Nominees for 'Volunteer of the Year 2025' include Satwant Singh, who has supported several of the Cathedrals Cycle Route events at Bradford Cathedral and visited as part of the annual Bolton Road Community Cycling Club tours. You can find a full list of nominees across all the categories - and vote for them - on the YCA website. Voting closes on Friday 7th March 2025.
The popular weekly free ‘Wednesday@One’ organ recitals return to Bradford Cathedral after the Christmas break.This season will feature a line-up of fourteen organists, starting with Michael Haynes from Hexham Abbey on Wednesday 8th January 2025.The organ recitals begin at 1pm every Wednesday and are preceded by an optional £4 buffet lunch at 12:30pm.The organ recitals are free to attend, though donations are welcome. The recitals last around 45 minutes and those attending are also welcome to explore the Cathedral before and after the recital.Graham Thorpe, Director of Music at Bradford Cathedral, says:“We’re really looking forward to the return of our Wednesday@One organ recitals. As ever, we have a superb line up of organists, some old friends, and some who have never been before, and it’s the perfect way to start the City of Culture year.“As always, doors open at 12:30 for the famous buffet lunch at only £4, followed by the recital at 1pm. Do join us, and spread the word!”You can also read an interview with each organist, on the Bradford Cathedral website, in the week leading up to their recital.This recital season forms part of the ‘Creativity Under Pressure’ theme that make up the first four months of Bradford Cathedral’s offer as part of the UK City of Culture year.For more information about the new series of ‘Wednesday@One’ organ recitals, please visit bradfordcathedral.org.uk/organ-recitalsThis season’s organists in full:8th Jan – Michael Haynes (Hexham Abbey)15th Jan – Oliver Waterer (Selby Abbey)22nd Jan – Emma Gibbins (Chelmsford Cathedral)29th Jan – David Cowen (Leicester Cathedral)5th Feb – John Hosking (Blackburn Cathedral)12th Feb – Anthony Gray (St Wilfrid, Harrogate)26th Feb – Will Campbell (Bradford Cathedral)5th Mar – Pete Gunstone (Bradford Cathedral)12th Mar – James Davy (Chelmsford)19th Mar – Graham Thorpe (Bradford Cathedral)26th Mar – Mark Brafield (Concert Organist)2nd Apr – Victoria Ulriksen (Norway)9th Apr – Alex Binns (Derby Cathedral)16th Apr – Lee Ward (Fulneck School)
You can come and see the plaque today between 10am and 4pm, and you can also find out more in our video at <a href="https://youtu.be/jZC12kFnwo0">https://youtu.be/jZC12kFnwo0</a>, and on our website at <a href="https://bradfordcathedral.org.uk/2023/04/19/memorial-b12-siege-of-bradford/">https://bradfordcathedral.org.uk/2023/04/19/memorial-b12-siege-of-bradford/</a>
On Wednesday 8th January we welcome Michael Haynes from Hexham Abbey to the Cathedral for the first recital of 2025. In this edition of ‘Notes from an Organist’ we discover more about them, and what to expect from their recital, including mixing the familiar and unfamiliar in a recital; filming plans for 2025; and how you could recreate the Hexham Abbey organ at home!Could you introduce yourself, how you got into music / become an organist and your musical journey to where you are today?I learned piano from about 6, but always wanted to learn the organ! My background was as ordinary as can be though singing was in the family and I listened to my parents records over and over again. Their tastes were in a mixture of classical and popular styles, and my listening has been pretty eclectic!What can people expect from your recital at Bradford Cathedral?In a recital I always try and mix in familiar and unfamiliar: and even with well known pieces I quite like doing something off the wall; in a different or unusual manner. Music can paint pictures and reveal emotions, and it has something unique in a live performance. Today’s Rheinberger movements I think are awesome, the Passacaglia is beautiful and also massive, and I have my own version of the end! Bach Trios are hard to play but so satisfying, and can show some lighter colours on the organ. Cocker’s Tuba Tune is so uplifting and so majestic! Peeters’ Chorale Prelude is suitable for Epiphany and is beautifully crafted and inspired. Both of Mulet’s Organ Toccatas are my absolute favourites bucket, and I play them both quite a lot! (The “Tu es Petra” one is so serious, this one “Carillon Sortie” is beyond joyful!)Why do you enjoy playing the organ?It’s fun playing the organ, as it so dramatic, and so varied. The challenge is to make music on an organ, which takes some doing, and can be done, and if you sense your audience are listening then that’s a great thrill. Giving a recital at St Paul’s Cathedral in 2023 was a life highlight for me!What are your hopes or plans musically for 2025?I hope in 2025 to make some good quality you tube videos from Hexham Abbey. I’ve made a few just with an iPhone in the organ loft, but that doesn’t really show the organ off to it’s full extent. It’s nice to have targets to work towards. And I don’t really have much on-line presence at all, so far!You are the Director of Music at Hexham Abbey – how do you find that role?Being Director of Music at Hexham Abbey is an all encompassing and totally enveloping role. One massive part of which is running the choir of about 36 trebles and 30 adults, usually split into two teams, for the two midweek choral evensongs and the two Sunday services. The administration and social side of that, plus organising special events and tours is truly epic. It’s fully volunteers singing and fully inclusive, and on a good day the choir sounds great; at its very best it feels like a giant family!I aim to practice piano and / or organ every day, sometimes for a short time sometimes for a long time. Often early or late. The Phelps Organ of Hexham Abbey is a special instrument. A large two manual, tracker action organ, which is versatile and responsive, though not a traditional cathedral style organ. Obviously I’ve given many recitals there and made a CD, and we have just celebrated the organ’s 50th birthday! it’s endlessly rewarding to play and gets better with time. (It is possible to download a sample set of the Phelps and play it at home!)Finally, how would you sum up your upcoming recital at Bradford Cathedral?I always look forward to giving Organ recitals, and Bradford Cathedral in particular has a special feel. Last time I came I played Widor’s 6th Symphony, and remember loving the organ, and being touched by the warmth of welcome and appreciation for the recitals. I know I will enjoy myself and just hope the audience will too!You can join us on Wednesday 8th January at 1pm to hear Michael’s organ recital, with an optional £4 buffet lunch beforehand at 12:30pm.
