Aric, the Director of Music and Master of the Choristers, had the opportunity to perform for the coronation scene featured in Ridley Scott’s 2023 historical epic film Napoleon when Lincoln Cathedral was selected to double as Notre-Dame Cathedral for the film’s climactic crowning ceremony.
Lincoln Cathedral marked a very special anniversary at the weekend as Aric Prentice celebrated 25 years as Director of Music.
The choir’s involvement and Aric’s experience with the legendary director were widely celebrated and culminated in a special BBC feature exploring the behind-the-scenes of the shoot.
Aric started as a chorister at Durham, and then a Choral Scholar at St John’s College, Cambridge – both he says, were formative experiences in his musical life.
After graduating he became a music teacher working in schools in South London and Nottinghamshire, before arriving at Lincoln Cathedral in 2021.
As well as planning, preparing and delivering the daily music in services at the Cathedral, recruiting choristers, choral scholars and lay vicars is also a vital part of his role, to ensure that the choir can continue to flourish.
Aric said, ‘The thing you always have to remember when you are directing or conducting is that you are the only musician in the space who is not making any sound at all – the sounds that you are getting are all being produced by the wonderful singers and players, the organists and everybody else – all you’re doing is standing there looking at people and waving your hands around.
‘ It is completely a team sport, you need everybody – from the very youngest beginners aged seven or eight, right up to the very experienced musicians.
‘Producing this music is something that requires lots of people pulling together. I want to say thank you to all the people that have been part of that over the last 25 years.
Twenty-five years isn’t the end; I love what I’m doing and I want to carry on doing it for maybe another 25 – let’s see!”
Aric’s anniversary was marked by a Choral Evensong which included the premiere of a new setting of Psalm 24 written especially for the occasion by the composer and organist Philip Moore, who was director of music at York Minster for many years.
The service also featured pieces by Richard Lloyd and Christopher Robinson who were Aric’s Choir Masters during his time at Durham and St John’s College respectively. All are invited to join this service.
