Saint Thomas Church's rector, wardens, and vestry have happily announced the appointment of Professor Daniel Hyde as the 22nd Organist and Director of Music at Saint Thomas Church, Fifth Avenue, New York, following the tragic passing of their former longtime Organist and Director of Music John Scott last year.
Rector of Saint Thomas Church, Carl Turner, explained in a recent press release breaking the news of the appointment that everyone couldn't be happier with the decision to place Hyde in charge:
"The Headmaster and I are thrilled with this appointment. The Search Committee has served the Church well and considered a large number of applications from around the world.
"The process was thorough and demanding, and I am delighted that there was a unanimous decision to offer the post to Daniel Hyde.
"Dan is a remarkable musician who already has an international reputation, a strong faith and a working knowledge and love of the liturgy of the Church, and we believe that he will be a worthy successor to John Scott."
For his part, Hyde, who has been a choir director and organist at Magdalen College, Oxford, since 2009, told the New York Times that he is just as thrilled to follow in Scott's impressive footsteps:
"It is an enormous privilege to be invited to become steward and guardian of this iconic choral legacy.
"John Scott was a mentor and inspiration to so many of my generation, and I am so humbled to be called to carry on his work and to be a part of the next chapter in the life of St. Thomas Church."
The Men of the Saint Thomas Choir are professional singers; the Boy choristers attend Saint Thomas Choir School.
Founded in 1919, it is the only church related boarding choir school in the United States, and one of only a few choir schools remaining in the world.
