Schooling a nest of fine singing pupils

ARE YOU sensitive to atmosphere in schools or similar gatherings? 1 am and I have seldom felt such an atmosphere of happiness as is evident among the choristers and teachers of the Westminster Cathedral Choir School and their past pupils.
It is conducted by Mr Peter Hannigan, and his charming wife Pamela. There is a high ratio of highly trained young teachers to pupils. There are 3C boarders and 60 day pupils and the musical talents of these infant prodigies are quit c remarkable.
You have only to hear them sing, for example, Gaudent in Coe/is, or hear them as an orchestra play Handel or Mozart, or hear individual trumpet or clarinet concertos, to recognise that these choristers are in the process of making a major contribution to the liturgy in the Metropolitan Cathedral, but also to the future of English church music.
London is now recognised as the music centre of the world, and the Westminster Cathedral Choir plays its part as the only Catholic boarding choir school in these islands. It equates to the Westminster Abbey , or to the St Paul's Cathedral choir schools, which arc, of course, heavily endowed financially.
To train and maintain such standards of liturgical musical
excellence requires of course, money. "The Voice of Westminster Cathedral" appeal for £700,000 for the restoration of the Cathedral Organ, the Chorister scholarship fund, the Chorister bursary fund, and the new accommodation required for the Music school, has already received half the necessary funds in pledges and promises.
Cardinal Basil Hume, President of the Appeal, is conscious, as a Benedictine monk of the necessity for lifting up our minds and hearts to God through the splendour and wonder of children choristers who "pray singing".
Peter Hannigan tells me that the choristers are selected nationwide, the only rquircmcnt being the gift of voice.
Why not give yourself and your family a treat, and arrange to hear the choir, which has provided continuous celebration of the sacred liturgy and of sacred music since it began in 1903 with the first performance of Elgar's "Dream. of Gerontius."?
Arid £300,000 or so is small beer to maintain the great tradition of the Westminster Cathedral Choir School. The Chief Patron is the Duchess of Kent. Contributions to the Honorary Treasurer, Voice of the Cathedral Appeal, 42 Francis Street, London SW I. (telephone 01-834-0216).
I did ask a well known authority on Church music what the alternative was to a Choir School in this day and age. "Taped music a la Butlins Holiday Camp," was the horrific reply,
Honoured prelates
CONGRATULATIONS to Fr George Tanored, parish priest of St James, Pendleton, Salford, episcopal vicar for Religious in the diocese of Salford, who has been named a Prelate of Honour by the Pope.
Also to Monsignor Michael Quinlan, Chancellor of the Salford Diocese, who was named a Chaplain of Honour by the Pope in 1977, and who now becomes a Prelate of Honour.