The Canterbury Cathedral Choir is one of the world's preeminent choral ensembles with an international reputation for high standards. It is the resident musical ensemble for the spiritual seat of the 70 million-member worldwide Anglican Communion that reaches into more than 160 countries. The choir's notoriety is further enhanced by a unique historical legacy that includes association with such pivotal musical figures as Thomas Tallis, and leadership under a line of distinguished musicians through this century with Gerald Knight, Allan Wicks and now David Flood.Under David Flood's leadership, the Canterbury Cathedral Choir has conducted critically acclaimed tours in Europe and North America -- including a highly successful tour of the U.S. and Canada in 1994. In 1997, the Choir celebrated the 1400th anniversary of the arrival of St Augustine in Canterbury with concerts in Rome and throughout France. That same year, Mr. Flood and the Cathedral hosted an American Children's Choir Festival with over 400 participants; they will repeat the event this year.
Standard Admired Worldwide
Surely to be a Chorister in one of England's magnificent Cathedrals or Collegiate Chapels is an unforgettable experience for a boy (and today, in some cases, a girl too). The standard in education, exemplified by the discipline and professionalism that is part of the choristers' upbringing, is admired worldwide. In the U.S. and Canada, choir schools have an almost mythic image in the public's eye as enclaves that breed future leaders -- whether they turn out to be musicians, scientists, government officials or corporate executives.The Canterbury Cathedral Choir has been singing the daily office in its present form since 1542, the date of the reformed Cathedral Foundation under Henry VIII. At these services the choir plays a central role. Evensong is sung every day of the week, as is the Eucharist on Sunday mornings, and the music is from a wide and eclectic repertoire ranging from plainsong to contemporary.
The choir includes thirty boys (choristers), ages eight to thirteen, who live in the Cathedral Choir House, now part of St Edmund's School. They rehearse every day early in the morning and again before Evensong. The youngest ones (probationers) have their own rehearsal with the Assistant Organist to learn the skills needed for entry into the full choir. The boys enjoy normal school holidays, except for Holy Week, Easter and the week before Christmas. They also stay on to sing for two weeks in the summer, a time usually filled with outings and barbecues.The men of the choir, known as Lay Clerks, are professional singers who hold jobs in addition to their work in the choir. Many of them are teachers, while others are in a wide variety of professions.
A Centerpiece of History
As the birthplace of English Christianity, and the church home to 103 Archbishops of the Anglican Church, Canterbury Cathedral has become sacred to pilgrims as an international shrine. The Cathedral's appeal extends beyond religious interests to English literature with Geoffrey Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales" and T.S. Eliot's "Murder in the Cathedral".The walled city of Canterbury is one of Britain's centerpieces of medieval history and, along with the Cathedral, is one of its most popular tourist destinations hosting some three million visitors per year. Nestled in England's southeast coastal region, Canterbury and its Cathedral evoke images of the pure pastoral countryside, the ancient structures of a gilded age, and a time of gallant pageantry.
David Flood
Canterbury Organist and Master of the Choristers David Flood received his musical training as an Organ Scholar of St. John's College, Oxford, and through additional postgraduate work at Clare College, Cambridge. He was appointed Assistant Organist at Canterbury Cathedral in 1978, serving under Allan Wicks, and assumed the position of Organist and Master of the Choristers at Lincoln Cathedral in 1986. Two years later he returned to Canterbury to succeed Dr. Wicks, who was retiring. Mr. Flood is responsible for leading the Cathedral's extensive music program of daily sung services, special concerts and programs as well as the festive occasions of the church. Such occasions have included the enthronement of the Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey, and last summer's Lambeth Conference -- the worldwide gathering of bishops in the Anglican Communion held once a decade. Next July, David Flood will be part of the conducting team for the famed Berkshire Choral Festival in western Massachusetts.Timothy Noon
Canterbury Cathedral Assistant Organist Timothy Noon began his musical career as a chorister in Hereford Cathedral Choir, studying organ with Dr. Roy Massey. At the age of seventeen he was appointed Organ Scholar of Canterbury, and the following year won a similar position at Christ Church, Oxford where he also earned a degree in music. In 1993 he became a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists, winning six prizes in examination including the coveted Limpus prize. On graduating with First Class Honors, Timothy became the youngest cathedral assistant organist in the British Isles upon his appointment to St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin. He returned to Canterbury as Assistant Organist in January of 1998 with his wife and baby son. He has given recitals in a variety of prestigious venues, appeared on television and radio, and completed six commercial recordings to date. An accomplished composer and arranger, he was commissioned to write brass and organ music for the opening service of the 1998 Lambeth Conference.Due to the expected birth of a second child, Timothy will not be performing with the Choir on this tour.
Andrew Bryden
With Timothy Noon's absence, Andrew Bryden will travel with the Choir as Organist for the tour. Andrew is Assistant Organist at Ripon Cathedral and Director of Music at Ripon Cathedral Choir School, in Yorkshire. From 1994 to 1997, he was Organ Scholar of Canterbury Cathedral and Head of Academic Music at St. Edmund's School in Canterbury. As a soloist and accompanist he has toured Holland, Austria and France, and has appeared on both the BBC as well as independent radio and television. He has completed two recent commercial recordings with the Ripon Cathedral Choir. In 2000, Andrew will perform a series of recitals devoted to the works of J. S. Bach to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the composer's death, conduct a solo recital tour of Holland and Germany, and play for a liturgical performance of Olivier Messiaen's La Nativité du Seigneur.
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