a high standard, within a very friendly yet purposeful ensemble, and with expert organ accompaniment featuring our famous Harrison organ. Every service has different music, so we are kept on our toes, and find it fresh and exhilarating!
- Enjoying being part of a team that is focussed in rehearsal, but sociable around rehearsals, full of friendly and like-minded people.
- Enhance your understanding and love of choral music, develop your sight reading, and receive a free musical education.
- An annual tour is undertaken, usually for a long weekend's singing at one of our great cathedrals. There are occasional broadcast, recording and concert opportunities.

WHO DIRECTS THE CHOIR?
Alexander Woodrow | Organist and Director of Music (since 2020)
Shaun Turnbull | Assistant Organist (since 2023)

To find out more, arrange to come and observe or participate in a rehearsal in September, fix a voice trial, or generally make contact without any obligation whatsoever, please feel free to contact:

Alexander Woodrow, Organist & Director of Music
[email protected]

-

Picture: the Minster Choir on the last day of the 23-24 academic year, Sunday 30th June, after Evensong.

... and here are details of the organ recital for a week on FRIDAY (19th July), published early as I am out of action next week. Alex W)

ORGAN RECITAL by PHILIP CROZIER (Montreal, Canada)
Friday 19th July, 1.00pm - 1.45pm
Admission free, with retiring collection. Big-screen projection. Refreshments and light sandwich lunches available in the Minster Cafe from 12.30pm, by donation.

We welcome Philip Crozier to close our season of Friday recitals with a concert in memory of his friend, David J. Rodgers (1957-2020), of Doncaster. David was a great friend of the music at Leeds Minster, and was also well-known to our Director of Music, Alex Woodrow, through his weekly attendance at Bradford Cathedral's organ recital series, where Alex was Organist & Director of Music from 2012-16.

Philip will play:
1) Partite diverse sopra “De Lofzang van Maria” (Magnificat) | Piet Post (1919-1979)
- Koraal
- Ricercare
- Aria
- Scherzando
- Pedaalsolo
- Koraal in Canon
- Fugato

2) Scherzo | Albert Alain (1880-1971)

3) Adagio (Sonata in G minor, Op. 35, third movement) | Francis Jackson (1917-2022)

4) Grand Chœur | Guy Weitz (1883 - 1970)

5) Aria (Op. 51) | Flor Peeters (1903 - 1986)

6) Choral Song (from Choral Song and Fugue) | Samuel Sebastian Wesley (1810 - 1876)

7) Epigrams 1, 2, 3, 4 (from a set of nine) | Zoltán Kodály (1882 - 1967)

8) Impromptu (Op. 54, No. 2) | Louis Vierne (1870 - 1937)

9) Concert Study on Salve Regina | Raffaele Manari (1887-1933)

Born in Preston, England, PHILIP CROZIER began learning the piano at six, and was a treble chorister in both Blackburn and Carlisle Cathedral choirs, singing daily choral services. His interest in the organ started very early and he began organ study at the age of sixteen, gaining the ARCO diploma whilst still at school, followed by the LRAM diploma in organ performance within two years. In 1979 he graduated from Cardiff University where he was awarded the Glynne Jones Prize for Organ in 1978 and 1979 and pursued further studies in Paris with the great blind French organist André Marchal in whose memory he performed the complete organ works of César Franck in 1981.

In 1984 he moved to Canada and married the late Sylvie Poirier, an organist and painter, with whom he formed an organ duo team in 1990, becoming known internationally through their concert career and commissioning of organ duets by composers from Canada and abroad and the release of recordings which include three CDs of solo organ works by Petr Eben.

Philip Crozier has given solo recitals extensively in Europe and North America, including the complete organ works of Jehan Alain in Montreal in 1990 (and again in 2011 in thirteen concerts in Europe) and the Canadian première of Petr Eben's Hommage à Henry Purcell in 1995 at the request of the composer.

Philip Crozier is the organist at St. George’s Anglican Church, Montreal and Music Director at Westmount Park United Church. He is the accompanist to the Stewart Hall Singers, the Concordia University Chorus, plus l’Ensemble Opus 16 and is in regular demand as accompanist to various choral and instrumental groups as well as maintaining an international career as a solo recitalist.

