Music Update – Christmas 2021
The yearly celebration of the birth of our Saviour, in Bethlehem, over 2000 years ago is upon us yet again. This is our second Christmas affected to some degree by the continuing pandemic and especially by the new omicron variant.
Sadly, but very wisely, the Christmas Celebration planned for December 21st has been cancelled, but we look forward to next year when hopefully things will have significantly improved. At time of writing there were over 93,000 new cases of Covid-19 in the past 24 hours in the UK, so we need to be very mindful of our responsibility both to ourselves and to everyone we come into contact with. The wearing of masks is again mandatory in church, unless you are medically exempt. Those leading our worship are exempt and choirs are allowed to remove their masks when they sing. Currently, our choir sings a good distance from the main congregational seating and does not pose any kind of risk. Congregations are allowed to sing but should keep their masks on when doing so to be in compliance with the latest government guidance and the very welcome advise received recently from Bishop Mark.
The new Cathedral organ has been built and I am pleased to announce that since last writing, the parts needed for the installation that were delayed have become available, and it seems probable that the new organ will be installed during January.
Sadly, but very wisely, the Christmas Celebration planned for December 21st has been cancelled, but we look forward to next year when hopefully things will have significantly improved. At time of writing there were over 93,000 new cases of Covid-19 in the past 24 hours in the UK, so we need to be very mindful of our responsibility both to ourselves and to everyone we come into contact with. The wearing of masks is again mandatory in church, unless you are medically exempt. Those leading our worship are exempt and choirs are allowed to remove their masks when they sing. Currently, our choir sings a good distance from the main congregational seating and does not pose any kind of risk. Congregations are allowed to sing but should keep their masks on when doing so to be in compliance with the latest government guidance and the very welcome advise received recently from Bishop Mark.
The new Cathedral organ has been built and I am pleased to announce that since last writing, the parts needed for the installation that were delayed have become available, and it seems probable that the new organ will be installed during January.
The Cathedral Choir:
Is a four-part, adult voluntary choir that normally sings at the Cathedral’s 10am Solemn Mass on Sundays and at the Sung Mass or other sung liturgies on major holy days. The weekly choir rehearsal is at 9am on a Sunday in the Cathedral, immediately before the 10am Mass.
Anyone interested in joining the choir is encouraged to speak to Robert Osmond, the Cathedral’s Organist & Director of Music after mass on any Sunday morning. Alternatively, you can telephone him on 07970-566466 or email him at robert.osmond@hotmail.com or plymouth.cathedral.music@hotmail.com .
My sincere thanks to Bishop Mark, Canon Mark and the Cathedral priests for all the opportunities 2021 has brought, despite Coronavirus.
May I take this opportunity to wish you all a very peaceful and holy Christmas and a happy and healthy new year.
Robert Osmond
Organist & Director of Music – Plymouth Cathedral
Is a four-part, adult voluntary choir that normally sings at the Cathedral’s 10am Solemn Mass on Sundays and at the Sung Mass or other sung liturgies on major holy days. The weekly choir rehearsal is at 9am on a Sunday in the Cathedral, immediately before the 10am Mass.
Anyone interested in joining the choir is encouraged to speak to Robert Osmond, the Cathedral’s Organist & Director of Music after mass on any Sunday morning. Alternatively, you can telephone him on 07970-566466 or email him at robert.osmond@hotmail.com or plymouth.cathedral.music@hotmail.com .
My sincere thanks to Bishop Mark, Canon Mark and the Cathedral priests for all the opportunities 2021 has brought, despite Coronavirus.
May I take this opportunity to wish you all a very peaceful and holy Christmas and a happy and healthy new year.
Robert Osmond
Organist & Director of Music – Plymouth Cathedral
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The Cathedral’s Organist and Director of Music is Robert Osmond who was appointed to the Cathedral for a second time in 2020, having held the post for some years during the 1990s.
As well as being Director of Music at the Cathedral, Robert is the regular Vigil Mass Organist at Sacred Heart, Paignton on Saturday evenings, when Cathedral duties allow. He had the pleasure of working with the Cathedral Dean, Canon Mark O’Keeffe, for several years when Canon Mark was the Parish Priest of Paignton. Robert has been involved in church music since the age of 7, firstly as a chorister, then as an Assistant Organist at 15 and Organist / Director of Music from the age of 21. He has served in parishes’ locally in Devon and in both Kilburn and Willesden Green in London. Raised in the Anglo - Catholic tradition within the Church of England, Robert was received into full communion with the Holy See in early 1993, by the late Fr. Tony Bennett at Sacred Heart, Paignton and was subsequently Director of Music there before being appointed to the Cathedral a couple of years later. If you might be interested in joining the choir, or for any other musical enquiries, Robert would be delighted to hear from you. He can be contacted in the following ways:- E Mail: robert.osmond@hotmail.com Mobile: 07970 - 566466 |
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