Saints alive! Wells appoints director the musicians didn’t want
NewsAfter auditioning four potential directors, one of whom was unanimously acclaimed by the choristers for both musical and social skills, Wells Cathedral was today ‘delighted to announce that Timothy Parsons has been appointed as its next Director of Music and will take up the post on 1 September 2024.’
Parsons, Director of Music at St Edmundsbury Cathedral since April 2021, received an overwhelming thumbs down from the musicians of Wells.
That sounds promising.
There was an open audition for the post and its results have been ignored. What does that say about fairness and justice?
photo: © Emma Solley / St Edmundsbury Cathedral
Hopefully it won’t be too long before the “musicians of Wells” realise how wrong they are.
What a surprise! It never ceases to amaze me what the church gets up to in the name of God, Christianity, the clergy and music appointments. Seems the choir has had a say regarding the outcome but simply ignored, if all this is true, and not the first or last time. Never a happy choir. Most of these applicants this day and age, are all ‘nice people’ and ‘excellent musicians’ or similar, but you wonder what the hidden agenda is. And then only three years in Bury St Edmunds? Hardly a commitment, just another rung on a church/church ladder to spring off into the abyss! No one forgets the Wakefield ‘coronation’ of the latest one there – hardly transparent!
Embarrassing to post such an obtuse and factually inaccurate article. I myself am a lay clerk at Wells and can assure you that it was not by any means an ‘overwhelming things down’ – I don’t care to be misrepresented. Do you care about music’s longevity? Perhaps in order to help this at Wells, whatever people think of this employment choice, it would be helpful to both the appointee and his future employees if you simply didn’t post this article. You have already caused a stir with your previous article, and neither are benefitting anyone, it’s just mean for the sake of it, based on a very subjective opinion.
This is an unnecessary and mean- spirited ‘story’ that reeks of an attempt to stir the pot.
Whoever your source is (I’m guessing is one person and not the whole choir….), they clearly have some sort of issue, with the selection, but this is just gossipy trash.
I have no connection to Wells or Parsons, but best of luck to him.
Multiple sources.
Careful, Norman – you might find yourself being snapped up by the Daily Mail soon:)
It’s a pity that you allow anonymous postings.
With a family member who is in the choir at Wells, I can categorically say that what you say was a unanimous decision was not. So can you define ‘unanimous’?
If you propose that this is ‘journalism’ then you might at least respond to this point of contention.
As you saw fit to name all the candidates for the job in your original post, and discuss in detail the revelations of your multiple sources, perhaps it would be appropriate in the spirit of fairness to the newly appointed director of music to name those sources. After all, you are basically crucifying him before he’s had time to sign his contract, yet he’s done nothing to deserve this level of intrusion. And lets face it, if it were up to lay clerks to chose the director of music, in most cases the choice would go to the one who would buy the pints after evensong.
This is a point well made. One thinks of auditions years ago for the BBC Singers and one candidate who tried to raise the standard and there was no interest in that.
But these situations can also backfire. Increasingly, very fine positions have few first class applicants because either they don’t want to move jobs or there is the perception that the appointment is going to be extremely predictable. In some instances this has led to either only one viable candidate or a weak appointment.
Where is Anthony Trollope when we need him?
who are the “musicians of wells” anyway?
A musician is a person who makes music, either vocally or with the aid of an instrument. Wells is a place that people live, with, I believe, a fine cathedral. I hope that helps your confusion.
You have told us WHAT a musician of Wells is, but you have not told us WHO they are, and it was the latter question to which you purported to give so very authoritative a reply.
“News is something somebody doesn’t want printed; everything else is PR”
What a nasty, mean-spirited article. Absolutely gutter press. It isn’t helping Wells, Tim Parsons or St Edmundsbury – just creating more toxic gossip. You ought to be ashamed of publishing it.
(From a parent of a St Eds chorister, who is currently sobbing because he is leaving St Eds)
I am truly appalled by this post. I am a choir mum at Bury, and Tim is an exceptional gifted choir master as well as a thoroughly talented composer and arranger AND a frankly decent man.
What an unkind unfair post
What a disgraceful article. And you call yourself a Christian? Mr Parsons is a wonderful Director who works really hard and cares about the children. Here at Bury St Edmunds he is admired and will be truly missed. We are so grateful for all the wonderful things he’s done for our choir. At least have the respect to give him a chance before you start throwing stones at him. Shame on you
This has been a most curious episode, with someone (maybe a handful) in the choir at Wells disagreeing with the decision of the panel who made this appointment and “going public” with their views, even before the decision and appointment was announced, and doing so in a pretty unedifying style.
