Ilkley musical tradition boosted with eight choral scholars
Submitted by john-carter on Wed, 15/06/2016 - 10:53
Thanks to the success of its Music Fund, St Margaret's Ilkley has appointed eight choral scholars who were installed at a service with the Archdeacon of Bradford, Ven Andy Jolley at the weekend.
Pictured with Vicar of St Margaret's Ilkley, Canon Philip Gray, and the Archdeacon of Bradford are the eight new choral scholars. (Left to right): Ellie Dennis, Rebecca Gray, Natasha Cheater, Tom Williams, Molly Higgitt, Sienna Anderson, Anna Wardale and Tom Ashby. Looking on are organ scholar Tammas Slater and Director of Music Christopher Rathbone.
Canon Gray said, "Our central vision in developing both an Organ Scholar, Tammas Slater, last autumn, and the new Choral Scholars scheme is to develop musicians, and specifically church musicians, of the future.
"Through the Scholarships we are providing a unique opportunity in a parish context for young people to develop skills as musicians which will benefit them throughout their lives, and could benefit God's Church wherever they may go in the future.
He added, "As a boy I sang in our church choir from the age of seven and through that experience I eventually came to ordination and the priestly life. In whatever vocation these young people may follow, we are offering them the opportunity of a unique experience which will be infinitely valuable to them, and which, I believe, they will never forget."