ORGAN APPEAL

Organ Appeal

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Gala Concert to celebrate the launch of the Dean Close Chapel Organ AppealTewkesbury Abbey, Saturday 21st April 2012

A packed Tewkesbury Abbey celebrated thelaunch of the Appeal for a new Chapel organ. The Gala Concert showcased the breadth of talent from pupils, staff, alumni and professionalmusicians from the Dean Close community including Ashok Gupta, Matthew Martin and The Carducci Quartet, the School’s quartet inresidence. Choral performances, organ, pianoand strings were of a breathtaking standard, much to the audience’s appreciation. The eveningconfirmed the reputation of Dean Close as aSchool with excellent music at its heart; with thehighest standards of tuition, inspiring musiciansand calibre of choirs. A drinks reception in theAbbey afterwards enabled the audience to shareits joy at a superb concert.

That the concert was held in the Abbey says it all;it is no longer possible to stage a concert like thisin our own Chapel because the organ is sadly beyond repair and not in a suitable state for accompaniment, teaching or recitals.

The current organ was originally built by WilliamHill in 1902 and discarded by St Mary’s Churchin 1968 before it was transferred to Dean CloseSchool Memorial Chapel. For the past 20 yearsthe organ has been gradually failing; more recently it has required tuning every few weeksand constant repair work. Despite this work,many notes cannot be played and the organ isnow beyond repair. Indeed, the console recently ignited causing a small fire and furtherdrama as yet more electronics failed.

A new organ in Dean Close Chapel is essentialto set the highest standards for performancesand teaching of choral and organ music. Wepride ourselves on our choral musical tradition,on high standards of tuition and on the calibre ofour choirs and organ scholars. For all pupils, past and present, singing in Chapel is central toSchool life.

The new organ and console will be built overthe vestry entrance and will form a stunning visual focus as well as acoustically transformingthe sound. It will be an organ of English tonalitythat will transform the Chapel ambiance. It willhave the power to lead our congregational andchoral singing and to be a teaching and recital instrument with a stop list that will do justice toa wide repertoire of organ music.

The design will be finalised soon and promisesan organ that will inspire and excite not only ouryoung organists, choirs and children but, throughour links with Cheltenham Festivals, the RoyalSchool of Church Music, the GloucestershireOrganists’ Association and other groups, will ensure a great many people have access to this magnificent new instrument.S

Why do we need a new Chapel Organ?

Newsletter

Dean Close School

Crissy Ryan “Our weekly Congregational Hymn Practice(otherwise known as ‘Congo’), for me, sums upwhy I love Dean Close so much. I doubt thatthere are other School practices that summarisewhat it is to be a Decanian as much as ‘Congo’.The rivalry between houses, year groups, girlsand boys, but, equally, the unity that makes theDean Close community such a special one re-sounds throughout. If there is one thing to doduring a Chapel service at Dean Close it is tosing. For me, that says a huge amount about ourcommunity. The fact that congregational singingis encouraged, is fun and is even ‘cool’ makes mevery proud to be a Decanian. Please supportthe appeal to replace the organ and ensure thecontinuation of a tradition that is part of whatmakes Dean Close an extraordinary place togrow up.”

Upper Sixth former and choir memberCrissy Ryan shares what singing atDean Close School means to her

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Schola Cantorum Chorister Sings for The QueenLaurence Kilsby, chorister with the Schola Cantorum of Tewkesbury Abbey andpupil of Dean Close Preparatory School, was thrilled to be invited to sing forHer Majesty The Queen at the Diamond Jubilee Service in St Paul's Cathedralon 5th June. The service was broadcast live on BBC television and seen by millions of viewers around the world. "I felt so privileged to be part of the Diamond Choir and it is a day I will remember for the rest of my life,” said 13year old Laurence who will continue through to the Senior School in September.

Choristers Join OlympicTorch Celebrations

Chapel Choir’s first major event for the academic year was the annual Evensong at St Paul’s Cathedral in October. They sangWood’s Collegium Regale canticles andGabrieli’s Jubilate Deo, followed by a reception that was attended by the Headmaster and many ODs where conversation focussed on plans for the new Chapel organ.