ORGAN RECITAL by THOMAS HAWKES (Cirencester Parish Church)
Friday 12th July, 1.00pm - 1.45pm
Admission free, with retiring collection. Light sandwich lunches and refreshments available from 12.30pm in the Minster Cafe, by donation. Big-screen projection.

Prelude in E Minor (Little) – N Bruhns
Fugue in G Major (Gigue) BWV 577 – JS Bach
Cornet Voluntary – J Travers
I Am Black But Comely, O Ye Daughters Of Jerusalem – M Dupre
Tuba Tune – N Cocker
Prelude No.1 in F Major – CV Stanford
Allegro from Symphony No. 6 – CM Widor

Thomas was born in Paderborn, Germany, where he had his first organ lessons with Ulrich Schneider and Andreas Konrad. He subsequently had organ lessons with Jonathan Lilley at Ely Cathedral and with Roger Tebbet at the University of York, where he completed his BA and PgDip in Music in 2017. Following this, Thomas held organ-playing positions at St Edmundsbury and St Davids cathedrals, as well as at King Edward’s School, Witley.

Between 2022 – 23, Thomas studied the organ with Matthias Maierhofer and David Franke, as well as choral conducting with Frank Markowitsch at the Hochschule für Musik in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany. Alongside this, he frequently worked with the Freiburg Cathedral Domsingknaben (boys’ choir) where he accompanied them for services, concerts and on tour.

Having recently been Chapel Organist at Stowe School, Thomas will be taking up the position of Organist and Choirmaster at Cirencester Parish Church later this month.

Thomas frequently performs as a recitalist and accompanist in the UK and in Germany and has also played for radio and television broadcasts with BBC Wales. He also appears on the St Davids Cathedral 2022 Christmas CD as an accompanist and soloist.

Review: Baroque Classics, St Peter’s Singers & Manchester Baroque, Leeds Minster Review: Baroque Classics, St Peter’s Singers & Manchester Baroque, Leeds Minster, Saturday, June 29, 2024

ORGAN RECITAL by ADAM WILSON
(Assistant Organist, York Minster)
at Leeds Minster, Friday 5th July, 1.00pm - 1.45pm
Admission free with retiring collection. Big-screen relay. Refreshments and sandwiches available in the Minster Cafe, by donation, from 12.30pm

Adam will play:
Offertoire (Grand Chœur) | Joseph Jongen (1873 - 1953)
Allegretto grazioso | Frank Bridge (1879 - 1941)
A Fancy | William Byrd (c. 1540 - 1623)
Prelude and Fugue in D minor | Clara Schumann (1819 - 1896)
Dies sind die Heil’gen zehn Gebot BWV 678 | J. S. Bach (1685-1750)
Sonata | Philip Moore (b. 1943)
i) Allegro agitato
ii) Andante tranquillo
iii) Allegro con brio

Adam Wilson is Assistant Organist of York Minster and an Associate of the Royal College of Organists, having studied at the University of Glasgow where he graduated with First Class Honours (BMus).

At York Minster, Adam assists Robert Sharpe (Director of Music) and Ben Morris (Assistant DoM) in playing for the Minster's busy schedule of services, including providing organ music for some of the Minster’s biggest services, and accompanying the Choir of York Minster. He also assists by regularly rehearsing the choristers of the choir and conducting services, as well as sharing in the administrative responsibilities of the Minster's Music Department.

Prior to moving to York in September 2023, Adam was Acting Assistant Director of Music at Wells Cathedral from January 2023, having been Assistant Organist from September 2021. In this role, he was the principal Organist to the acclaimed Wells Cathedral Choir, which was hailed by an international jury from Gramophone magazine as the greatest choir with children in the world. As such, Adam accompanied the full calendar of choral and civic services in the Cathedral, and has accompanied several concerts including Duruflé's Requiem with the Cathedral Choir, Fauré's Requiem and Rutter's Magnificat with the Cathedral Oratorio Society, as well as various programmes in which he has played continuo. Adam also accompanied two major new works which were commissioned by the Cathedral: Grayston Ives' Hear, O ye Kings which was written in celebration of the Coronation of King Charles III, and Patrick Hawes' Most Glorious Lord of Life, written for the Cathedral's Sound of Wells Festival.