What is hard to understand is why one or more of the Vicars Choral feel that they, exclusively, are entitled to choose their new boss. (For SD readers who don’t know the English cathedral tradition, Lay Clerks or Vicars Choral are the part-time adult singers in the choir, paid usually a very modest salary for such part-time employment: in some cathedrals they may also be provided with accommodation in the Cathedral Close. The Director of Music or Organist is head of the music department and is their boss). In what other walk of life do employees choose their new boss? The decision as to who to employ as Director of Music is not down to the singers: it’s a decision taken by the Cathedral Chapter. The Vicars Choral are of course entitled to hold their own private opinions, and in this case they may well have been asked for their opinions of the candidates – but surely they were not informed that whoever they most liked would create the final decision for the main panel: that panel will have had many other factors to consider. But if the Vicars Choral really don’t like their new boss (having in this case apparently only met him for a short period of time) they can move elswehere. Footballers who consider themselves to be big stars who don’t like their new manager simply find a new club to play for. Admittedly, in this case it might be an interesting job interview for a new Lay Clerk applying to sing at XYZ cathedral:
“Why did you leave Wells?”.
“Before the new director of music was even officially appointed I was pretty rude about him in a public forum”.
“Next, please”.
To aid themselves in their decision making, the Chapter of Wells will have assembled a panel not just of senior people from the cathedral (their names don’t seem to have been publicly listed) and also included two experienced outside assessors (these names were contained in the job description). One was the Director of Music at York Minster since 2008, the other the Organist and Master of the Choristers at Guildford Cathedral, also in that job since 2008. So there was more than 30 years of experience in the panel from two substantially experienced cathedral directors of music. Making them even more suited to understanding what might be called on in this appointment at Wells, they weren’t from the grand establishments with choirs including a top-drawer “back row”, but from cathedrals slightly further removed from the top rank (apologies to York and Guildford, but it’s true).
One part of such appointment processes usually involves taking a short rehearsal with the choir. This is always a somewhat artificial affair, as no choir can fully settle into the style of a new choral director in half an hour (or whatever time was here allowed); and on the other side, any choral director will take some time to “read” the choir and work out how to get the best from them, especially as some Lay Clerks (Vicars Choral) can apparently be quite an, urm, individual bunch. And in this case, at least one, maybe more, of these Vicars Choral held a different opinion to that of the panel. That’s fair enough: musicians hold many different opinions. What was more unusual was that, ahead of the official announcement, someone decided to stir things up publicly, naming all of those on the short list, dissing three of the four, and in particular criticising the person appointed (contractually, quite where that leaves this person in terms of confidentiality, who knows?).
The successful candidate we now know is Timothy Parsons. From the web, he seems to have a pretty strong CV. 31 years old, he followed a fairly traditional path for cathedral organists. Cathedral chorister, public school, organ scholar during his “gap year” at Hereford Cathedral (2010-11), then organ scholar at Selwyn College Cambridge (on the way also gaining a starred first in Music, so intellectually pretty on the ball too) and also organ scholar for King’s Voices (the mixed-voice choir of King’s College Chapel). He then did two years as post-graduate organ scholar at Winchester Cathedral, and then from 2016 five years as assistant director of music at Exeter Cathedral before in 2021 being made Director of Music at St Edmundsbury Cathedral. Colleagues from East Anglia report that he’s done a really good job there, running three choirs, premiering new music, and raising the standard all down the line. People report that administratively he’s also very on the ball, which helps, and he’s also a fine player. So he’s got a pretty strong CV with lots of relevant, current experience.
As for those who earlier on SD complained that Parsons is too young, Google mentions that Andrew Lumsden was made director of music at Lichfield Cathedral aged only 30; John Scott was given St Paul’s when in his early 30s; David Hill got Westminster Cathedral in his mid-30s; James O’Donnell was in charge at Westminster Cathedral and then Westminster Abbey whilst still in his 30s.
I’ve only been in Wells Cathedral a handful of times in my life, I don’t think I know anyone connected with the cathedral there, and in the recording world Wells has rather fallen off the radar. So to an outsider, this episode does seem to have become somewhat blown out of proportion, and it surely can’t have done much good for anyone in the choir at Wells. But it’s given SD readers an interesting perspective on what can sometimes happen in a regional English cathedral close.
And I believe Philip Ledger was not yet 24 years old when he was appointed as Master of Music at Chelmsford Cathedral.
To summarise – some of the loudest and most inaccurate assessments of professionals you’ll ever encounter is from wannabe amateurs.
Timothy Parsons is one of the most exceptional musicians I’ve ever had the pleasure to work with. You simply don’t deserve his leadership. What a mean-spirited, nasty, and frankly just wrong, article.
I am so very sorry about the family originally from Poland, Moshe being murdered, his dear wife left to fend for herself and two young children, finally going to Israel in 1968. And for the other family in the kibutz, who suffered from the Hamas massacre on October 7th. My words can’t convey my feelings of sorrow.
I don’t know Mr. Parsons. From the picture shown, I’d say he looks like a very charming man. I was surprised to see something so vituperative written against him here in this newspaper written on behalf of music and musicians. I’d suggest you do a housecleaning, and get rid of that scurrilous article which I find very insulting and hurtful.
I share the opinion of others here that this is a miserable, mean-spirited bit of “reporting”. Actually to call it reporting is dignifying it – this is merely the repeating of unsubstantiated and unattributed gossip and tittle tattle. Such a shame – time to take Slipped Disc out of my feed I fear.
A shameful, ill-informed and mean-spirited article that helps no-one.
Oh, Norman. This isn’t news, nor is it well-informed reporting – two Vicars Choral, an ex-choral scholar, and an embittered former member of Chapter, do not represent ‘the musicians of Wells.’
