Diocese of Leeds Choral Director Post

[presbyter]

if, for example, you're setting the Gloria in Czech.

You mean Leeds has a large Czech community? Is fluency in Czech a prerequisite for this appointment??!!

[Psalm Project]

Yes... a new thread for disciples of Mac
I have not gone into the main content of this thread but is Ben Saunders leaving?

[Chris]

Just thought it might be worth clarifying a few things that have come up through this topic for accuracies sake:

1) None of the money that funds music in the diocese come from the local education authorities. The diocese and schools involved in the diocese singing programme both contribute towards the cost of music staff employed by the diocese.

2) The foundation of all of our singing is liturgical music - children learn music that can be sung at mass and other liturgies both in school, in their church and at wider diocesan liturgies. Most diocesan liturgies are now led by either the cathedral choirs or by children from the diocesan schools singing programme. Our principal is that all music should be sung to highest possible standard, whether music is for liturgical or concert use.

3) Two parishes in the diocese (in addition to the Cathedral) now have children's choirs formed from schools involved in the Diocese school singing programme. In other parishes children from the programme are taking part in already existing choirs that regularly lead music at Sunday Mass.

4) It is certainly our long term hope that some (many) of these children will continue to be involved with singing after they move on from school. Indeed, the first year group we started with 6 years ago are now starting at university, several to read music, several playing the organ in their home parishes. We hope to see growth in this area in the long term.

5) Benjamin Saunders is not leaving the Diocese: the new Choral Director appointment is a newly created full time post to work alongside the current music department staff (4 full time, 4 part time.)

Further information about the Diocese of Leeds music department, and it's work, can be seen on the website: http://www.dioceseofleedsmusic.org.uk

Best wishes to all,

Chris

[musicus]

Thank you, Chris. That is very helpful (and back on topic, at last!).

[Southern Comfort]

Just thought it might be worth clarifying a few things that have come up through this topic for accuracies sake:

1) None of the money that funds music in the diocese come from the local education authorities. The diocese and schools involved in the diocese singing programme both contribute towards the cost of music staff employed by the diocese.

Chris,

Many thanks for the clarification. All this is very good news.

On a point of information, two years ago you and Ben seemed to be saying very clearly that the LEAs and the funding they give are the reason why the Leeds programme exists. Have things changed, or did you actually mean back then that it is the LEAs who give the money to the schools, and the schools who then opt to give it to the Leeds diocesan music programme in return for people working in their schools (that makes very good sense), rather than the LEAs paying the diocese directly?

This may sound like semantics, and it's not meant to be. Just a clarification as to whether the money comes from the LEAs ultimately, or whether it's the schools who are providing their own funding. (Think of the 15% contribution that schools make via fundraising from parents.)

[mcb]

Chris,

Those are magnificent achievements, and warmest congratulations are due. Long may it continue.

[organist]

One could ask the same question about all those former choristers of our cathedrals and choral scholars in our universities - how many of them impact on parish life? The point is that Leeds are doing something and that's great!