Tour 2008
From Wellington Cathedral of St Paul
Contents |
A letter from the Dean
In the Orthodox tradition of the Church icons are an important aid to worship and prayer, drawing the visual sense into the mystery of God. Wellington Cathedral is indeed fortunate to have, in the form of the Cathedral Choir, an audio icon which, through music, draws us into the unfathomable depths of God’s love. It was St Augustine who said that he who sings prays twice. As members of the Cathedral Choir prepare for their 2008 Sesquicentenary Tour to the UK, I invite you to not only listen and pray, but to be generous in your support of this fund-raising appeal. In so doing you will be part of the ongoing mission and ministry of Wellington Cathedral, a sacred space in the capital, as we take our ‘icon’ to distant shores and enable others, through music, to be touched by God.
Frank Nelson
Dean – Wellington Cathedral of St Paul
A letter from the Bishop
The choir of Wellington Cathedral of St Paul is soon to undertake a major tour of England and Paris, including appearances at St George’s Chapel Windsor, Cambridge and Westminster Abbey where they will sing an entire week of services culminating in the Sunday Choral Mattins and Eucharist.
I have watched and listened with interest and pleasure to the development of the Choir of Wellington Cathedral of St Paul through the weekly services at the Cathedral. The Choir is an asset not only of the Cathedral family but of the entire country of Aotearoa New Zealand and deserves your full support in their endeavours to raise funds to offset the significant costs of the tour. Touring is a great opportunity for the bonding and cohesion of a musical group in every way, musically, spiritually and socially. For choir members, it is a marvellous way to get to know one’s colleagues better and gives the group the chance to develop musically by repeating prepared repertoire in repeated services, thereby refining the sound of the choir. There is also some time to grow through experiencing the rich heritage of the Anglican liturgical music tradition in some of the great buildings which have rung with this music for many centuries.
I would like to express my full support for the Cathedral and Director of Music, Michael Fulcher and Assistant Organist Richard Apperley and urge you to do whatever you can to help this worthy endeavour.
My kind regards
Dr Thomas J Brown
The Bishop of Wellington
A letter from the Director of Music
The Cathedral Choir is one of the finest ensembles of its kind in New Zealand and a cultural ambassador to the world. The tour is a great opportunity to promote New Zealand music internationally as well as increasing further musical development within the Cathedral Choir.
The Cathedral Choir plans to tour England and Paris in July-August 2008. We are taking newly written compositions by our own multi-award winning young Composer-in-Residence, Andrew Baldwin. We will be demonstrating that Kiwi choral singing is alive and well, both in terms of new music being written and in the performance of the traditional repertoire for a Cathedral Choir.
The Choir members are a diverse group – from students, parents and full-time workers - they all lead busy lives outside choir activities.
In recent years, the Choir has appeared on national television for the live-to-air Christmas midnight mass, the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior ceremonies, and the service to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of VP Day.
The Choir has just released its CD entitled “A Service of Shadows” featuring music written by Andrew Baldwin. CD $30 are available from the cathedral.
Thank you for supporting the Tour and the further development of the Cathedral Choir. You are welcome to hear them sing at Sunday services 10am and 5pm
Michael Fulcher
Organist & Director of Music – Wellington Cathedral of St Paul
Itinerary
23 July Depart Wellington
26 - 27 July St George's Chapel, Windsor
- Choral Evensongs Sat 26, Sun 27
- Choral Mattins and Eucharist Sun 27
28 July - 3 August Westminster Abbey
- Daily Choral Services (excl Wed 30)
29 July 1.10 - 1.50pm Lunchtime concert at Southwark Cathedral
1 August
2.00pm Reception with the NZ High Commissioner to the UK
4 August Selwyn College, Cambridge
- Choral Evensong
5 August Ely Cathedral
- Lunchtime Recital
St John's College, Cambridge
- Choral Evensong
5 August Ely Cathedral
- Lunchtime concert
6 - 7 August Lichfield Cathedral
- Choral Evensong
9 August St Eustache, Paris
- Evening Mass
10 August Notre-Dame Cathedral
- Morning Mass
Music list
How can you help us?
- Make a donation to the tour
- “Hire-the-Choir” arrange for us to entertain in exclusive style at your corporate event, national day or private function.
- Offer to donate or run a fundraising event
- Donate a product or service to be auctioned at a fundraising event
- Donate an airfare using corporate air points
- Join our mailing list to be invited to fundraising events
- Order a case of choir wine
Please contact us for more information.
