Choir and DoM problems at certain places

[ardcarp]

Can anyone with a knowledge of 'goings on' at certain places help? Mrs A was browsing Facebook and realised that Sheffield Cathedral Choir was disbanded at a stroke, and that the DoM at Wakefield Cathedral has left in despair. I think I also heard of some trouble at Wells. Can anyone explain what's going on, and is it a disturbing worry for the future of our choral tradition?

This may all be old news, so I apologise for my ignorance. Any inside info will be welcome.

[oddoneout]

Not inside info, but for once I was able to find a Guardian article I vaguely remembered reading https://www.theguardian.com/music/20...choir-in-exile
Also found this https://www.sheffieldcathedral.org/n...athedral-choir
There is now it would seem a Community Choir https://www.sheffieldcathedral.org/c...%20the%20choir.
but whether it takes the place of the previous cathedral choir I don't know,the service sheet doesn't indicate https://www.sheffieldcathedral.org/service-times There is reference to a newly appointed DoM

[jonfan]

Wakefield DOM Thomas Moore left his post in August 2020 for ‘personal reasons’ so I can’t really say he was in despair on not. James Bowstead is the Interim DOM and if you look on the choir website there seems to be a lot going on with plenty of optimism for the future of music at the cathedral.

[Magister Chori]

I think I also heard of some trouble at Wells.

Here: https://slippedisc.com/2023/04/civil...lls-cathedral/

and here: https://slippedisc.com/2023/04/churc...its-auditions/

[DracoM]

Crikey!

[ardcarp]

So sad since some of the most perfect, dignified and inspiring CEs I attended were during Malcolm Archer's time there. His last carol service, including both the the boy and girl choristers, was fabulous.

[Vox Humana]

So sad since some of the most perfect, dignified and inspiring CEs I attended were during Malcolm Archer's time there. His last carol service, including both the the boy and girl choristers, was fabulous.

Archer's Howells disc, the last he made at Wells, might well be the one I would save from the waves on my desert island.

[jonfan]

A short piece in the new Private Eye summarises the position at Wells very succinctly. Shocking own goals there with no apparent reason for the whole avoidable and unnecessary mess.