Fund Raising
In order to create the Endowment to fund a full time music post and for the other activities that the trustees think are necessary to fulfil our objectives, the trust will be relying on Grants from external bodies, and from gifts and bequests from individuals and organisations who are sympathetic to the trust's aims and objectives.
​The musical education and training that young people in particular receive is of incalculable benefit to them for the whole of their lives.
The trust raises funds in various ways through social events. This is a constant effort through the year to enable the trust to raise its profile and to continue the valuable work which it supports. The trust applies for a range of different grants. These have helped to fund such things as new hymn books, re-robing the choir, the purchase of a box organ and supporting organ and choral scholars with their studies.
Individuals and organisations may wish to specify in which of these Funds they wish their contribution to be placed. In default they will be placed in the Endowment Fund.
It would be most beneficial to the trust if those individuals who are tax payers sign a 'Gift Aid form' and send this to the trust who will be able to claim back the basic rate tax from H.M. Customs and Revenue. At present this adds 25% to the value of the gift. You may download a copy of the Gift Aid Form here.
Bequests:
Building a music library with help from the Ouseley Trust:
Over the last ten years the choir has doubled in size and the repertoire has expanded to include more modern music and to commission new music. The trust has been active in gaining funds to develop the music library and the robing of the choir to support this. We are particularly grateful to the Ouseley Trust who have generously supported our funding requests on a number of occasions.
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The trust has recently received two very generous bequests from members of St Wulfram's. Peter Isaac was a much loved member of the choir and his bequest was spent on Durufle’s Messo cum Jubilo for male voices and Durufle’s Requiem.
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In 2022, the Philip Lank Trust commissioned a new Christmas carol by Tamsing Jones, setting the Gregorian antiphon Hodie Christus natus est in memory of David Brown. This was given its world premiere during the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at St Wulfram’s Church on 22 December 2022. The live video of the premiere is here: https://youtu.be/BglrAbs_9GM. We are keen to continue collaborating with Tamsin Jones, and with many other composers, in the creation of new music.
Postlethwaite Music Foundation:
The Postlethwhaite Music Foundation have generous grants to support vocal coaching workshops with the Gesualdo Six; £1800.00 in 2022 for the original workshop and £700.00 in 2024 towards the workshop, prior to the BBC Radio Three recording of choral evensong. A recording of the Gesualo Six and the Youth Choir can be found here:
Ouseley Trust:
The Ouseley Trust made a grant of £3000.00 in 2022. This very kind donation will be used to support our education work providing much needed funding for our choral scholars.
Choral scholarship endowment fund:
In 2019, The Friends of Cathedral Music have kindly awarded the choir a substantial endowment grant of £25k towards our choral scholarship scheme.
The Pilling Trust:
In 2018 the Pilling Trust provided the funding for the Box Organ, which has enabled us to establish a Friday choral evensong on a regular basis.
The All Churches Trust:
The AllChurches Trust has funded the purchase of music and choir robes.