Andrew Bryden was concerned when his wife, Lisa, said they were going to see friends who needed urgent help.
What he didn’t know, was that she was taking him to a surprise party in Spa Gardens to celebrate his transformational 22 years of work as the director of music at Ripon Cathedral.
Mr Bryden, who has moved on to provide private tuition for organists and pianists, realised something was afoot as he approached the park.
Families he hadn’t seen in the flesh since the first covid lockdown in March suddenly emerged from behind trees with gifts in hand.
Choristers and their families went to Spa Gardens to say goodbye to Andrew Bryden (Photograph courtesy of Lisa Bryden)
He told the Stray Ferret:
“It was an emotional occasion and I am so grateful to the mums, dads, children and other friends who turned out on a damp and windy day.”
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The covid pandemic, which closed the cathedral in spring and put services such as Sung Eucharist in suspension, meant choir practice and other activities were restricted to virtual sessions on Zoom.
Mr Bryden said:
“I created a website and the use of technology, which was also employed to put services online during the first lockdown, meant we had a way of keeping the choir community connected.”
Community is a key word because the Ripon Cathedral Choir School on Whitcliffe Lane, which for generations developed the vocal talent of young choristers, closed at short notice in 2012 and is now being redeveloped for housing.
Chorister success
Suddenly Ripon Cathedral, whose choir is recognised as being among the best in the UK, had to change its focus.
An outreach programme, developed as part of Mr Bryden’s forward-looking strategy, saw more new members recruited from schools in the local community.
Children aged six and upwards were invited to take part in rehearsals and some eventually joined teenage and adult members in the 36-strong choir.
Testimony to the success of the strategy is the fact that within 10 years, the choir had six finalists in the BBC Young Chorister of the Year competition, including 2018 winner Emilia Jaques.
With the cathedral back in lockdown, it will be some time before choristers will be heard in the ancient building.
When it does, many of those occupying the choir stalls, will be singing the praises once more of Mr Bryden and the part he played in their musical development.
