We continue to fundraise hard andsince our last newsletter the appealhas really gained momentum. Construction of the new organ isplanned to start in Easter 2014.

It will arrive on site during the latter half of the summer and willthen be installed and voiced in theChapel by Christmas 2014. It is ahugely exciting prospect to thinkthat in just over 18 months we willhave a wonderful bespoke pipeorgan to lead our choirs and congregational singing for the nextcentury. Please do support the

project now if you have not yetdone so.

In the meantime, maintaining the existing organ is no longer viable soit will be removed from the Chapelat the end of the Trinity term and replaced with a temporary digital instrument until the new organ is installed. Thank you again to everyone who has supported the appeal so far – all donations of anysize are extremely welcome and we must now double our collectiveefforts to finish raising the fundsneeded to purchase our new organ.

There has been much to enjoy since arriving at Dean Close last September. There are several events that have stood out for me personally. The Chapel Choir’s Service of Nine Lessons and Carols at Christmas was wonderfully atmospheric, and the choir rose to the challenges of learning a large corpus of repertoire. Schola Cantorum performed an exciting and polished rendition of Handel’s oratorio Messiah three days later, which was a real delight to conduct. The Chamber Choir gave a very moving and emotionally charged performance of works by Purcell, Sanders and Finzi in their Lenten Sequence in March, and the Choral Society’s contribution of Mozart, Requiem to the concert at the Pittville Pump Room in February was musically assured and immensely stylish. I am very much looking forward to this Trinity Term and completing my first full year at Dean Close.

Simon Bell, Director of Choral Music

It’s been a fantastic 8 months...

Target £250,000

Almost 2/3rds of the way

to our appealtarget!

Last chanceto visit theOrgan Loftat CommemIf you feel you canbrave an awkward and vertical climb through arestricted gap to a dark and dusty attic,you will be rewarded with an atmosphericwalk and talk amongst the old pipes to get afeel of how the great beast of an organworks. There will be a rota of organ loft toursrunning at Commem so do reserve your sloton the day.

An enormous thank you to all our supporters

Following huge demand we are delighted that all of the bronze stops have been sponsored. After discussions with Nicholson of Malvern, who will be

building the new instrument, we have new bronze console options for our supporters who

wish to make a £1,000 donation. Please contact the Development Office

if you would like to find out more.

All Bronze Stops Sponsored

StopPress!

Organ AppealTrinity Update 2013

Dean Close School

ORGAN APPEAL

New Bronze Console options available.

If you would like to support the appeal please contact the Development Office on 01242 267439 or development@deanclose.org.uk

Will Foulkes, currently Organ Scholar at DeanClose, has been appointed Organ Scholar ofGuildford Cathedral for the academic year 2013 - 2014. This prestigious award will offer him valuable work experience and tuition whilst working in a professional environment in this magnificent Cathedral.

OD Reunion and CommunityEvensongIn November last year, oversixty Old Decanian leavers fromthe 1950s came back to Schoolfor a reunion lunch. For many itwas their first visit back sinceleaving Dean Close over 50years ago. After a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon, the ODsand their guests joined Parentsand Friends of the School for anatmospheric and moving Choral Evensong at which the ChapelChoir and Schola Cantorumcame together to sing EveningService in B flat by Charles Villiers Stanford and The Souls ofthe Righteous by Geraint Lewis.It was a long awaited and emotional return to Chapel formany who fondly reminiscedabout their memories of singingat Dean Close.

For more information about the Organ Appeal, please contact the Development Office: Tel: 01242 267439 Victoria Waddington: vrwaddington@deanclose.org.uk Felicity Copp: fjcopp@deanclose.org.uk

Will Foulkes’ Scholarship to Guildford Cathedral

Former Head of School, Nick(Gordon) Henderson (Gate,1944), recently visited schoolafter many decades. In Chapelhe was thrilled to hear SimonBell play the Wedding March thatwas composed by his latebrother Roger (Gate,1942) for

Nick’s son’s wedding. Roger learnt how to play the organ atDean Close.

