Music At The Minster
As a “Mother Church of West Yorkshire”, Dewsbury
Minster has a long and noble musical heritage, which is acknowledged
and greatly respected in The Diocese of Wakefield and beyond.
The current Team Rector, appointed in 2003, is very keen
to encourage and promote the musical life and reputation of The
Minster, having been involved in Church Music from a very early
age; a boy chorister at St. Ann’s City Centre Church, Manchester
in the 1960’s and an active member of many choirs and choral
groups prior to Ordination in 1993.
 A wide variety of traditional and contemporary music and worship
styles of the highest calibre, are offered week by week, using
organ, piano and choir, under the very able leadership of our young
talented musicians: Organist: Stephen
Parker & Musical
Director: Daniel Beaumont.
Affiliated to and working with the R.S.C.M., The Minster recently
hosted an ‘Eat Meet and Sing’ event where Gordon Appleton
promoted choral liturgy settings and extended our own, well-loved,
portfolio.
For eleven years, The Minster hosted the Annual Dewsbury Festival
of Christian Music, which attracted prominent choirs, solo artistes
and distinguished musicians from around the country. It has also
featured on BBC’s Songs of Praise and national and
local radio.
 The acoustics of the building are widely acclaimed and, throughout
previous years, the region’s most eminent organists gave
regular Organ Recitals. Regrettably these had to terminate
in view of the unreliability of the then, Bradford Electronic Organ.
Find out more about the now rebuilt Conacher
Organ at The Minster.
We are pleased to be in a position, once again, to share our
music through worship and entertainment. Why not join us for worship
at 10.30a.m. or 6.30p.m. Sundays and /or keep in contact with the
Diary and Weekly News pages of this web site.
Dewsbury Minster plays an active role in the civic and cultural
life of the town and, as previously, will again regularly host
greatly appreciated concerts and musical evenings in partnership
with The Town Centre Management, Local Area Committee and the Mayoral
office. For example in 2004: ‘An Edwardian Extravaganza
Evening’ to celebrate the Centenary of the Market Hall
in Dewsbury and ‘Lest We Forget’ a Concert
for Remembrance tide in the presence of The Mayor of Kirklees.
For
Dewsbury’s attractions and activities visit www.batleyanddewsbury.co.uk and www.dewsburyonline.co.uk/
Organist
Stephen Parker has been trained by: -
- John Kinsley (Piano)
- Jonathan Lilley (Organ) – formerly of Leeds
Parish Church currently of Ely Cathedral.
- Phillip Tordoff (Organ) – Halifax Parish Church.
Musical Director
Daniel Beaumont has been trained by: -
- Brian Geeson (Piano and Organ)
- Stuart Thompson (Organ) – Leeds Roman Catholic Cathedral.
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