Dr. Martin Neary to Return in May 2010
(Dr Neary's Letter to the Choir after his visit May, 2009)
Dear Scott and All Members of the Grand Rapids Choir of Men & Boys,
What a marvelous evening. Thank you for preparing the choir so well. I much enjoyed working with you and your singers, and will look forward to seeing you all again. But, before flying back to London this evening from Washington DC, I wanted to follow up my previous email to thank you and the choir for the special card and present you gave me, as well as for the rewarding time I spent with you. I particularly liked the reference to “Singing Unto the Lord with Joy,” and I am sure that is what you will be doing later this week, not least when you sing the glorious Purcell anthem of that name.
Finally, thank you for all your graciousness throughout my visit; it was indeed such a pleasure working with you, and I hope that there will be a follow up when your plans for the coming season emerge. It is evident that you are excellent work on all counts. So, best wishes and keep up the good work.
--Dr. Martin Neary (Organist/Choirmaster Westminster Abbey, London, England)
It is a great privilege and joy to announce that Dr. Neary will be returning in May of 2010 to take the Men & Boys Choir on a Midwest Tour. Like last year, the GRCMB board is making these rehearsals open to the public for those who would like to share with us in this rare opportunity to see this master choir trainer work. Please phone Scott Bosscher (616 460-0598) for details.
~ Martin Neary Biography ~
British organist and conductor Martin Neary, who was Organist and Master of the Choristers at Winchester Cathedral (1972–87) and Westminster Abbey (1988–98), is especially noted for championing contemporary church music, and for his groundbreaking performances of music by Bach and Purcell.
In 1978 Neary directed the first complete performance in England of the St. Matthew Passion with period instruments, and in 1995, apart from conducting two televised programs marking the tercentenary of the death of Henry Purcell, his CD with the Westminster Abbey Choir and the New London Consort, Music for Queen Mary, was nominated for a Grammy.
Martin Neary is particularly associated with contemporary British composers Jonathan Harvey and John Tavener, with over thirty commissions and premieres. As organist, Martin Neary has also programmed many new works, not least in his recitals at the Royal Festival Hall in London. He is the only second person to have been elected twice as president of the Royal College of Organists.
Martin Neary, who read theology and music at Cambridge University and later studied conducting at Tanglewood under Erich Leinsdorf, and with André Marchal in Paris, has received numerous awards. Among them his appointment as Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order by the Queen, in recognition of his services for choosing and directing the music at the funeral of Princess Diana.
Finally, all proceeds from this Benefit Evensong will go to music scholarships for our boys, many of whom rely upon this assistance to be able to sing in the choir. Your continued support at this Benefit Evensong is both appreciated and vital to our mission to promote and enrich Christian Worship here in West Michigan. All financial giving at this service beyond the suggested ticket price will be noted as tax deductable donations to the choir. The Grand Rapids Choir of Men & Boys is a registered 501(c) 3 non-profit organization acknowledged by the State of Michigan.