Trinity College Newsletter, vol 1 no 38, February 1989

Page 1

Bishop Peter Hollingworth emerges from the 1988 Festival of Lessons and Carols and is hailed by the Warden. Those near the door are (L. to R.) Dr Richard McKinney (Director of the Trinity Theological School), the Reverend Ron Browning (newly appointed College Chaplain), Bishop Hollingworth, Mr Frank Henagan (verger), Dr John Wright (Woods Lecturer in Theology), Canon Russell Clark, and the Warden. The Director of the Choir, Mr Bruce Macrae, is the fourth person from the left.

INTERNATIONALLY DISTINGUISHED DIRECTOR OF MUSIC ARRIVES IN JULY 1989 The Trinity College Choir, originally established at a very high level by Professor Peter Dennison and directed for the last four years by Bruce Macrae, is set to achieve national, and even international, recognition in the coming years. Professor Peter Godfrey, currently Director of Music at Wellington Cathedral, New Zealand, will direct the choir from next July, and also help to stimulate all aspects of music in Trinity. Peter Godfrey began his musical career as a chorister in King's College, Cambridge. His influence on choral music in New Zealand has been immense. For much of his time there he was Professor of Music in Auckland and Director of the Auckland Cathedral Choir. He has taken several choirs on a number of international tours and in 1978 was chosen to be the Acting Director of Music at King's College, Cambridge. He is therefore amply qualified to work within the collegiate and academic tradition, and indeed was recommended to us by Sir David Willcocks, a former Director of Music at King's. Bruce Macrae, the current Director of the Choir, has rendered the College and its Choir sterling service. He looks forward to continuing to work with such a distinguished musician as Peter Godfrey. Under Bruce Macrae's musical direction, the Annual Festival of Lessons and Carols has grown in popularity each year, to the point where an invitation to attend it has become prized and numbers have to be severely limited. Each year there is a good balance between new works and old, between the choir's skilful singing and hearty congregational participation. Once again, in December 1988, we were honoured to have Their Excellencies, the Governor-General, Sir Ninian Stephen, and Lady Stephen as our guests. Both read lessons. After their coming retirement from "Yarralumla", they still look forward to

beginning their Christmas celebration at the Trinity Carol Service. Will we need to have two services - an Advent Carol Service, perhaps, as well as the Christmas Service - in order to accommodate everyone who wishes to come? The Chapel can hold only 300. The College is greatly indebted to its resident music tutor, Mr Philip Nunn, who has worked tirelessly for the Choir and also been our organist for the past year. His playing at the Carol Service was much admired, but not acknowledged in the printed Order of Service. That is because he generously relieved pressure on the office staff by typing it himself. An enthusiastic committee of the Trinity College Foundation, chaired by Mr William D. T. Cowan, has undertaken responsibility for seeing that a Choral Foundation is established in Trinity on a secure artistic and financial base, and that the Chapel is provided with a worthy new organ. The present organ has worn out beyond the point where extensive repair is economically or musically justifiable. Although it can sound fine in skilled hands it is something of a nightmare to play. It is also better for grand effects than for musical painting in delicate shades. The Committee believes that Professor Godfrey's arrival will stimulate public support for both the organ and the Choral Foundation.

A PUBLICATION OF TRINITY COLLEGE WITHIN THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE Registered by Australia Post — Publication No. VBG 4336.


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Trinity College Newsletter, vol 1 no 38, February 1989 by Trinity College Collections - Issuu