A President’s evening was arranged by Geoffrey Carter on 28^th February 2009 at Humberstone Church where Geoffrey is the organist. Members of our association had been invited to attend and join in with the music provided by the Cathedral Choir, Geoffrey himself and other soloists. The event raised £300 which was equally divided between Humberstone Church and the Cathedral Choristers’ fund. 

Our June reunion in 2009 was small but successful and, as per the last few years, we were particularly grateful to Mrs Myra Chamberlain and her team for providing the splendid catering at our lunch. 

At our AGM we took the decision to give all choristers a year’s free membership of the Association on completion of their service – both as a token of thanks and as a means of potential longer term recruitment. 

Our newsletter continues to keep former choristers in touch with Cathedral matters.  If anyone would like a copy, please do contact me.  We have also continued to support  the Friends of Cathedral Music by selling 15 copies of their half yearly publication ‘Cathedral Music’ and by sending a donation each year. 

The Association is looking to restructure the role of Secretary to make the job less onerous and to involve the committee more in the running of the Association.  The role comprises several different functions which could be split to suit several different people.   

Richard Belton was appointed to the position of Honorary Secretary of the Federation at their AGM at Bury St. Edmunds Cathedral in May and attended his first executive meeting at St Mary’s, Warwick in September.  

Peter Collett
Association Secretary
November 2009

Currently we have over 16 boys and 20 girls coming from a variety of schools including Leicester Grammar School.  It has been reassuring to follow the development of former trebles now singing alto, tenor and bass with the nurture and musical training that the Cathedral environment gives.  We were so pleased for Thomas Sheahan and Oliver Sheffield going on to study at Oxford and the Royal Northern College of Music.  Increasingly, students are spending gap years here and it lovely to have the support of post A Level students, James Holley, Claire McGuinn and others. 

Repertoire balance is always a challenge, enabling our youngsters to match the capabilities of experienced choral scholars; we have performed new music by MacMillan, Daffern and Bruckner.  

The Three Choirs sang in Derby Cathedral and our Boy and Girl Choristers had a lovely week at Launde Abbey in August singing, exploring and cycling, culminating in a super informal concert with parents.  Our parental support has been exceptional.   

It has been good to work with Matt Haynes and Julie Tyler on the Choir Outreach Project.  This has involved liasing, managing and flexibility in the Music Department.  We appreciate the support of our Canon Precentor, Stephen Foster and our Assistant Organist, Simon Headley, with this.   

The Organ Recital Series in the summer has been very successful, raising a profit and putting Leicester Cathedral on the map in places as far as New Zealand!  Peter Collett and all the helpers enabled visual and extra dimensional screen display.  Simon Headley brought artist, Sophie Hacker, who exhibited icons depicting the incarnation – this was in response to the sponsorship of English Martyrs School and the anniversary of Messiaen.  A lighter touch was with Nigel Ogden’s theatre organ style. 

Getting the musical/educational balance with parents is always a challenge, particularly in relation to extra services for important occasions as schools and families have busy times too; we have introduced teams (St. Catherine and St. Dunstan), which enables some flexibility for homework and family commitments. 

The Songmen visited St. Edmundsbury in September and experienced new dimensions in the Cathedral and brewery.  They sing, with good camaraderie, on Wednesdays. 

The Cathedral choirs have been invited to sing the services in York Minster for the week commencing Monday 2^nd August 2010 and plan to stay at Bootham School