CATHEDRAL ISLE OF MAN CHOIR HEADS OUT ON SAFARI ACROSS THE ISLE OF MAN

The Cathedral Foundation for Music and the Arts has been awarded a grant of £1,200 from Manx Lottery Trust to support a ‘Choir Safari’ initiative.

The Isle of Man registered charity, which supports and funds the music department at St German’s Cathedral in Peel, launched the initiative following the Cathedral’s temporary closure for remedial works.

‘Safari Choral Evensongs’ will see the Cathedral choir head ‘out on safari’ to perform at eight parish churches across the Isle of Man whilst the Cathedral is closed. The safari series will run over several months, with performances taking place every third Sunday of the month at 3:30 pm. The project will also see members of the choir, which comprises both adult and child choristers, visit and sing at several primary schools.

The Manx Lottery Trust grant, which has been awarded from the Trust’s Smaller Grants Programme, will be used to cover transport costs, including the hiring of a minibus.

Dr Peter Litman, Cathedral Director of Music, commented: ‘We think the choir safari is a fantastic opportunity for our choristers, both young and old, to perform in other churches across the Isle of Man. The Island’s churches are incredibly diverse, each offering up a rich history and unique setting to perform in. We are also hopeful that it will be of positive benefit to the smaller communities of our Island who can take joy in our music at a time when many are concerned about the rising costs of living and the post-Covid world we live in.

‘We very much look forward to introducing the community to a new style of choral singing that few will have heard before and would like to take this opportunity to thank Manx Lottery Trust for their support.’

Stephen Turner, Chairman of Manx Lottery Trust, said: ‘The Trust is pleased to assist The Cathedral Foundation for Music and the Arts with their ‘Safari Choral Evensongs’ series. We’ve no doubt the choir will uplift and bring joy to the hearts of the local community with their music.’

To find out more about The Cathedral Foundation for Music and the Arts, and the ‘Safari Choral Evensongs’ series, visit the Cathedral Choir’s Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/cathedralisleofan/.

This grant is from the Manx Lottery Trust’s Smaller Grants Programme. Manx Lottery Trust has been delegated to distribute National Lottery money from The National Lottery Community Fund. To find out more, head to: www.mlt.org.im/