Page 4 - LOTN Autumn Issue 48 2021

DIOCESE
Scotland’s first NSSP Choral Director

Bishop Hugh Gilbert appoints a new Singing Tutor under the auspices of The National Schools Singing Programme

ordon Jack is Scotland’s first NSSP Choral Director, Responding to his
working in the Diocese of Aberdeen. Gordon is appointment Gordon
Ga singer, music educator and choral conductor. Jack said, " It is exciting
He studied at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and for me as a singing
Drama gaining a BA in Music Performance and two PGCE teacher and music
certificates in trumpet and singing. educator to be given
His varied singing career has spanned solo, vocal this opportunity to
ensemble, choral and operatic work throughout the UK. He teach in four of the
started conducting while at the RSAMD and has directed primary schools in
many children’s, youth and adult choirs, both in Iceland the Diocese. I will be
and the UK. He was the first Director of the National Youth encouraging all the
Choir of Scotland Training Choir and has taught singing children to participate in
and musicianship on the National Boys Choir courses and the singing programme, Gordon Jack, NSSP Choral Director
conducted the Changed Voices section in concert. Gordon so that they can sing for the Diocese of Aberdeen
has taught Kodály musicianship in over 60 schools in confidently and musically. The younger children will, in
Aberdeenshire and trained early years and lower primary time, have the opportunity to join their school choir. Those
staff to use the Kodály-inspired musicianship programme, in the upper years at the moment will have the chance to be
‘Sing-a-Ring’. He teaches singing at Robert Gordon’s College the first to sing in their school choir very soon. This project
and the University of Aberdeen, and is the Music Director of will be welcomed by schools, churches and parents alike."
the Inverurie Choral Society. David Meiklejohn, Project Adviser, NSSP, Scotland
Bishop Hugh Gilbert has been a strong advocate of singing warmly welcomed the appointment: "Gordon Jack is a
in schools and the Diocese has successfully operated a most welcome addition to our Liturgical Music education
Schools Singing Programme since 2017 led by John Horton team. The first person to be appointed to a Scottish diocese
and coordinated by David Meiklejohn. Commenting on under the sponsorship of the NSSP, he will join John Horton
the appointment Bishop Hugh Gilbert said, "I am delighted in promoting and developing young choirs. John, under
to have appointed Gordon Jack to the post of Singing a separate funding arrangement, has already taught in all
Tutor under the auspices of The National Schools Singing our schools during the past three years and has created
Programme. Mr Jack, who is a very experienced singing our Junior Schola at St Mary’s Cathedral. We are now very
teacher, will provide tuition in four of our Catholic schools. pleased to be able to expand this provision and are grateful
We warmly welcome him to our Diocese and wish him all to NSSP for offering us this opportunity. We look forward to
possible success in building choirs." a brighter musical future in our schools and parishes."

Praying for our earth and cherish the earth, which they are to acknowledge as a gift

from God to care for and till.
At the welcome and introduction, I was able to reflect on how
and for creation appropriate it was to hold the service on the feast day of St Francis
of Assisi, famed for his great love of the natural world, and to
note the prominence of the environment in the teaching of Pope
BY KENNETH SADLER Francis, with his encyclical Laudato Si' giving vital encouragement
to Catholics in their work for a just and green world.
onday 4th October was the feast of St Francis of After a searching penitential rite which highlighted ways in
Assisi; it was also the last day of the ecumenical which we fall short in our relationships with nature and with
MSeason of Creation 2021. On that evening, at the others, the scripture reading from Colossians 1 emphasised
parish of St Francis of Assisi, Mannofield, Aberdeen, Catholics Christ’s headship of all creation; the subsequent Gospel from
from our Diocese gathered to pray for the earth, our common Mark 4 stressed Jesus’ easy familiarity with the natural world in
home, for the success of COP26 in Glasgow, and for the good the language of two parables and, dramatically, his power over
of the whole creation. nature itself in the calming of the storm. The interlude of Psalm
Bishop Hugh Gilbert OSB led the powerful and moving service 148 called for all creation to praise the Lord.
which included hymns, reflections, prayers, and scripture readings, Bishop Hugh gave a personal and thought-provoking homily
as well as a penitential rite and act of commitment. Music for the which brought together many of the themes of the evening. He
occasion was expertly provided by Ronald Leith on the organ, observed that on this day Pope Francis, along with faith leaders and
Liz Meiklejohn, who sang the Psalm and Gospel Alleluia, and scientists, made a joint appeal at the Vatican for the international
members of the Diocesan Choir who were in attendance. The community to show greater ambition at COP26. The bishop
service emphasised the duty and obligation of Catholics to love
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