Page 42 - Church Music Quarterly June 2019
P. 42

NOTEBOOK
  BUCKFAST ABBEY LAUNCHES CHILDRENS’ CHOIR
Buckfast Abbey in Devon has begun offering the opportunity for up to 25 boys and girls with ages between 7 and 11 to be part of its Choral Foundation.
The first intake of choristers was recruited in the summer term and began rehearsing last September.
The choristers are singing with the
lay clerks of the Abbey choir at some
of the services as well as performing at several concerts throughout the year.
Each chorister receives a scholarship from the Abbey for individual vocal, piano and theory tuition with the Abbey’s professional tutor.
They will also work towards singing and theory exams for the ABRSM.
For more information about choristerships at Buckfast Abbey, visit www.buckfast.org.uk/music
   THREE CHOIRS FESTIVAL GLOUCESTER, 26 JULY – 3 AUGUST
The celebrated Three Choirs Festival has revealed its full programme for this year’s festival, which takes place in and around Gloucester from 26 July to 3 August. The spectacular large-scale choral concerts at the heart of the festival are complemented by a wide range of chamber recitals, talks, exhibitions and family events. Full details are available from 3choirs.org, with tickets already on sale.
Alongside blockbuster programmes such as Verdi’s epic Requiem with superstar conductor Ed Gardner
(28 July) and Rachmaninov’s beautifully introspective Vespers (29 July), four main programming strands weave through nine days of music-making, celebrating composer anniversaries, new voices, song and discovery.
To view the full programme, find out about the many ways to get involved, or for further details of free ticket schemes for local and young audiences, visit 3choirs.org. The festival welcomes applications from potential volunteers and from keen singers aged 14–25 who would like to join the youth choir.
BUCKFAST ABBEY APPOINTS NEW ORGANIST
Buckfast Abbey has announced the appointment of internationally acclaimed musician, David Davies, as its new organist.
Mr Davies trained as an organist, pianist and conductor at Magdalen College, Oxford, and at the Institute of Sacred Music at Yale University in the United States. He has held church and cathedral appointments in the USA and in the UK, most recently as Assistant Director of Music at Exeter Cathedral.
Commenting on the appointment, Philip Arkwright, Organist and Master of the Music at Buckfast, said: ‘I am delighted to welcome David Davies as Organist, to join a team of talented and dedicated musicians at the Abbey. His broad experience and qualifications provide a sure foundation on which to showcase our fantastic new organ.’
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