SsAM Welcomes the Cathedral Choir School of Delaware
Click here to visit the Cathedral Choir School website.
On Monday, February 13, 2012, the Board of Directors of the Cathedral Choir School of Delaware voted to select the Episcopal Church of Sts. Andrew and Matthew as their new home beginning with the 2012/13 season.
We at the Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew and Matthew are delighted and thrilled to be presented with the opportunity to serve as the new home of the Cathedral Choir School of Delaware. The Reverend David T. Andrews, the rector of the parish, affirms that the missions of the SsAM congregation and of the Cathedral Choir School are not only compatible, but highly synergistic. David Christopher, the director of music for the parish, is enthusiastic about the collaborative possibilities and wealth of musical and creative energy that will enhance our unique and diverse liturgy.
We look forward to many years of collaborating with the Choir School as an important element of our parish music program, and believe that together we will be able to expand our outreach ministries to an even wider range within the Wilmington community. The Choir School's choice to come to SsAM is a testament to the hard work this parish has accomplished over the last 16 years as we strive be an intentional, racially diverse, faith community.
Photo: SsAM at Easter
A Note on Financing
SsAM will not incur significant expense as a result of the Choir School's move. From the beginning, Bishop Wright assuranced us there was transition funding available from the Diocese, for both moving the Choir School out, as well as costs we might incur to move them in.
With the help of the Finance Office of the Diocese, a process has been put in place. Based on the budget SsAM submitted to the Business Manager and the Trustees of the Diocese, and modified for repairs that SsAM deems payable in house, SsAM will receive financial assistance for those costs that we identified early this year directly related to the transition and included in the approved budget. These costs include some electrical and general contracting work to make the areas ready for the Choir School, as well as some heating and cooling maintenance on the second floor of the parish house.
This process has begun, and thanks to Bishop Wright and the Trustees, SsAM will not have to bear the burden of paying these expenses from our operating budget. These costs were expected, and we are very grateful for the Bishop and Trustees who have made this funding available. The funds are not unlimited, and are not meant to take the place of our own funding of maintenance and repairs. We identified very specific work that needed to be completed before staff of the Choir school began moving in August; we are making repairs and addressing the parking needs that will come with the additional staff and the after-school program volunteers.
From The Rector, The Rev. David Andrews
June, 2012
Dear Friends,
It is with a great deal of excitement that I am able to announce that The Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew and Matthew has been asked to be the new home of the Cathedral Choir School beginning in the fall of 2012. I wish to thank the members of the vestry, the task force, and the parish of SsAM for your faithfulness during this process that began last fall. This news means that we now enter into a partnership with a well-established and respected organization that not only offers choral training, but after school mentoring, too. The next step in the process is for SsAM and the Choir School to sign a letter of intent which will lead to a contract between our two institutions by this spring.
The move of the Choir School to SsAM will expand our already wonderful and powerful music program. David Christopher, our Director of Music, and Eugene Lavery, the Interim Choir School Artistic Director, have met and have developed an exciting music schedule proposal, which will also now be planned and announced in the months ahead. The Choir School comes to a parish that is engaged in the city of Wilmington, and our engagement will only increase as we host this program for the youth of the city, in addition to Friendship House, Code Purple, Urban Promise and Wilmington's Children Chorus. It is my hope that many from SsAM will help, along with members of the Choir School staff and kids, to get the rooms and offices upstairs ready for their arrival this summer.
Thank You Lord, Thank You Lord, I just want to say Thank You Lord.
Peace,
Fr. David