Ronald Wilson Award for Music – Carlisle Cathedral

A new annual award to celebrate the life and leadership of a young chorister at Carlisle Cathedral has just been presented.

In praise of young choristers: Carlisle Cathedral unveils inaugural Ronald Wilson Award for Music.

Developed collaboratively by Carlisle Cathedral clergy and the Director of Music, The Ronald Wilson Award for Music took place on Sunday at the Cathedral during Choral Eucharist.

This new annual accolade celebrates the qualities that underpin the life and leadership of a young chorister at Carlisle Cathedral and honours one boy and one girl chorister who exemplify commitment to the choir as shown by the following values:

• Attendance – demonstrating full participation in choir activities
• Engagement – making the most of rehearsal time
• Conduct – reflecting a deep understanding of the choir’s role in leading worship.

The winners of the very first Ronald Wilson Award for Music are Annie Alban and Thomas Mitchell.

The Revd Canon Pete Gunstone, Canon Precentor at Carlisle Cathedral said

“Commitment is the essential quality of being a chorister. The best choristers are team players who are committed to giving their best, enabling their chorister colleagues to do likewise, and pull together to sing with one voice.  We are delighted that Annie and Thomas have been chosen by their chorister colleagues for this award. The Music Department staff were unanimous in ratifying their choice. Congratulations to both and thank you for your commitment to the music and ministry here at Carlisle Cathedral”. 

The presentation was made by Roger Wilson, in memory of his father, Ronald Wilson (d.2010, aged 85), a regular worshipper at Carlisle Cathedral and supporter of the clergy, whose funeral was held at the Cathedral. Ronald Wilson worked for Carlisle City council for 50 years. He was City Treasurer from1972 until 1979 and Town Clerk and Chief Executive from 1979 until his retirement in1990 when he was made an Honorary Freeman of the City.

On behalf of the family, Roger said,

“We are delighted to be able to establish an endowment for the Cathedral choir in my father’s name. His life revolved around the City of Carlisle for half a century, something he regarded as a public service vocation rather than purely a career. It is intended this endowment and the recognition it bestows continues for many years to come and we hope encourages future generations of children to take up choral singing”

Future awards will be scheduled to be presented annually on Trinity Sunday, the first Sunday after Pentecost and 50 days after Easter.

The Cathedral Choir has nurtured successive generations of local children to flourish as young musicians thanks to the generosity of individuals and foundations who support this work financially. A regular donation of £20 a month or more will sponsor a chorister and enable them to be nurtured in their role.

For further information, please click here.

Photo: From left to right, Roger Wilson, Annie Alban, Thomas Mitchell, The Venerable Michael Everitt (Dean of Carlisle) and Edward Taylor (Assistant Organist).