amethyst73 (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
amethyst73) wrote2007-02-11 09:29 pm
amethyst73) wrote2007-02-11 09:29 pm
It's Matthew, it's Matthew, it's Matthew makes the world go 'round!
As some of you may know, the church that I attend lost its music director of 7 years back in late July 2006. I ended up on the search committee for the new music director. I'm delighted to announce that the committee made its recommendation to our minister last Sunday, and that person was offered and has accepted the position! *happy dance*
The members of the choir had decided just prior to the start of the choir year (September to mid-June) to do the best we could without a formal director for the short term rather than give up the choir entirely. Members of the choir who wished to do so took on the task of rehearsing us during the week, concentrating on the music for the Sunday immediately following and taking a brief look at the music for the Sunday after that. On Sundays, we had a succession of guest organists, some of whom were also very competent choral directors. And of course, if the organist was also a director, they'd have ideas about how to perform the psalm and anthem which might or might not match the ideas of whoever had rehearsed us midweek. We quickly learned to be flexible and to listen to directions well, but by the time the end of December rolled around, we were all very ready to take a look at the four individuals who had applied for the position of a permanent music director.
There was, as expected, a bit of variety amongst these individuals. They varied in their abilities to direct a choir, play the organ, and communicate musical ideas. They had different ideas of what to have us do for anthem(s). They had very different personalities - some good, some rather less good. (The personality quirks of one candidate in particular make for some.. amusing.. stories, but I'll not tell them here.) Two candidates were outstanding musically, but only one could be hired: we happily settled on Matthew Burt.
Matthew is a wonderful relatively young Englishman with an extensive education in sacred music and theology. (Looking over his resume again, I note that he has three different Master's degrees!) Recently, he helped put together the service for the investiture of our new bishop, and was one of the two music directors for that service. Rehearsing and singing with him was - truly! - like putting one's hand into a favorite, well-fitted glove. To be fair, he'd chosen two pieces that the choir happened to have sung before, one of them only a couple of months ago. Nonetheless, we are all delighted that he'll be leading the choir here soon. Our first rehearsal with him is a week from this Wednesday, and I'm really looking forward to working with him!
There was, as expected, a bit of variety amongst these individuals. They varied in their abilities to direct a choir, play the organ, and communicate musical ideas. They had different ideas of what to have us do for anthem(s). They had very different personalities - some good, some rather less good. (The personality quirks of one candidate in particular make for some.. amusing.. stories, but I'll not tell them here.) Two candidates were outstanding musically, but only one could be hired: we happily settled on Matthew Burt.
Matthew is a wonderful relatively young Englishman with an extensive education in sacred music and theology. (Looking over his resume again, I note that he has three different Master's degrees!) Recently, he helped put together the service for the investiture of our new bishop, and was one of the two music directors for that service. Rehearsing and singing with him was - truly! - like putting one's hand into a favorite, well-fitted glove. To be fair, he'd chosen two pieces that the choir happened to have sung before, one of them only a couple of months ago. Nonetheless, we are all delighted that he'll be leading the choir here soon. Our first rehearsal with him is a week from this Wednesday, and I'm really looking forward to working with him!