Truro Cathedral Music Fund
Truro Cathedral is establishing a new £5 million fund to secure its musical heritage for future generations.
“Truro Cathedral boasts one of the nation’s finest choirs. Every time I hear them broadcast I am deeply impressed by the vitality and quality of what they deliver.”
Petroc Trelawny, BBC Radio and TV Presenter
Over decades, the cathedral has gained a reputation for musical excellence, building an ecosystem of creativity, skills, facilities and repertoire. The fund will help to secure this precious asset, enabling it to be passed on to future generations.
Truro Cathedral strives to be a welcoming and inclusive environment: sacred space and common ground. The musical tradition is integral to that purpose: a public good, with a foot in both sacred and secular camps, available to all.
How much does the music cost?
Spending on music currently stands at c.£420,000 annually. This is the cost of the director and assistant director of music, an organ scholar and the choir – a blend of part-time adult professionals, early-career choral scholars and young choristers – assisted by a team of support staff and volunteers, plus overheads such as musical instruments, music, printing, marketing and licensing fees.
Truro School contributes to the costs of the chorister programme through scholarships and bursaries in the region of £137,000. The remaining c.£283,000 is funded by the cathedral, largely through grants, donations, ticket sales and gifts in Wills. £100,000 per year of the cathedral’s share was previously covered by a local charity, but this has now come to an end. Since then we have faced a significant shortfall in excess of £167,000 each year that we are unable to afford.
What is at risk?
There is an imminent risk that the opportunity to hear outstanding choral music in the beautiful setting of the cathedral a Cornish cultural jewel for nearly 150 years – will be lost forever.
What will the fund be for?
A new £5 million non-expendable, restricted fund for music, held in an externally-managed investment fund, has been established to secure the future of cathedral music in Cornwall. Will you help to support it?
Contact the Dean for an initial conversation: CMF@trurocathedral.org.uk
Fund Governance
The cathedral has established a fund held with CCLA Investment Management, ensuring ethical management and investment of the funds raised. All donations to this non-expendable fund will be restricted for the benefit of Truro Cathedral Music only.
Funds generously donated to the Truro Cathedral Music Fund will be held securely through robust governance arrangements, including an independent signatory which ensures that funds held can only be used for their restricted purpose, and cannot be withdrawn or misused.
As the fund grows towards its initial target of £5m it will generate a regular yield. This yield will be the means through which the fund supports the shortfall in cathedral music.
The fund will have an immediate impact on the sustainability of cathedral music from the moment the first donations are made.