“It was so moving to be back in Chapel, remembering past times.Singing in Chapel is one of my fondest and most enduring memoriesand I am so very glad to be supporting the appeal for a new Chapelorgan, particularly as my brother Roger played the organ duringChapel services.”

Matthew Martin We were delighted that one of the pieces sung in the livebroadcast of the 2012 Advent Carol Service from St John's College Cambridge, was composed by Matthew Martin OD(Organ Scholar, Gate, 1994). Matthew also played at the Enthronement of the Archbishop of Canterbury in March 2013.He is a keen supporter of the organ appeal.

Ben and Ashok After battling through the blizzards, Ben Powell (Dale, 2005)and Ashok Gupta (Dale, 2006) performed before a large audience in the PMH in January. Having studied jazz violin inBoston, USA, Ben now performs regularly in jazz and concertvenues across North America and Europe. Ashok was OrganScholar at Clare College, Cambridge and studied at The Guildhall. This concert was a very special return to the MusicSchool where they both spent so much of their time.

Nick Henderson returns to Chapel

Drinks Party at DCHAt the end of Lent Term a drinks party washeld at Dean Close House for supporters andfriends of the appeal. Simon Bell updated guests on progress and ideas were shared tokeep the campaign on track.

FUNDRAISING NEWS

Pre-Prep Fundraising

Fundraising in School has begun and the children and staff at Dean Close Pre-Preparatory School have already donated£250. They hope to add to this over the coming term and sponsor a Pre-Prep Stop.

ConcertOur very own String Quartet in Residence is performing in the Bacon Theatre on Friday 10th May at 7.30pm in aid of the Chapel OrganAppeal. Please do book tickets andsupport this event.

Tickets: £15String Quartet Op.76 No.3 "Emperor"- Joseph HaydnThree Divertimenti - Benjamin BrittenString Quartet Op.96 "American" - Anton DvořákTo book tickets please contactthe Box Office on 01242 258002or www.bacontheatre.co.uk

The Shaken Not Stirred BallWe are delighted that a proportion of theproceeds from the Ball will go towards theorgan appeal. If you have not yet bookedyour tickets please contact:SummerBall@deanclose.org.uk

Second Hand Uniform ShopIf you have uniform that is in good conditionand no longer needed, please donate it to theSecond Hand Shop. Ros Fraser and her teamwould be delighted to sell it and put the proceeds towards the organ appeal. We areenormously grateful for funds already raisedto help the appeal. Please contact Ros formore information on mainz77@hotmail.comor 07964 058897.

There is more to life than singing as some of the Choristers found out at the Salisbury Cathedral football tournament. The tournament started badly with a 1-0 loss against Salisbury and a 0-0 draw with Truro. Eventually the boys came back against Bristol and Exeter and went on to win the Plate Trophy, the tournament ending in an exciting 9-8 penalty shoot out against the choristers of Llandaff Cathedral. Well done boys!

Chorister Football

Schola CantorumThe Trinity Term will be as busy as ever for the choristers of the Schola Cantorum. Inaddition to singing their regular services atTewkesbury Abbey, they have several eventsto keep them occupied. On Tuesday14th May, they will be joining the choirs of St Paul’s and Norwich Cathedrals at the Annual Festival Service for the Corporation of the Sons of the Clergy, which is held at St Paul’s Cathedral. On 1st July, the choir will travel to Beaminster in Dorset to takepart in the annual festival. The boys will finish their term taking part in two performances of the Cheltenham MusicFestival’s production of Noye’s Fludde. Thismusical drama by Benjamin Britten will bestaged in Tewkesbury Abbey, and should bean exciting end to this year’s singing.

OD NEWS

Oscar’s Choral SuccessesOscar Osicki, a current Sixth Former, has recentlybeen awarded a Choral Scholarship to Trinity College, Cambridge. Oscar was also awarded aplace in the prestigious Rodolfus Choir. Foundedand directed by Ralph Allwood, Rodolfus is one ofthe finest youth choirs in Britain. Oscar is following in the footsteps of many Old Decaniansincluding Henry Neill and Alice Williams.

Well done to both Oscar and Will