Cantorg

Alleluia!
Praise the Lord, my soul!
I will praise the Lord all my life,
I will make music to my God as long as I live.

(Psalm 146, verse 1)

While leading the music the organist needs to pay special attention to the registers, tempo, and effective communication with the cantor, the priest and the assembly, while the cantor needs to pay special attention to the projection of his voice, annunciation, maintenance of correct pitch, dynamics, and tempo.

Rehearsals
Music for each Sunday Mass is rehearsed on the preceding Thursday evening at St. Bede's Church.

Francis Brookes was trained to play the organ by Father Romauld Simpson OSB and more latterly Dr John Rowntree, both based at Douai Abbey. He is now an accomplished organist, and has built an extensive repertoire of organ works. As well as holding a position as organist in the Holy Ghost parish, he is also deputy organist of St. Mary’s Minster (C of E) in Reading.

Francis has benefited from the experience of holding organist positions in a number of churches covering a range of Christian denominations, but has always remained steadfastly loyal to his Roman Catholic roots:

• St. Michael’s, Tadley (RC)

• St. Mary’s, Tadley (C of E)

• Holy Trinity, Reading (C of E)

• St. Joseph’s, Newbury (RC)

• Wesley, Reading (Methodist)

During his organist career, Francis has played for a wide variety of formal ceremonies including Masses, weddings, BBC carol services, civic ceremonies, contemporary fashion shows and organ recitals. 

Francis has also played some of the finest organs in Europe including the recently installed organ at St. John's Roman Catholic Cathedral in Portsmouth, the refurbished organ at Reading Town Hall, the grand Willis organ at Winchester Cathedral, the new Tickell organ at Douai Abbey and the magnificent organ at Tui Cathedral in Northern Spain.

Nathan Fenton started cantoring at the age of 8 (just after his First Holy Communion). Now after several years of dedicated service, he is regularly cantoring most of the music for Cantorg.

When Nathan first started cantoring, he cantored from the Holy Ghost organ loft and as he grew in confidence, he moved from the organ loft to the sanctuary.

In addition to cantoring for Sunday Masses, Nathan has over the years also cantored for a number of First Holy Communions, BBC recorded carol services, weddings and parish wide celebrations (including a memorial service for the late Pope John Paul II).

Until June 2006 Nathan’s voice was pitched within the treble range, but then his voice broke and he took a break from cantoring until the Holy Ghost parish moved to the new church of St. Bede (in December 2006). During his break from cantoring and for several months after he resumed cantoring, Nathan received extensive training to enable him to use his new voice which is now pitched within the tenor range.

Since the beginning of 2008 Nathan has been singing with the Hampshire County Youth Choir which is rapidly becoming one of the leading youth choirs in the country, performing music from the 15th century to contemporary pieces. In addition to being an accomplished singer, Nathan also plays the piano and he is now preparing for playing the piano/organ during Mass.

Chris Olding has been a church musician for over over twenty years, serving as organist or musical director at a number of parishes in south Hampshire. He also spent five years as a cantor, organist, conductor and general musician at St Marie's Cathedral, Sheffield, developing his skills under Hallam Diocese's Director of Music, Philip Jakob.

Chris has played in many different settings, from weddings in small country churches, to diocesan events and a Millennium celebration with a congregation of thousands. In addition to his responsibilities in Holy Ghost parish, he is a visiting organist with the Southampton Pastoral Areas