A Marriage Made In Chapel
Trinity College Choir Association
The College choir enjoys a distinguished history, amplified over the past three decades by the brilliance of its director, Richard Marlow, soon to retire. Richard came to Trinity in 1968, and in 1982 established the choir in its current form. His profound ability as a conductor, organist, composer, arranger and inspired leader is a true marriage of talents that has made the choir one of the best mixed choirs in the world. It has toured the globe, giving concerts of outstanding quality and acting as a worthy ambassador for Trinity. It also has a large and critically acclaimed discography.
Richard's luminosity and dedication have had an incalculable impact, not only on the musical life of Chapel and College but also on the large number of people who are privileged to have been members of his choir. He has enriched the lives of many. The choir's alumni boast distinguished organists and instrumentalists, conductors, singers and choral groups as well as many able amateurs.
The idea of establishing a choir association dates back to 2000, but the plans only took off when Richard's retirement and the College's drive to engender a more contagious relationship with its members were announced in 2004/5.
Those who were not choral scholars when up at Trinity may think the choir was already enough of an 'association' and that any subsequent 'associating' would be superfluous. The rumoured reputation of many choir members being more than just good friends was, and still is, well founded, as several subsequent intra-choir marriages and long-term relationships will attest.
Apart from providing an opportunity for everyone to meet up every few years, our other, more important, objective is to keep members informed about the choir's plans so that the Association can help the College and choir achieve its musical aspirations.
All past members of the choir, organ scholars, Chaplains and Deans of Chapel are TCCA members, unless they wish otherwise. We levy no membership fee since we wish to be as inclusive as possible. We also have Friends of the Association for all those who have had close ties with the choir (and Chapel), but who would otherwise not be included. If you or anyone you know would like to become a Friend, please make an application or nomination by visiting this page.
The Association is holding its inaugural Gathering in College on 1 July 2006, with the kind assistance of the Master and Fellows. As that date falls just after the end of Richard's final term as director of music we will be celebrating, with thanks, all he has done for the choir. The event will comprise an Evensong and dinner on the Saturday, followed by a Sung Eucharist and brunch on the Sunday. These services are, as always, open to all and everybody is most welcome.
Some of you will know that Stephen Layton has been appointed as Richard's successor. 'Sid' Layton is currently at the Temple Church, London and his recordings with Polyphony and the Holst Singers have won universal acclaim. His appointment has created much excitement. Richard has given him a hard act to follow but, if anybody can build on what he has done, Stephen can. The Association extends to him a warm welcome.
The Dean of Chapel, Arnold Browne, who has devoted much time and energy in helping to set up the Association, also leaves at the end of this academic year. His unstinting support of the choir and his leadership in Chapel have been outstanding. He will be much missed. The TCCA wishes him and Caroline all the best in their new life in Norwich.
Over the next few years the TCCA committee hopes to engender in the Association a keen desire to give something back to the College and the choir, in both financial and other generous forms of support. It is vital in this new era when students are expected to pay an increasing share of their educational costs that Trinity, and Cambridge, are enabled to make places, including choral scholarships, available to the most able and deserving. The choir must continue to attract first-class singers and organ scholars if it is to remain at the forefront of choral music and remain Trinity's key ambassador. This is an important mission. The TCCA is not a mere dining society. It must, and I believe will, turn its friendships into a force for good. Those of you who attended last September's buffet lunch in Nevile's will have heard a foretaste of what we can do to enliven College events.
Nicholas Yates (1991) is TCCA General Secretary (now Chairman)
This article originally appeared in Fountain magazine in early 2006.