Several months ago I wrote here about the shocking news that David Gedge, longtime organist at Brecon Cathedral and conductor of the Gwent Chamber Orchestra had suffered a stroke while conducting the final pages of Haydn’s Creation. It was early days for me on this blog, and the reaction to that post and the follow-ups taught me a lot about the positive power that this medium can have.
David returned to work in the fall and has already given a number of performances, but this week sees him undertaking a schedule that would tax any conductor. For many years now, David has assembled an Easter weekend series of concerts under his direction with the cathedral choir, the orchestra and his many friends and colleagues. Thankfully, this year promises more of the same- from Good Friday through Easter Sunday, Brecon Cathedral will be host to several concerts.
The only thing that will have changed is that this will be David’s last Easter weekend at Brecon Cathedral. Whatever the future brings, the place and the weekend will never be the same. Friendships were forged there, relationships begun, lessons learned and vocations found. A genuinely warm and loving community has grown up over many years. I expect there will be quite a few tears on Sunday night.
Still, in the meantime, I just want to commend David on his many years of leadership and service, and to wish him happiness and fulfillment in the years to come.
KW
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