High-flying chorister returns to Leeds Minster
Toby Ward will be among a group from King’s College, Cambridge, to perform at Leeds Minster on Tuesday 25 March 2014. The close harmony group The King’s Men [formerly known as Collegium Regale] will be presenting a concert entitled Byrd, Broadway and the Beach Boys beginning at 7.30 pm.
Byrd, Barbershop and The Beach Boys:
Tuesday 25 March 7.30 pm
Admission £10
An evening with The King’s Men
Gala Concert by Choral Scholars of King’s College Cambridge
includes former Minster Chorister & Choral Scholar Toby Ward from Bramhope in the line-up
Event generously sponsored by Mr Albert Andrews
Special Concert in aid of the Minster Choir Fund
Booking 0113 224 3801
Toby Ward of Bramhope, Leeds, was a boy chorister and choral scholar in the choir of Leeds Parish Church (now Leeds Minster). After completing his A level examinations at Fulneck School, Toby was awarded the tenor Choral Scholarship at Gloucester Cathedral, for the academic year 2013/14. In October 2014, Toby took up a tenor choral scholarship in the choir of King’s College, Cambridge.
Toby’s musical talent was spotted early, at Bramhope Primary School, and he received piano lessons from the late Michael Sykes of Pool-in-Wharfedale. After a short period at Abbey Grange Church of England High School, Toby was awarded a music scholarship to Fulneck School.
Toby, in his first year at King’s reading music, is one of fifteen choral scholars who comprise the back row of the famous King's College Choir, formed in 1516. Following a long tradition, the scholars form a touring group now known as The King’s Men, performing regularly around Britain, and recently as far afield as North America, Australia and Hong Kong.
Toby said:
It will be a huge pleasure to return to Leeds Minster, the scene of my early musical education. It was a concert by The King’s Men at the minster which inspired me to apply to King’s in the first place, so I hope we can help inspire the next generation of the Minster’s young musicians, while delivering an entertaining program of music from 500 years ago to the present day.
Dr Simon Lindley, Master of the Music at Leeds Minster said:
We have welcomed the King’s choral scholars to Leeds on a number of occasions in the recent past and the students have been of great assistance in raising the profile of choral music here at the Minster. It’s obviously particularly special having Toby return this year as a current King’s alumnus. Minster Parishioners, along with staff, parents and students at Toby’s schools have expressed considerable interest in attending, as have members and friends of Minster-based St Peter’s Singers in which Toby sang for a number of years as a teenager, graduating eventually to the solo ranks.
The King’s Men is the close harmony group formed from the Choral Scholars of the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge. As Choral Scholars they follow the daily routine of Chapel services throughout term, as well as undertaking a busy concert and recording schedule in the vacations.
The Choir is, of course, most famous for the broadcast of the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols on radio each Christmas, and its companion programme, Carols from King’s, on BBC television.
The King’s Men, however, functions separately from the main Choir, and is run entirely by the members of the group itself. It performs regularly around Britain, and has performed as far afield as North America, Australia and Hong Kong.
