An article from the Cathedral Times
by the Very Reverend Samuel G. Candler,
Dean of the Cathedral of St. Philip
The Cathedral of St. Philip is blessed to include a beautiful music community of musicians, choir members, choristers, parents of choristers, Friends of Cathedral Music, allegro parents, and many more. With them, I was sad to say good-bye to the wonderfully talented Bruce Neswick and to his dear ministry among us. I wish him well, and I continue to thank him for his service here at the Cathedral of St. Philip.
However, his leaving also enables the Cathedral to discern and claim a new chapter in our life together and in our fine ministry of music. Though it will be hard work, I actually find myself looking forward to that! God has called Bruce from us, but I believe that God is also calling someone else to serve with us.
I do not have an immediate successor in mind, nor do I have any new master plan for musical structure at the Cathedral. But here are my plans and hopes so far:
I have asked William Fred Scott to chair a small advisory committee to help in discerning God's call for this position. Each person will represent a faithful element of the Cathedral music community; and each one will be open to your prayer and help.
We have published a job description that is ambitious and hopeful. Our new Canon for Music will be called both to continue and inspire the excellence of one of the finest choral music and church organ programs in the country, and also to lead and to inspire musical worship across a very broad parish life. That will take an organist and conductor of the highest talent and skill.Meanwhile, during the summer, Fred Scott and David Fishburn have devised a plan of choral direction and organ playing that will certainly suffice. Come September, I have asked Fred Scott to serve as Acting Director of Music Ministry, and he has accepted that call. Indeed, he has already started that preparation and that work. I thank Fred and David for their service during this interim time.
Fred will direct our Cathedral choirs and coordinate music ministry in general, but we will have to hire someone else as Assistant Director for Children's Music Ministry. We are already searching for that person, who will do two things. He or she will conduct our Girls' and Boys' Choirs (with the possibility that they will be combined for a season); and that person will also lead our large allegro music program. Fred and I are both eager, in fact, for the allegro music program to flow more easily into our girls' and boys' choirs.
Finally, of course, we are especially blessed to have the devotion and skill of David Fishburn among us; and I also continue to appreciate the excellent work of Tim Gunter and of Brent Runnels. Their service will be invaluable to all of us during the next six months-and beyond.
The Cathedral of St. Philip is a magnificent and holy community, and our musical leaders are integral to it. Keep them in your prayers as we look forward to a new Canon for Music!
The Very Rev. Sam Candler