In addition to his duties as an Organist, Adam played a key role in training the Choristers, particularly in being responsible for the musical development of the probationer Choristers.

Before his tenure at Wells Cathedral, Adam spent two years as Acting Assistant Master of the Music at St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral in Edinburgh, (including a period acting as Master of the Music). He has also held organ scholarships at Peterborough Cathedral, St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral in Edinburgh, the University of Glasgow, and Dunblane Cathedral.

Adam started out his musical career as a chorister at Dunblane Cathedral under Matthew Beetschen. Adam then read for a degree in Music at the University of Glasgow, where he studied with the renowned virtuoso, Dr Kevin Bowyer, and worked with Glasgow University Chapel Choir under such conductors as John Butt OBE and James Grossmith.

Two months for continuing and incoming students to apply for our Choral Scholarships at Leeds Minster! Do get in touch with our Director of Music, Alex Woodrow ([email protected]) to make an application or to ask any questions you may have. We look forward to hearing from you!

NOW RECRUITING!
Choral Scholarships at Leeds Minster from September 2024
(open to students aged 18+ including those at Leeds Conservatoire and the University of Leeds)
Please note the deadline of 1st September

We are delighted to announce opportunities for Choral Scholars to join the Choir of Leeds Minster in the new academic year. This is a well-established and popular scholarship scheme in the context of a dynamic, friendly and talented choir. Please see below for further details, and contact the Organist & Director of Music, Alexander Woodrow ([email protected]) for further information, or to pursue an application. We look forward to hearing from you!

For further details, please visit our Scholarships page on the Minster's website: https://leedsminster.org/music/scholarships/

It was a splendid day of singing yesterday to mark the end of the Minster Choir's year. Stirring Coleridge and Parry at Evensong followed a sparkling Mozart Mass at the Eucharist. Valedictions and presentations were made at Evensong. The Minster Choir can now enjoy a well-deserved summer break after a superb season of singing. Thanks to all of them for their time, talent and teamwork. Here we are at our final service of the year!

This Sunday sees the final fully choral services of the 2023-2024 academic year.

Our great thanks to everybody who has contributed to a stellar year of music-making at Leeds Minster this year. It has been an exceptional year, and one marked by its consistent musical high standards, great sense of teamwork and dedication, and the energy that our Assistant Organist, Shaun Turnbull, has brought to all he does. Thank you to all of our choral scholars and volunteers for making the year special.

Sunday allows us to celebrate the year that is now concluding, and to thank and say farewell to those choral scholars and volunteers moving on from Leeds and the choir, while acknowledging the week-in, week-out work of all of our dedicated and talented singers at the Minster. Do join us on Sunday if you can for the following services:

Sunday 30th June

10.30am Choral Eucharist (St Peter, our Patronal Festival)
Missa Brevis in D, K. 194 | Mozart
Tu es Petrus | Faure
Greater Love hath no man | Ireland
Dankpsalm | Reger

5.30pm Choral Evensong, with Valediction of Choir Members
Responses: Rose
Psalm: 52
Canticles: Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis | Matthew Coleridge
Anthem: Blest pair of sirens | C H H Parry
Voluntary: Allegro (Movt. 1 from Symphonie VI) | C M Widor

Our Assistant Organist, Shaun Turnbull, puts our glorious Harrison organ through its paces tomorrow in recital!

ORGAN RECITAL by Shaun Turnbull, Friday 28th June (1.00pm - 1.45pm)
Big-Screen projection; Free admission with retiring collection; Refreshments and light lunches available by donation in the Minster Cafe from 12.30pm.

Shaun will play:

Two Chorale Preludes from Clavier-Übung III | J. S. Bach (1685-1750)
1) Wir glauben all an einen Gott (BWV 680)
2) Dies sind die heil'gen zehn Gebot’ (BWV 678)

From Messe pour les Paroisses | François Couperin (1668-1733)
1) Plein chant
2) Fugue sur les Jeux d’anches
3) Recit de Cromhorne
4) Dialogue sur la Trompette et le Cromhorne
5) Plein jeux

Psalm Prelude Set 1, no.1 | Herbert Howells (1892-1983)
Psalm 34, verse 6: This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles

March ‘’The Dambusters’ | Eric Coates (1886 -1957), arr. Antony Baldwin

From Vingt-quatre pièces en style libre | Louis Vierne (1870 - 1937)
1) Lied
2) Carillon de Longpont

Shaun Turnbull begun learning the organ in sixth form. Thereafter, undergraduate and postgraduate study was completed at Birmingham Conservatoire. A number of roles in cathedral, church and university contexts has led to his current partial career change working in the Development department at Ripon Cathedral alongside a busy calendar of choral accompaniment and recital work at the organ.

