£25,000 Donation is music to Manchester’s ears

Published: 05 October 2011

Manchester’s famous musical heritage has been rewarded with a £25,000 donation which will help to secure the future of the renowned Manchester Cathedral Choir.

The donation, made by Friends of Cathedral Music (FCM), is a significant boost to the Cathedral’s Endowment Fund to support bursaries for the choristers – the boys and girls whose highly trained treble voices give the Cathedral Choir its unique sound. The children, aged 8-13, are selected for their musical potential and are all educated at Manchester’s world-famous Chetham’s School of Music.

Professor Peter Toyne CBE, Chairman of Friends of Cathedral Music, presented the cheque for £25,000 to the Dean of Manchester Cathedral, the Very Reverend Rogers Govender, on Sunday 2 October – fittingly at an annual service to commemorate the founders and benefactors of Manchester Cathedral. Peter Toyne said: "The opportunity to strengthen the musical talent which already exists at Manchester Cathedral is something FCM regards as worthy of support and meets our objectives in safeguarding the priceless heritage of cathedral music in Britain."

The Choir is an unbroken tradition that has been at the very heart of Manchester’s music-making for over 500 years. It consists of up to 20 treble choristers and six Lay-Clerks, who are all professional singers in and around Manchester, and is directed by the Organist & Master of the Choristers, Christopher Stokes. Mr Stokes said: "We are deeply indebted to the Friends of Cathedral Music for their very generous grant which will enable children from all walks of life to reap the benefits of the incomparable musical education that is enjoyed by cathedral choristers."

Manchester Cathedral’s Director of Fundraising and Development, Mr Anthony O'Connor aims to secure £5 million for the Endowment Fund, and has already received generous donations from some of Manchester’s leading businesses, philanthropists and trusts, including the Oglesby Foundation, Pickled Walnut, the Pilling Trust and the DHP Group.

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