Cathedral music in Leeds is to benefit from a £40,000 boost to maintain and enhance its reputation as a centre of musical excellence. Leeds Minster and Leeds Cathedral will each receive a cheque for £20,000 during a national weekend gathering of the Friends of Cathedral Music (FCM).
Canon Tony Bundock, Rector of Leeds, will receive the cheque on behalf of Leeds Minster during Choral Evensong at the Minster on Friday 3 October at 7pm. Everyone is warmly welcome.
The FCM national gathering takes place three times a year. On this special occasion it will be attended by 120 delegates from the UK and overseas. Based in Leeds and Ripon, delegates will be able to study the inner workings of cathedral choirs, hear the world première of a setting to the Magnificat as well as enjoying the appearance of Yorkshire Three Choirs at Ripon Cathedral.
FCM was founded in 1956 to safeguard our heritage of cathedral music and support a living tradition; to increase public knowledge and appreciation of that heritage and tradition; to encourage high standards in choral and organ music and raise money by for choirs in need. FCM has nearly 4,000 members world-wide and has handed over more than £2m to support both cathedrals and some parish churches. Yorkshire cathedrals alone have received more than £280,000 during the last 20 years.