Engagements in the current season include Keighley Choral Union, St Peter’s Singers of Leeds, Kendal Choral Society and Jarrow Choral Society. Recent recitals include Ripon Cathedral, Hexham Abbey and St Chad’s Shrewsbury. Additionally, he holds the post of Assistant Organist at Leeds Minster.

In his spare time, Shaun enjoys fell walking, road cycling and eating out. When his other commitments don’t interfere, he is battling to maintain his single-figure golf handicap index.

Join us for the final Thursday 7.00pm Choral Evensong of this academic year this Thursday 27th June. It's a service of English music from the Restoration period. The Minster Choir will sing responses by Ayleward, Psalm 94, Canticles by Michael Wise, in F, and Henry Purcell's 'Remember not, Lord, our offences'. All are welcome.

This Sunday sees the final choral services of the 23-24 academic year, and we have some incredible music planned...!

Choral Eucharist on Sunday 23rd June, 10.30am
Communion Service in F | Sumsion
Psalm 116: 11-16
All wisdom cometh from the Lord | Moore
Toccata (Symphonie V) | Widor

Please note that, having sung for the Ordination of Priests this afternoon, the 5.30pm service this Sunday will be Said Evening Prayer with Hymns and Organ Music, rather than a choral service.

It is our privilege to be singing for the Ordination of Priests at Leeds Minster. Among the four candidates from the Leeds area are our own two Assistant Curates, Revd Andrew Earwaker and Revd Jo Jones.

ORDINATION OF PRIESTS
Leeds Minster, 2.00pm on Saturday 22nd June

O Lord, increase our faith | Henry Loosemore
If ye love me | Thomas Tallis
O, for a closer walk with God | C. V. Stanford
Agnus Dei in C | John Ireland
Final (Symphonie I) | Louis Vierne

This week's organ recital is by James Lonsdale from Clitheroe. James visited to play in 2022 and his playing was brilliantly musical and technically impeccable, so we know we are in for a treat! Do come and support him.

ORGAN RECITAL by JAMES LONSDALE (Clitheroe)
Friday 21st June, 1.00pm - 1.45pm
Admission Free, with retiring collection; big-screen relay; refreshments and sandwiches available in the Minster Cafe from 12.30pm, by donation

James will play:
Fantasia and Fugue in G minor BWV 542 - JS Bach
Chorale Prelude on “Schwing dich auf zu deinem Gott” - Ethel Smyth
Fantasia and Toccata in D minor op 57 - CV Stanford
Benedictus no 9 of 12 pieces op 59 - Max Reger
Carillon-Sortie - Henri Mulet

James began his organ studies at Bolton Parish Church with Bill Morgan, and studied the piano with Michael Pain, gaining his ARCO and ARCM (Piano Performance) diplomas at the age of 17. He was Organ Scholar at St Peter’s College, Oxford where he read music. Whilst there he studied the organ with John Wellingham and David Sanger and the piano with Raymond Fischer.

Although by profession a lawyer, James has continued to play the organ and piano. For around 12 years he was the Organist and Choirmaster at St Mary’s, Clitheroe and for some of this time studied with Roger Fisher. James was a regular accompanist for Ilkley-based choir Cantores Olicanae’s Christmas concert for a number of years; a highlight of this association was playing in their performance of Colin Mawby’s The Heavenly Christmas Tree with the composer in attendance. He has also been fortunate to have accompanied Knaresborough Parish Church Choir at numerous cathedrals including those at Brecon, Chester, St Albans, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Ripon and, on several occasions, at York Minster.

During the last few years, James has been studying with Professor David Baker and in 2020, James gained his FRCO diploma, winning the Turpin/ Durrant and the Lawrence Phelps prizes.

James is married with two daughters and lives in Edgworth, a village on the edge of the West Pennine moors.