Lindsay Gray, the Director of the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) has announced his decision to move on from the post of Director during the autumn of 2012; he plans to pursue other professional interests over the next few years.
Mr Gray was appointed Director of the RSCM in September 2007. “When I leave in the autumn, it will be five years since my appointment and I consider it a wonderful privilege to have held the post of Director; I have thoroughly enjoyed my time leading the RSCM, and believe it is currently in a position of some considerable strength. I would still like to do other things at this stage of my career and, with the organisation in very good heart, I feel that now is the right time to move on.”
Since joining the RSCM, Lindsay Gray has built on the work of previous directors of the RSCM including Harry Bramma and John Harper. The work of the RSCM’s Education Department in supporting church music and church musicians all over the world has been expanded, including the launch of the RSCM’s Church Music Skills training programme, the appointment of an Education Programmes Manager and four Regional Music Advisers. He has also overseen the creation of a development and fund-raising strategy and the revival of the annual RSCM Music Sunday campaign. Under Lindsay Gray’s directorship, several partnerships with other institutions have been developed including a new Foundation Degree in Church Music with Canterbury Christ Church University, closer links with the Friends of Cathedral Music and, on an international level, a burgeoning partnership with Pueri Cantores, a church music organisation based in Europe.
Paying tribute to Lindsay Gray’s work, Lord Gill, the Chairman of the RSCM Council says, “Lindsay is an inspirational leader who has given great support to our staff, and to our network of volunteers, affiliates, members and donors. He was ideal for the post of Director. He has steered the RSCM through difficult economic times and leaves the organisation in good shape. All of us are sorry to see him go.”
Lindsay Gray became Director of the RSCM after 14 years as Headmaster of the Cathedral School, Llandaff in Cardiff; before that he served as a Head of a preparatory school in Gloucestershire and held a number of Director of Music posts at leading schools in the west of England. Much of his professional life has been connected with church music as a choir trainer, organist and singer. He studied Music at Cambridge University where he was also a counter-tenor Choral Scholar in the Choir of King’s College Chapel under Sir David Willcocks and Sir Philip Ledger. He subsequently took an education diploma at Durham University, where he was also organist and choirmaster at St John’s Neville’s Cross and a Choral Scholar in the city’s Cathedral Choir under Richard Lloyd.
The search for a successor begins immediately, and will be advertised in due course.