Cathedrals, Chapels, Organs, Choirs - Available now
Cathedrals, Chapels, Organs, Choirs
by Sarah MacDonald
Millions of people love the music of the cathedrals, chapels, organs and choirs of English church music—and the musicians who emerge from that world onto the broader stage.
Sarah MacDonald, from her unique perspective as Director of Music at Selwyn College, Cambridge and Director of Girl Choristers at Ely Cathedral shares how this music is created and how its performers are nurtured. She writes with a gentle sense of humor and deep love for the institutions and people she serves—young children, movie stars, students, scholars, choral singers, composers—and so many more.
This is a book for all those who make this music, love this music, and for those who love them.
© August Press, LLC 2022
(photo credit all images: Nick Rutter)
“Sarah MacDonald has a unique relationship with the UK’s cathedrals, chapels, organs and choirs not just as an exceptional conductor, organist and composer, but also as someone who lives within this community (and has done for many years) but hails from a different community (Canada).”
— Paul Mealor PhD, OstJ
“With an insider’s knowledge but an outsider’s perspective she lifts the lid on a choral tradition which is admired worldwide but mysterious in its inner workings to most of those not involved in it.”
— John Rutter CBE
About SARAH
SARAH MACDONALD is a Canadian-born UK-based organist, conductor, pianist, and composer, a Fellow and the Director of Music at Selwyn College, Cambridge, and Director of Ely Cathedral’s Girl Choristers. She tours extensively both as performer and conductor, and is renowned as a director of choral and organ courses. She has made over 35 commercial recordings, and her liturgical works (over 50 published titles) are performed regularly throughout the world. In 2022 she was appointed Organist to the University of Cambridge, and in 2023 was named President-Elect of The Royal College of Organists.
