I can’t believe that I’ve been in New York now for three weeks, and Pippa for a whole week! Time has flown by so quickly because of the very warm welcome that everybody has given to us, both at the Church and the Choir School. It has been a joy to get to know new people and also to spend time with some of our closest friends who already live in New York. I’ve greatly enjoyed three Sundays of fine Saint Thomas liturgy and preaching, with two of them sung by the excellent Saint Thomas Consort that has been founded by the brilliant Nicolas Haigh during his tenure as Acting Director of Music.
The music team that Jeremy Filsell nurtured so well, is both world-class and open-hearted, and it has been a privilege to join them. In my short time in post, four excellent musical colleagues have already been appointed: two gentlemen of the choir: Daniel Castellanos, a former chorister of Saint Thomas Church under John Scott, who is making a switch from tenor to countertenor, and replacing him in the tenor position, Trevor Scott, who has recently completed an MMA in Vocal Performance at Yale; Bethany Dame, our new Organ Scholar, a superb organist who has recently graduated with a Masters in Organ Performance from Peabody Conservatory and has served as Organ Scholar at Church of the Redeemer, Baltimore; and Jennifer Lane, our new Music Associate for Children and Youth, joining us from Church of the Heavenly Rest, who will continue the excellent work of Rebecca Kellerman-Filsell with the Noble Singers.
I have so enjoyed my first rehearsals with the boy choristers. They are singing beautifully and learning new repertoire very quickly. It’s a delight to experience Saint Thomas Choir School bursting into life with the arrival of happy children at the start of a new school year. Pippa and I were delighted to see how effortlessly the boys interacted with other students from Professional Children’s School on a wonderful start of year Circle Line dinner cruise for staff, students and parents of PCS this week. It’s clear that the collaboration with PCS will further enhance the truly life changing experience that boys have enjoyed as choristers of Saint Thomas Church for many years.
As I write, I’m very excited about their return to singing services and my second Sunday directing the music at Saint Thomas Church (my first was over thirty years ago, on July 16, 1995!). I am thrilled that the choir of Men and Boys will be singing repertoire by six of my predecessors that I greatly admire: Noble, Candlyn, Hancock, Scott, Hyde and Filsell. It is an honour and privilege to have the opportunity to preserve and expand the tradition that was fostered by them and has been cherished by so many throughout the world.
