Appointments

[Guest Barry Williams]

I have heard that Mr Lindsay Gray, Headmaster of Llandaff Cathedral School, is to be the next Director of the RSCM.

 

Also, Katherine Dienes Williams is to be the Organist and Choirmaster of Guildford Cathedral.

 

Barry Williams

[Davidb 0]

Thanks for that Barry.

 

I knew Katherine in her days at Norwich as assistant, where she was both a superb player and nice lady to boot. Isn't the first job she has been offered, but all the best to her, and of course Mr. Gray.

 

Interesting though that Guildford hasn't gone down the route of appointing a Choral Specalist...

[sjf1967 0]

Thanks for that Barry.

 

I knew Katherine in her days at Norwich as assistant, where she was both a superb player and nice lady to boot. Isn't the first job she has been offered, but all the best to her, and of course Mr. Gray.

 

Interesting though that Guildford hasn't gone down the route of appointing a Choral Specalist...

Simple reason, David - we really need two very capable players on the full time staff at Guildford, as the no1 accompanies the girls (who are directed by the no2) and there are numerous specials etc which (especially at Christmas) are too much for one person to do alone. Which is not to say that Katherine won't also do a really superb job with the choir here, as she has done with her singers at Warwick.

[mrbouffant 0]

Exciting times all round. I still await a response to my application at Liverpool Cathedral

[Guest Barry Williams]

Herewith the hyperlink about the RSCM appointment of Mr Lindsay Gray ARCO as the new Director:

 

http://www.rscm.com/info_resources/news/Di...nt_27092007.php

 

Barry Williams

[Guest Cynic]

Herewith the hyperlink about the RSCM appointment of Mr Lindsay Gray ARCO as the new Director:

 

http://www.rscm.com/info_resources/news/Di...nt_27092007.php

 

Barry Williams

 

 

Curious that Mr.Gray's title is merely 'Director' - Professor John Harper always styled himself 'Director General'!

[wolsey 0]

Curious that Mr.Gray's title is merely 'Director' - Professor John Harper always styled himself 'Director General'!

 

Not really curious. The title has indeed changed, reflecting the nature of the new post. Professor Harper did not bestow his job title upon himself. He was asked by the RSCM Council to combine the role of director with that of chief executive, with the title Director General.

[tribunegallery 0]

Anyone know who else was on the shortlist for Guildford?

[Guest Cynic]

Not really curious. The title has indeed changed, reflecting the nature of the new post. Professor Harper did not bestow his job title upon himself. He was asked by the RSCM Council to combine the role of director with that of chief executive, with the title Director General.

 

 

So they're going to have a chief executive as well?

Visions of deckchair manouvres come to mind.

[Guest drd]

Yes, one's impression is that the RSCM is not the organisation it was in earlier days, and indeed seems to have lost a sense of direction.

 

Good for KD, though, a fine player and person.

[Vox Humana 0]

Anyone know who else was on the shortlist for Guildford?

Hmm. A matter for PMs, methinks. I think it would be invidious to discuss openly who failed to get the job!

[mrbouffant 0]

Hmm. A matter for PMs, methinks. I think it would be invidious to discuss openly who failed to get the job!

Nice to see the departing Guildford organist played a recital at the new Guildford organist's current church back in August...

[Guest Barry Williams]

I presume everyone knows that Alan Thurlow is retiring from Chichester.

 

Barry Williams

[ajt 0]

I presume everyone knows that Alan Thurlow is retiring from Chichester.

 

Barry Williams

 

Last I heard he'd committed to another 5 years, but that could just be the rumour mill getting it wrong...

[Guest Barry Williams]

Last I heard he'd committed to another 5 years, but that could just be the rumour mill getting it wrong...

 

I apologise if my information is incorrect.

 

Barry Williams

[DHM 0]

Quote from the Lay Clerks' List, posted on Wednesday 26th:

 

"Dr Alan Thurlow announced his intention to retire with effect from Easter 2008 to the congregation at Chichester on Sunday morning."

[sjf1967 0]

Nice to see the departing Guildford organist played a recital at the new Guildford organist's current church back in August...

sorry to spoil a good conspriacy theory, but I was invited by KD last year to play in Warwick - long before I had even thought about leaving Guildford this summer - and for the record, I was nothing to do with the selection process for my successor...

[mrbouffant 0]

sorry to spoil a good conspriacy theory, but I was invited by KD last year to play in Warwick - long before I had even thought about leaving Guildford this summer - and for the record, I was nothing to do with the selection process for my successor...

Of course. I was merely struck by the beauty of the conincidence!

[gazman 0]

Of course. I was merely struck by the beauty of the conincidence!

 

A conincidence?

[mrbouffant 0]

A conincidence?

[Guest Psalm 78 v.67]

Stepen Farr has mentioned the organists' workload, hence Guildford not going down the "Choral specialist" route. Are places that have done so not going to feel the pressure on their remaining organists?

 

And will "organists" by whatever title they are known in such places be deemed sufficiently chorally knowledgeable to stand in for choir training/ conducting duties? And how are cathedral organists' career prospects going to develop in the future?

[pcnd5584 0]

Stepen Farr has mentioned the organists' workload, hence Guildford not going down the "Choral specialist" route. Are places that have done so not going to feel the pressure on their remaining organists?

 

Apparently, the incumbent organists at Saint Paul's are already feeing the effects of the increased workload - so I am reliably informed.

[Martin Cooke 0]

I see from the St Paul's website's account of the installation of the new dean that Huw Williamsd is styled Assistant Director of Music and Organist and Tom Wimpenny, as Assistant Sub-Organist. (Sorry I can't do the link.)

[Guest Barry Williams]

I have heard that St Peter's rc cathedral, Belfast, is to have a new organist and choirmaster, apparently from Croydon Parish Church.

 

Barry Williams

[AJJ 0]

I have heard that St Peter's rc cathedral, Belfast, is to have a new organist and choirmaster, apparently from Croydon Parish Church.

 

Barry Williams

 

Nigel McClintock perhaps? The organ there now is rather splendid - Kenneth Jones worked on it recently - West end, 4 Man., terraced console etc. The spec. doesn't seem to have made it on line yet though.

 

AJJ