Trinity update
DCS Organ Appeal Newsletter:Layout 1 28/06/2012 11:37 Page 1
Dean Close School ORGAN APPEAL
Organ Appeal Newsletter Why do we need a new Chapel Organ?
Gala Concert to celebrate the launch of the Dean Close Chapel Organ Appeal Tewkesbury Abbey, Saturday 21st April 2012 A packed Tewkesbury Abbey celebrated the launch of the Appeal for a new Chapel organ. The Gala Concert showcased the breadth of talent from pupils, staff, alumni and professional musicians from the Dean Close community including Ashok Gupta, Matthew Martin and The Carducci Quartet, the School’s quartet in residence. Choral performances, organ, piano and strings were of a breathtaking standard, much to the audience’s appreciation. The evening confirmed the reputation of Dean Close as a School with excellent music at its heart; with the highest standards of tuition, inspiring musicians and calibre of choirs. A drinks reception in the Abbey afterwards enabled the audience to share its joy at a superb concert. That the concert was held in the Abbey says it all; it is no longer possible to stage a concert like this in our own Chapel because the organ is sadly beyond repair and not in a suitable state for accompaniment, teaching or recitals.
The current organ was originally built by William Hill in 1902 and discarded by St Mary’s Church in 1968 before it was transferred to Dean Close School Memorial Chapel. For the past 20 years the organ has been gradually failing; more recently it has required tuning every few weeks and constant repair work. Despite this work, many notes cannot be played and the organ is now beyond repair. Indeed, the console recently ignited causing a small fire and further drama as yet more electronics failed. A new organ in Dean Close Chapel is essential to set the highest standards for performances and teaching of choral and organ music. We pride ourselves on our choral musical tradition, on high standards of tuition and on the calibre of our choirs and organ scholars. For all pupils, past and present, singing in Chapel is central to School life.
Crissy Ryan Upper Sixth former and choir member Crissy Ryan shares what singing at Dean Close School means to her
The new organ and console will be built over the vestry entrance and will form a stunning visual focus as well as acoustically transforming the sound. It will be an organ of English tonality that will transform the Chapel ambiance. It will have the power to lead our congregational and choral singing and to be a teaching and recital instrument with a stop list that will do justice to a wide repertoire of organ music. The design will be finalised soon and promises an organ that will inspire and excite not only our young organists, choirs and children but, through our links with Cheltenham Festivals, the Royal School of Church Music, the Gloucestershire Organists’ Association and other groups, will ensure a great many people have access to this magnificent new instrument.S
“Our weekly Congregational Hymn Practice (otherwise known as ‘Congo’), for me, sums up why I love Dean Close so much. I doubt that there are other School practices that summarise what it is to be a Decanian as much as ‘Congo’. The rivalry between houses, year groups, girls and boys, but, equally, the unity that makes the Dean Close community such a special one resounds throughout. If there is one thing to do during a Chapel service at Dean Close it is to sing. For me, that says a huge amount about our community. The fact that congregational singing is encouraged, is fun and is even ‘cool’ makes me very proud to be a Decanian. Please support the appeal to replace the organ and ensure the continuation of a tradition that is part of what makes Dean Close an extraordinary place to grow up.”