This is a revolting story, but you can’t bear to let pass the opportunity to poke your walking stick into the dung heap.
It wouldn’t be the first time we’ve heard ‘sloppy muckraker’ bandied about.
It is not I who make the story revolting. Look at what’s been going on at Wells these past 4-5 years. Sackings, bullying, all kinds of ungodly conduct. We just report prejudice and injustice as they affect the music.
Norman, you poor thing you must be so embarrassed. Your entire reporting of this process has itself been an act of ‘bullying’, and wholly ‘ungodly conduct’. Everyone can see it, and it’s right you’re getting called out. And you’re doing nothing to help Wells. You poor thing.
Still waiting to find out where Norman’s ‘corruption’ is! Such a huge word to deploy without having managed any evidence yet. Is the corrupt act the not-appointing of some lay vicars’ favourite? So confused over here and hoping that this world-class journalist can back up his big contentions.
‘Corrupt’ may be a strong word, written in haste. I withdraw it. Here, however, is a recent checklist of events at Wells. https://slippedisc.com/2024/01/a-brief-chronicle-of-events-at-wells-cathedral
Forget the rantings of your detractors on this article Norman! I know from my own previous personal experience of my dealings with the cathedral world how riddled it is with corruption and nepotism. Your exposé comes as no surprise to me whatsoever, and I can vouch there is certainly nothing controversial in the point you raised. About time this archaic institution was held to account!
Honestly not at all surprised that the management at Wells are taking legal advice about these ‘articles’. There’s so much wrong with what’s been written, not to mention the sheer unkindness, thoughtlessness, and total ungodliness of Norman’s reporting.
Comes as no surprise whatsoever! The cathedral music world has always been an absolute minefield when it comes to nepotism and croneyism. If you don’t have an Oxbridge degree and ‘connections’, then, irrespective of any other exceptional musical qualifications/experience you might possess that are relevant to the post, you’ll be extremely lucky to make it past the first elimination ‘CV sifting’ stage. The Equal Opportunities Commission would have an utter field day if the cathedral musical world was subjected to their scrutiny!
Maybe the people with ‘an Oxbridge degree’ were actually better.
He’s a great practical musician and composer and has excellent personal skills. Wells is lucky to have him.
What a terrible article and a truly awful situation for anyone starting a new post. Thank goodness the power of music transcends beyond all this nonsense for the greater good.
Why, oh why?
There has been some truly appalling, bullying, behaviour going on at Wells over recent years, by all accounts, including as identified in the official investigation. But there seem to have been significant changes of late.
Now, with a new Dean arriving, there is the chance of better days ahead. How does stirring the pot help to change anything at all?
I only partly blame Norman here. Most of the blame lies with the gossip mongers and insidious, poisonous, staff members who are throwing their toys out of the pram because they didn’t get their own way, and hiding behind anonymity, sniping from the sidelines. Such people have no place in any kind of leadership or ministry of any Cathedral, or Church for that matter. Yet all too often they can be found there.
I wish you would name them, Norman, as that way they can be called to account in the open for their actions by the management at Wells, and if their behaviour warrants it, be got rid of so the chance of better days ahead is not destroyed before it has the chance to happen.
I assume Mr Parsons will have a probationary period in his contract. If so, should he prove to be as bad as these people would have us believe, it will come to light, and his appointment could be terminated. Otherwise, if, with a fair chance and no sniping, the poisonous underminers are proved wrong, they have the choice to shut up or go.
For the record, as we’re discussing the music at Wells, I implicate neither Matthew Owens nor the current Acting DoM in any of the appalling behaviour of the previous regime. I have no direct knowledge of any of the goings on, nor am I connected to anyone at Wells.
I just comment as an outsider priest and former professional organist, who is qualified to hold Cathedral appointment in both fields, and who is sick to death of bullying and selfishness destroying the Church and a genre of music I dearly love.
What a hateful article. There are countless examples of recruitment processes where musicians have an initial preference for one candidate over another only for it to be clear on appointment that they could have chosen another and indeed the love the choice that the appointing panel made in knowledge of all the information about all the candidates that led to the decision. This article is churlish and an insult to the professionalism of those charged with making an appointment that is right for every element of the role which includes an assessment of which candidate will thrive in the role and be able to get the best out of the musicians, look after the welfare of the children, and hel the mission of the cathedral succeed. Shame in you slipped disc for such a shabby piece of spiteful ‘journalism’
I wish Timothy Parsons all the very best in the role. I am sure that “the musicians” who (allegedly) gave him the “thumbs down” will undoubtedly give him the “thumbs up” once they get to know him. He tends to just “get on with the job he’s there to do” and doesn’t get embroiled in the politics. Maybe that is exactly what Wells needs?
One can only wish Mr Parsons the very best when he starts and every success in the future! I wonder what his first words will be when he meets the choir! If there is an ‘ill-wishing’ lay clerk in the choir, singing wrong notes on purpose, one hopes they will soon get the order of the ‘heave-ho’!!!
Young Parsons is a first class win for Wells and a tragic loss for Bury St. Edmund’s