Singing headmaster to lead the RSCM

The new director of the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) begins work on May 1st. Lindsay Gray, who was headmaster of a cathedral choir school in Wales for fourteen years, is the sixth director to lead the RSCM since it was founded by Sir Sydney Nicholson 80 years ago. He will be based at the RSCM’s central office in Salisbury.

Unlike previous directors, Lindsay Gray (54) is the first who is primarily a singer rather than an organist. He was a choral scholar at King’s College Chapel Cambridge in the early 1970s followed by a number of successful director of music posts at leading schools, culminating in his last appointment as Headmaster of the Cathedral School in Llandaff, where he doubled the school roll, and founded and directed a girls’ choir to sing regularly in the cathedral.

Mark Williams, the Chairman of the RSCM Council, says Lindsay Gray brings the right combination of musical, educational and managerial experience to the RSCM. “Lindsay is passionate about the role of church music in society. He has a strong track record of working with church musicians and clergy, and has shown throughout his career the ability to develop ideas and talent, and produce tangible results. Lindsay has first hand experience of running an educational establishment and we are very much looking forward to the next stage of the development of the RSCM under his directorship.”

Speaking in an interview on the RSCM’s website, Lindsay Gray says the role will be a change from what he’s done before. “I feel very lucky and privileged to be doing something different but related. I’ve got a lot of learning to do; finding out what goes on in different parts of the world, and where there is good practice, to encourage people to extend that further.” 

The composer and conductor Bob Chilcott, who was a fellow King’s choral scholar with Lindsay Gray says, “It’s an inspired appointment, Lindsay is an excellent musician and will prove to be a worthy successor in the distinguished line of RSCM Directors.”

In the podcast interview, Lindsay Gray gives his view of the current church music scene, and the importance of encouraging young people: “It’s a wonderful thing to be able to sing, and one wants to see boys and girls singing extensively across the UK. Already there are signs in the choral societies that the young men aren’t coming in because they haven’t sung as boys.” He also reveals his approach to the new job: “I love the challenge of developing, I love trying out new ideas, we have to try every possible avenue so that church music is given every opportunity to flourish.”

ENDS
28 April 2008

Notes to Editors

1. Lindsay Gray is available for interview. Please contact Stuart Robinson or Heather Bamber to arrange.

2. Further information including biographical details and a podcast interview are available on the RSCM website here. Further quotes can be used from the interview, but please credit the RSCM. 

3. High resolution photographs of Lindsay Gray can be downloaded for media purposes from the Picture Gallery; there is no charge but please credit the RSCM.

4. The Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) is an educational charity and promotes the best use of music in worship, church life, and the wider community.  The RSCM also publishes music and training resources, and organises courses, short workshops and activities. With over 8,500 affiliates, members and friends in over 40 countries it is an international network, supported by over 750 volunteers and small team of staff based throughout the UK.

PDFs of RSCM news releases are generally available here (go to "News Releases").

Photographs for media use are available from the Media & Picture Gallery (go to "RSCM picture gallery").

For further enquiries contact:
Stuart Robinson:
RSCM Media Relations Organiser
srobinson@rscm.com
T: 01492 556378 / 07831 827701

or

Heather Bamber
RSCM Marketing & Communications Administrator
E: hbamber@rscm.com
T: 01722 424847 or 07786 331364