As Lincoln Cathedral announces that its theme for 2025 will be Our Music: God’s Song, schools around Lincoln will be singing in the new year with the announcement of a new learning partnership.
A unique role has been created by the Cathedral to support local schools and help them to enhance their musical provision through singing. Jack Holliday has been appointed as the Cathedral’s Singing Partnership Lead and will deliver workshops with several schools around Lincoln including St Faith and St Martin, and Nettleham Junior School.
The initiative has been designed to support delivery of music provision and to instil a passion for singing and music making in young people. It is hoped that as well as the workshops delivered by the Cathedral that the schools involved will be supported to form their own choirs for pupils.
Jack is an experienced musical director across a wide range of genres, and said that he was excited to be working with pupils in his home county. “Music has been my career and my passion for as long as I can remember and all of that started when I was a child. The joy of singing is that you don’t need expensive instruments to take part, just the confidence to use your voice and some guidance to get you started. Singing gives children an opportunity to express themselves and to demonstrate their creativity, and this project enables us to help more children discover and develop their voices.”
Aric Prentice, Director of Music and Master of the Choristers at Lincoln Cathedral, said that at a time when the arts in general and music in particular are under increasing pressure in schools, it is a valuable opportunity for the Cathedral to shares its musical expertise and to inspire the next generation of singers. “We’re privileged to be part of a centuries’ old choral tradition at Lincoln Cathedral and see daily the difference singing makes in people’s lives – both for those performing in the choir and for those who find peace, inspiration and joy in the music they hear at services and concerts in the Cathedral.
“There are numerous studies that show that singing helps to improve happiness and wellbeing, and that group singing helps to form social bonds. There are benefits to breathing and posture, it exercises the brain and help to develop expression and language skills. But more than anything, it is a wonderful skill that people can enjoy right through their life. It’s important for us to be able to share that with new generations of singers.”
David Gibbons from Nettleham Junior School said that the partnership builds on their existing music provision. “We are very excited about our work with the Lincoln Cathedral Singing Partnership. Music is so important to us in school, whether through singing or instrumental work. We have enjoyed a long relationship with Lincoln Cathedral Music School and the new Singing Partnership takes things to the next level for us. It is wonderful to have a highly skilled and inspirational Community Singing Lead working in school every week and our children are already learning so much and singing their hearts out!”
The news of the partnership marks the start of Our Music: God’s Song – the Cathedral’s theme for 2025. The year will see a focus on music of all kinds with performances throughout the year including Bach’s St John Passion, Lincoln Jazz festival, a special concert to mark the 80th anniversary of VE day performed by the Band of the Royal Air Force College, the popular ‘concerts by candlelight’ series, and much more besides. Details of events, workshops and activities for Our Music: God’s Song can be found on the Cathedral’s website, and will be added to throughout the year. Visit https://lincolncathedral.com/our-music/ to find out more.
