PRESS RELEASE
3rd March 2008
New Director of Music appointed
at Truro Cathedral
The Chapter of Truro Cathedral is delighted to announce the
appointment of Mr Christopher Gray as the Cathedral’s new
Director of Music.
Christopher has been the Assistant Musical Director at Truro Cathedral
since September 2000 and so has a deep and intimate knowledge of the
musical workings of the Cathedral. In particular his outstanding work on
musical outreach has gained national recognition and he has been part of
the pioneering Chorister Outreach project which has seen Cathedral
Choristers visit more than 90 primary Schools in Cornwall.
Christopher, who hails from Bangor in Northern Ireland, began his
musical education at Bangor Grammar School and continued as Assistant
Organist of St George’s Parish Church, Belfast, before taking up the
organ scholarship at Pembroke College, Cambridge in 1996, where he
read music.
Christopher is very much looking forward to taking up his new position
after the summer holidays, “The focus of my job in September will
be working with the Cathedral's superb choir of eighteen boys and
twelve men. Mixed in with the excitement is a certain amount of
nervousness about taking the choir over from Robert Sharpe who
has raised it to musical heights few people thought possible. I couldn't be
more thrilled with my appointment and look forward to the challenges
of serving the Cathedral and the County in this new role.”
The Dean of Truro, Dr Christopher Hardwick said, “We are very keen
that there should be a strong sense of continuity for the Choir and the
Cathedral's musical life, and consider that in Christopher we have a
person of outstanding ability and proven experience who can build on
our past and present achievements.”
Christopher Gray has worked with a number of choirs during his time at
the Cathedral, “I have particularly enjoyed my work with St Mary’s
Singers, Cornwall Junior Choir, Richard Lander School's Wilbye Choir,
Truro School Senior Choir and, most recently, Cornwall Youth Choir.
The rewards of directing the Cathedral Choir will be balanced by great
sadness at the necessity of relinquishing much of this external work.”
Having really taken Cornwall to his heart he is delighted to be staying at
Truro, “I have been made to feel truly at home here in Cornwall. Having
been attracted by the world-famous Cathedral Choir, organ and
beautiful building, I arrived to find that there were so many
other treasures as well – wonderful people, a great musical tradition,
fantastic local ales and, most importantly, superb surf. Being able to stay
here in this new capacity is a dream come true for me.”
Christopher is a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists and has
studied the organ with David Sanger and Nicolas Kynaston at
Cambridge. He was subsequently taught by Margaret Phillips at the Royal
College of Music, where he was a post-graduate student and a prizewinner. During this time he also held the organ scholarship at Guildford
Cathedral, working with Stephen Farr and Geoffrey Morgan.
During his time at Truro he has performed live on BBC Radio and
television numerous times as well as taking part in nine CD recordings
and several international tours. He has given recitals at some of the
Country’s most prestigious venues, including St Paul’s Cathedral and
Westminster Abbey.
Christopher will fill the vacancy created by Robert Sharpe’s recent
appointment to York Minster.
ENDS
3rd March 2008
For more information contact:
See www.trurocathedral.org.uk
Mr Christopher Gray, Assistant Director of Music, 07867 524934,
chris@trurocathedral.org.uk
Colin Reid, Cathedral communications Officer, 01872 245007,
colin@trurocathedral.org.uk