Next came Remembrance Sunday Evensongin Tewkesbury Abbey, sung by the Chamberand Chapel Choirs; a very moving affair. The anthem comprising of the first twomovements of Maurice Durufle’s Requiem, awork which the choir hopes to perform in itsentirety once the new organ is installed; a performance we can all look forward to.

For the fifth year a new Christmas carol wascommissioned and Grayston Ives was thechosen composer. His joyful carol, Susanni,was really embraced by the choir and isshortly to be published by Novello. It is sureto become a popular classic.

In addition to the Gala Concert, highlights of2012 so far include The Choral Society’s performance of Bach’s Mass in B minor whichtook place in Cheltenham Town Hall and thenew CD recording by the Chamber Choir,recently released on the ‘Acclaim’ label,which is available from the School shop andmusic department.

Royal Musical Treasures for the Diamond Jubilee On Sunday 8th July, the Schola Cantorum willbe performing with the Cheltenham BachChoir and conductors Stephen Jackson andPaul Holland at the Cheltenham Music Festival. The Royal Musical Treasures concert celebrates the wonderful, upliftingmusical riches that have been created forroyal occasions over the centuries. The concert will include William Byrd’s touchingprayer for Queen Elizabeth I and music specially written for 2012’s Diamond Jubilee.Handel’s majestic Zadok the Priest, a mainstayof every coronation since George II’s in 1727,and William Walton’s stirring marches forGeorge VI and Elizabeth II will also feature.

For more details and tickets please contactwww.cheltenhamfestivals.com

As part of the official celebrations to welcome theOlympic Torch to Cheltenham, the choristerswere invited to sing at the Racecourse onWednesday 23rd May. Following the arrival ofZara Phillips into the stadium, riding her horseToytown and carrying the Olympic flame, the choristers joined with the Cheltenham YouthChoir to sing music by Johnny Coppin. On stageGareth Malone led the audience of over 25,000 inI vow to thee my country.

New Director of Choral Music

The appeal brochure inviting donations will be sent out early next term.For more information about the Organ Appeal, please contact the Development Office: Tel: 01242 267439

Victoria Waddington: vrwaddington@deanclose.org.uk Felicity Copp: fjcopp@deanclose.org.uk

Simon Bell, currently the Assistant Director of Music at Winchester Cathedral, will join asDirector of Choral Music. He will also directthe boys and men of Tewkesbury AbbeySchola Cantorum. Simon regularly directsWinchester Cathedral Choir in services andrehearsals, is the Co-director of WinchesterCathedral Girl Choristers, was Assistant Conductor and Repetiteur of the WaynfleteSingers, has been Guest Conductor of Southern Voices and is the Founding Directorof Southwell Minster Girls’ Choir.

He is also an accomplished organist, havingbeen an Organ Scholar at Westminster Abbeyand was Assistant Organist at Southwell Minsterbefore his move to Winchester Cathedral.

Headmaster, Jonathan Lancashire, said: “Wewere all extremely impressed with Simon’s musical skills which are exceptional. I am confident that he will be able to build on the excellent work that Ben Nicholas has put inplace for the Schola Cantorum and will bringsome exciting new ideas to the role.”

In support of the appeal, Simon says: “DeanClose has a wonderful tradition of strong choralsinging at Chapel services. The present organsadly is no longer capable of supporting the fullschool singing hymns, and is not reliable enoughor musically able to accompany the fine ChapelChoir in worship. A new organ in the Chapel isa sound investment in the future of choral musicat Dean Close. Please join us in making thisdream a reality.”

Chapel Choir News Physics and the Organ

Strangely, the failing Chapel organ has actuallybeen great news for the Physics departmentin its quest for a greater understanding ofsound waves. Since it would be hard to damage the organ much further, it has beenpossible to walk about inside the organ loft inamongst the pipes and really get a feel forhow this great beast works.

A wide variety of pupils, parents and governors have already been taken on a tour during Physics lessons and at Commemoration. For some, the awkwardclimb through a restricted gap to a dark,dusty attic or the incredible din of 16 footlong pipes in close proximity was hard tobear. However a five year old boy, an 84 yearold grandmother and many in between livedto tell the tale. If anyone would like to seethe old organ please let us know, but hurrybefore it gets replaced with a wonderful new one.

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