A gliding Pope and comfort breaks; Bargain CD Psalm Collection; Snapshot of Stephen Cleobury
A gliding Pope and comfort breaks
Church Times – Matthew Lloyd Wilson, a chorister in Westminster Abbey Choir, describes highlights of the choir’s trip to Rome
The choir sang at five events: one concert; one informal recital that turned out to be very formal, owing to the cameras in the amazing, painted Sistine Chapel; two services in the Abbey of Montecassino; and one of the most memorable services I will ever sing, to restore ecumenical relationships between the RC Church and the Anglican Church. It came close even to the royal wedding.
http://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2012/6-july/news/uk/a-gliding-pope-and-comfort-breaks
Bargain CD Psalm Collection
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Snapshot of Stephen Cleobury – from Priory Encyclopedia.
Stephen Cleobury is a highly versatile musician who relishes the opportunities he has to operate in a variety of roles and across a broad range of repertiore. At the centre of his musical life, for over a quarter of a century, has been his work as Organist and Director of Music at King’s College, Cambridge. This has been complemented and refreshed by the many other activities in and beyond Cambridge in which he engages.
Stephen began organ lessons at the age of 13, studing with Douglas Guest and the Christopher Robinson. He gained the diplomas of Associate and Fellow of the Royal College of Organists, in each case being awarded the coveted Limpus Prize for achieving the highest marks in organ playing. As Organ Student at St John’s College, Cambridge, he was a soloist and accompanist under the direction of George Guest and made his first organ recording. At this time he studied organ with Arthur Wills, and was awarded a W.T. Best Scholarship by the Worshipful Company of Musicians, enabling him to study in Germany with Arno Schonstedt.
After holding posts at St Matthew’s, Northampton, Westminster Abbey (Sub-Organist), and Westminster Cathedral(Master of Music), he returned to Cambridge, to King’s, in 1982. The experience he has gained in all these places, as well as his early training in Worcester as a Cathedral chorister and subsequently at the King’s School there, together with the invaluable contributions of those who taught him and for whom he worked have inspired and informed his professional career. Principal influenced have been (in chronological order) Douglas Guest, Christopher Robinson, Harry Bramma, George Guest, and David Willcocks.
At King’s he has sought to maintain and enhance the reputation of the world-famous Choir, widening the daily service repertiore, commissioning new music from leading composers, principally for ”A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols,” and developing its activities in broadcasting, recording and touring. He has conceived and introduced the highly successful annual festival, ”Easter at King’s,” from which the BBC regularly broadcasts, and, in its wake, a series of performances throughout the year, ”Concerts and King’s.”
Original article at:
http://prioryrecords.co.uk/encyclopedia/index.php?title=Stephen_Cleobury