After hosting Alex Woodrow in February for an organ recital we are welcoming him back, alongside his brother for a coffee concert in April. We enjoyed a conversation with him to catch-up on how his return to Bradford went and what to expect from him when he returns in April.How are things going in your new post at Leeds Minster?It has been an exciting start, because there’s been a mixture of the familiar and the new, in terms of being back in West Yorkshire. I’ve been getting to grips with the fabulous Harrison organ and trying to remember all the names of the choir members! It has been a very warm welcome indeed and it is just super to be working with Canon Sam Corley again!You recently played at Bradford Cathedral on an organ recital – how did that go?<span style="font-size: 1rem;">I played a couple of weeks ago and it was super to be back and remind myself what a fine instrument the Bradford organ is! I was made to feel very welcome and the programme went down well. It is so good to see the Wednesday series at Bradford continue to flourish.</span>Could you tell us about the musical partnership that you’re bringing to our April Coffee <span style="font-size: 1rem;">Concert?</span><span style="font-size: 1rem;">This’ll be me at the piano with my younger brother James who is a violinist based in Manchester; we enjoy playing the occasional recital together, though we do have quite independent musical lives. But it’s good occasionally to be able to collaborate as brothers. There’s a substantial violin sonata by Mozart in the programme, as well as music by two female composers: Clara Schumann, who was of course the wife of Robert Schumann. She was a very fine composer in her own right, though sadly overshadowed by her husband; and Lili Boulanger, who was a turn-of-the-C20th Parisian composer whose music is having a bit of a renaissance at the moment. Then there are two further pieces, one by Saint-Saëns and the other by Frank Bridge. Those Romantic items should make for quite a contrasted mix alongside the Mozart.</span>Finally, do you have any further plans as a duo in 2020?<span style="font-size: 1rem;">Not really, as we really tend only to have the time to prepare one programme or so each year! However, we are looking forward to playing very much in April.</span>Join us for our free Coffee Concert with James and Alex Woodrow on violin and piano on Tuesday 14th April from 11am, with free refreshments available from 10:30am.
"I wonder what things you're really passionate about. What gets you out of bed in the morning?"Listen back to yesterday's 4pm sermon at https://bradfordcathedral.org/worship/listen-back/
"As we've already heard so far in our being together, the coronavirus and its impact around world is almost all that's being talked about, on the news, on social media, at the hairdressers and the bus stop."Listen back to today's sermon at https://bradfordcathedral.org/worship/listen-back/
The cathedral will be holding special voice trials on Saturday 4th April where interested children from school years 2, 3 and 4 will take part in a twenty-minute session where they will sing the first verse of classic Christmas carol Away in a Manger alongside some scales and a few musical exercises, as well as reading a short passage out loud.There will also be a short and informal conversation between the music department and the child’s parents or carers about what is involved with being part of the Bradford Cathedral Choir.Those who play a musical instrument are also welcome to bring one along, though this is not essential.Bradford Cathedral ChoirAs a member of Bradford Cathedral Choir children receive a first-class education in music, regular free singing and theory tuition, the opportunity to meet their other peers who love music, and get the opportunity to sing at home and abroad.This new recruitment drive comes after a very successful Cathedral Sing! event, which saw the music department visiting over twenty primary schools in the district and inviting the children to a singing day at the cathedral.Alex Berry, Director of Music at Bradford Cathedral:<span style="font-size: 1rem;">“We know there are lots of children across Bradford who might be interested in singing and are particularly talented, and because we can’t visit every school in the district every year, these voice trials are an excellent opportunity for more to audition to become part of our Cathedral Choir.</span>“The auditions are quite informal but they give us the opportunity to listen to each child and their voices.“Anyone in years 2, 3 and 4 can apply, regardless of which school they come from. All they need to do is meet the full commitment expectations of the choir.”Successful applicants will be offered a place in the Bradford Cathedral Choir, either at the start of the summer term or the autumn term. New choir members will be invited along on Mondays (girls) or Tuesdays (boys) and Thursdays every week for after-school activities and to sing at Evensong, alongside alternate Saturdays where they’ll receive theory and singing tuition, as well as information about the Christian faith.“Being a cathedral chorister is an amazing opportunity. The choristers will work at a level that you can’t work at in many other disciplines as a child. We offer free lessons and pay for children to take the ABRSM exams. Choristers also have the opportunity to sing in collaboration with other choirs across Yorkshire.”As well as singing with other cathedral choirs, there are six visits each year to sing at a range of churches across the Diocesan area, which covers much of West and North Yorkshire, from south of Darlington to Holmfirth, and across from Ingleton to the edge of York. The pastoral side of the choir is also filled with activity, from socials such as bowling and laser tag to biennial tours in the UK. In 2020 this includes Cambridge, Norwich and Ely, and will see the choristers engaged in a mix of fun and educational activities.“Every alternate year we go abroad. In 2019 we went to Germany and next year we plan to go to Romania. The number of opportunities we offer to choristers is staggering. New choristers will also get the chance to make new friends from schools across the city.”Choir membership continues until school year eight, when they will have enough experience to become young professional singers with potentially grade fives in singing and music theory.“This could be the first stage for a professional career. I was a cathedral chorister and became the youngest Director of Music in the country.”Many famous people were choristers in their youth including comedian and presenter Alexander Armstrong, who has released three classical-inspired albums; Halifax-born singer Ed Sheeran; politician David Lammy; and cricketer Alastair Cook, amongst many others.“Being a member of a choir has helped many people get into really high-flying careers, and they look back on the choristership as the thing that really inspired them, and gave them the aspiration to aim for something so amazing. Some of our own choristers have gone on to join the Opera North Youth Chorus, and others have gone onto University music degrees and organ scholarships.”You can find out more about the Chorister Voice Trials, download a document detailing more information about the choir commitments, and see some frequently asked questions by visiting our website at bradfordcathedral.org/music/chorister-voice-trials.Voice trials will take place throughout the day on Saturday 4th April 2020 at Bradford Cathedral. Each voice trial will last approximately 20 minutes. To book your time slot please contact Luke Johnson by e-mail via luke.johnson@bradfordcathedral.org, or by phone on 01274 777725 (Monday to Friday, between 1030 and 1530). Appointments can also be made with Alex Berry on 07507 456741.
