Music at the Cathedral

For the past 99 years, music has been an integral part of our worship which is hardly surprising as the building itself conjures up the architect I.M. PEI’s famous dictum of architecture being “frozen music.”

Boys and girls choirs have been a part of the choral history of All Saints’ and our spacious, resonant building has hosted many famous choral groups. Services have been sung here by the Men and Boys' of King’s College, and the Chapel Choir of Selwyn College, both of Cambridge as well as several Canadian and American cathedral choirs. Our present organist was once Head Chorister of the Boys' and Girls' Choir under Dr. Maitland Farmer’s direction and he took his first lesson on this instrument. Nova Scotia organists David MacDonald and John Grew, Chair of the Organ Department of McGill University’s Schulich School of Music, also learned their craft at this organ.

When both the organ and choral forces join with our congregation, in sung prayers of hymnody and service canticles, the Cathedral’s true music and true song is heard.

Organist and Choirmaster

John Hudson began his organist/choirmaster duties on Mother’s Day, 2006 but he is no stranger to the Cathedral as this was his family church and he learned to play the organ here under Dr. Maitland Farmer. He is a former head chorister in the boys’ choir and also sang in the senior choir.
He studied organ, piano, and voice at Acadia University and while in Edmonton, the organ with Dr. H. Hugh Bancroft, organist and choirmaster of All Saints’ Cathedral there. Also during his Edmonton sojourn, he was recorded by the CBC, adjudicated for the Kiwanis Music Festival, and was club organist for the Edmonton Oilers for their final half season in the WHA and their first two seasons in the NHL.

He was organist for 20 years at St. Matthew’s United Church in this city where the choirs performed numerous Bach cantatas with orchestra as well as a performance of the St. Matthew Passion on the occasion of the church’s 250th anniversary. He was the first director of the Jubilate Singers whom he served for ten years and also was the music director of the Diocese of Fredericton’s Choir School where he also served for ten years.  His rehearsals are demanding but fun and his choristers are united in their joy of singing under his direction.

John is a retired high school English teacher but is currently at the Cathedral, where his love of text and music is fully realized. He has been happily married to Gail for 25 years and like Lear, has three daughters.

musicccas@eastlink.ca