Personal Vision
I have a deep faith in God. This underpins my life and I try and ensure that anything I do is not for appearance but out of genuine desire to serve God.
I have a profound love of, and passion for cathedral music, and believe in the importance of the daily office which represents the continual prayer and worship of the church. I aim to maintain and develop choirs of excellence – only the best is good enough for God.
I am an ambassador for church music, inspiring quality and commitment from young people who do not have the background that their predecessors had. I see choirs as the open door through which to welcome our future – many members of congregations once made their first steps in the church as choristers or chorister parents. I believe in the vital importance of both boys and girls in securing the future of the church.
Singing is an expression of the soul. Not being a great poet myself, it is a channel for my emotions. As a result, directing a choir or singing (as a soloist or lay clerk) feeds my soul.
Faith is not just for personal edification; I have a sense of mission to take my faith to others, using church music to reverse the trend of declining numbers of church attendees, of singers, especially adult male singers, of organists, and indeed of ordinands. I champion music in parishes, not just by inspiration, but bringing choirs to sing in parish churches, and by convincing parishes of the urgent need to resource children’s music-making at all levels in the church. Cathedrals can encourage and directly support music in the local parishes so that their traditions, especially of children’s music, are rejuvenated.
I strongly value tradition. It has been slowly developed over time and is an expression of our humanity. At the same time, I love the challenge of the 21st century and the diversity of this technological age. There is a careful balance between retaining the old and embracing the new which takes into account the people, place and circumstance.
I am committed to my continuing personal development. It is only by continually stretching beyond my comfort zone that I am able to grow.
Portsmouth: October 16, 2007
