IT’S a fantastic opportunity to learn more about using music to worship God.

Noel Tredinnick, from All Souls, Langham Place, one of the speakers

A conference entitled ‘Sounding God’s Praise’ will take place from 10am-4pm on Saturday 10 November. It will be the first major event to take place in Portsmouth Anglican Cathedral’s brand new music centre, which has been created inside the newly-refurbished Cathedral House building on St Thomas’s Street, opposite the cathedral.

All involved in church music – from clergy to organists, and from choristers to worship band members – are invited to the mix of talks, workshops, discussion, and a brief act of worship inside Portsmouth Cathedral itself.

The distinguished line-up of speakers includes Noël Tredinnick, director of music at All Souls, Langham Place, in London. He also conducted for the recording of the BBC’s ‘Songs of Praise’ recording at Portsmouth’s Anglican Cathedral in 2003 and is maestro of the evangelistic Prom Praise concerts.  He’ll be talking about how to incorporate contemporary worship into a church’s repertoire in a talk entitled ‘Blowing the lid off with those trumpets’.

The Rt Rev Stephen Platten, Bishop of Wakefield and chairman of the Liturgical Commission, will speak on ‘Christian Celebration: Strictly Come Dancing’, an illustration of the different use of how to use hymns within services. The bishop was formerly a lecturer in theology and Dean of Norwich, and is about to publish two new books – ‘Rebuilding Jerusalem’ and ‘Vocation – Singing the Lord’s song in a strange land’.

Andrew Maries, consultant for worship and music in Exeter diocese, will run workshops on how music can engage congregations in worship. He is involved with the Wild Goose Group that publishes Iona music and liturgy, the RC Thomas More Group and the National Songwriters’ Forum.

And Andrew Cooper, from Griffiths and Cooper Organ Builders, will give workshops and practical demonstrations on organ restoration, which will interest those restoring or building a church pipe organ.

There will also be opportunities during the day to sing, and to see music publications from the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM).

The conference has been jointly organised by diocesan music adviser Marcus Wibberley and the Portsmouth area of the RSCM. It is open to all.

“This will be a marvellous opportunity for all involved in church music – especially at parish level – to learn about current trends, whether you are involved in organising it, leading it, performing it, maintaining it or developing it,” said Marcus.

Tickets for the day cost £5, and are available from Sophie Lederer on 023-9234 9430 or sophie.lederer@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk. The price includes coffee, but not lunch, which is available separately.

The new facilities at Cathedral House, on St Thomas’s Street, have now been officially opened by Councillor Ken Thornber, leader of Hampshire County Council. Those facilities now include a refurbished main hall, a modern kitchen, the music centre, and office space.

The main Becket Hall will be used by parent and toddler groups, brownies, guides, cubs, youth groups, and a lunch club for the elderly. The music centre offers education and rehearsal facilities for choirs and musicians. And cathedral office staff will work in the offices on the first floor of Cathedral House, which will release space inside the cathedral itself for a new refectory and treasury. It’s all been made possible by the cathedral’s appeal, which has raised £1.5m towards its £2m target to transform both the cathedral and Cathedral House.