Chamber choir’s new director recalls first solo sung at Cathedral

As reported in the last issue, the Salisbury Cathedral Chamber Choir has a new director – Dr Elizabeth Stratford. Elizabeth, who is the first woman to take on this prestigious role, shares her thoughts on the appointment with Katrina ffiske.

THE CHOIR is the Cathedral’s mixed-voice adult choir and is formed of singers who work and live around Salisbury.

Elizabeth will be working a few days a month in Salisbury. “I am honoured to have this position,” said Elizabeth. “And I am thrilled to be back here as I actually came here when I was only 15 years-old. I won a scholarship through a charity to attend a choral course. It was such an inspirational time, studying among this majestic architecture, and being surrounded by such a high standard of music.

“My first solo was sung here, so it really does feel that this is my spiritual home and some of my firmest friendships were made on that course and others which followed. It is a very special place for me.”

Although love of music was in Elizabeth’s family, her talents were not discovered until quite late. “I did play the flute when I was 10-years-old but we did not have the money for lessons. My

Special event brings religious communitiies together

THE DEAN of Salisbury, the Very Reverend Nicholas Papadopulos, will give the address at a ceremony to mark a tragic event in the Middle East.

Christians, Muslims and Jews will gather to remember the Palestinian catastrophe – known as the Nakba – at the Friends

Mum was a single parent and really quite poor with no extra money for out-of-school classes. My aunt played the church organ and mum had sung in her parish church choir as a child, they were both an inspiration to me.

“I began studying voice and piano aged 17, but it wasn’t until I played the organ at university that I knew I had found my true vocation.”

Elizabeth obtained her Bachelor of Music from the

Meeting House, Salisbury, on the evening of Monday, May 15.

That is the date when Palestinians all over the world mark the time when they were driven from their homes, never to return.

A noted Jewish activist will take part alongside Muslims and Christians from Palestine.

Canon Jonathan Herbert, from Hilfield Friary in Dorset, who will lead the service said it was important to remember the Nakba. “Three quarters of the population of Palestine left their

University of Huddersfield. After graduating with honours she undertook postgraduate studies in the form of a Master of Arts in Liturgy and Music at the University of Leeds, specialising in organ performance, choir training and composition.

The role of director will continue alongside Elizabeth’s position as organist and master of the choristers at Arundel Cathedral where she was appointed aged 23.

“I went to the interview homes during the fighting when the State of Israel was set up in 1948,” he said.

“But that was not the end of the story– the Nakba continues to this day. The descendants of those who did not leave are suffering under a brutal military occupation where every aspect of their lives is strictly controlled.

“Homes are routinely demolished to make way for illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian land, soldiers burst into houses in the middle of the night to kidnap children who are thinking that I would not have a chance of being offered the job,” Elizabeth said. “I was to work with so many older, more established people so it was such a surprise and honour when I was offered the position. Some of the members turned to me and commented that I was young enough to be their granddaughter but still put their trust in me.”

Elizabeth went on to take the Arundel choir participating in Children in Need and Songs of Praise as well as the BBC’s live broadcast of Midnight Mass as well as tours, recordings, concerts and more.

Would you like to join the chamber choir?

The first task for Elizabeth is to work with the current members of the choir and put in place an audition system for potential new members.

“We aim to have about 20 people singing at each event so there may be a need for a waiting list to be created. This choir clearly has a strong sense of community, a family of musicians who look out for each other. It is enormous fun and the choir is highly regarded. There is no fee to join.

If you would like to know more, please contact Catherine Mitchell: c.mitchell@salcath. co.uk alleged to have thrown stones.

“The youngsters are often kept in solitary confinement and made to sign confessions in Hebrew – a language they don’t understand. Farmers have to get a permit to access their own land – and the permits are frequently refused.

“I bore witness to all this and more when I served as a human rights’ monitor in Palestine.”

The event begins at 7.30pm and will be followed by a chance to reflect and chat over Palestinian food.