Discord before God as Fifth Avenue ousts director of music

The upheavals we have reported at the flagship New York church have claimed a heavyweight sacrifice.

Memo from the Rector:
Dear Choir School Alumni and Families,

I write to inform you of an important development regarding our music ministry. Here is an announcement from the Vestry:

Saint Thomas Church has decided to enter into collaboration with Professional Children’s School, New York, which, beginning September 2025, will provide the academic education for the choristers of Saint Thomas Church. As we transition to a new collaborative Choir School model, the Vestry of Saint Thomas Church will be making changes to its musical program, including the provision for a separate girls’ choir, a choir of professional men and women, and an expanded form of the Noble Singers (a program initiated under Rebecca Kellerman-Filsell) through an outreach project to local children.

To implement these broader musical ambitions, both the Vestry and Dr. Filsell feel that fresh musical vision is required, and Jeremy and Rebecca will thus move on from Saint Thomas during the summer of 2025. The Vestry thanks Jeremy for his exemplary musical leadership in the rebuilding of the Choir of Men and Boys following the death of John Scott and the tenure of Daniel Hyde, particularly in light of the difficulties experienced during the pandemic. Over the past six years, Jeremy’s expansion of the choir’s repertoire, the raising of its profile, and the broadening of the church’s concert provision has been quite extraordinary; the standard of singing by the choir of men and boys under Jeremy’s leadership has been exceptional. The Vestry is grateful that Jeremy is allowing sufficient time for a search for his successor who will take on these new initiatives and the new model of the Choir School to build on Dr. Filsell’s legacy, and develop it still further. The Vestry wishes Jeremy and Rebecca every success in the next stage of their respective careers.

Dr. Filsell will continue in his role through the end of the school year. Meanwhile, a Search Committee is being formed and will be chaired by Dr. Karl Saunders who currently leads the music committee and is treasurer of the Vestry.

I am grateful for Jeremy’s many contributions to our music ministry and applaud his accomplishments here at Saint Thomas; the choir has sounded spectacular this Advent and Christmas. I also appreciate Rebecca’s exemplary work as our Music Associate for Children and Youth, Concerts, and Media Coordinator for Music. Please join the Vestry and me in wishing Jeremy and Rebecca all the best in this new chapter in their lives.

As we begin the search for a new Director of Music, the Vestry asks for your prayers and support during this transition. Please know that we are committed to ensuring that our music ministry continues to thrive and we look forward to keeping you updated on our progress. We remain grateful for the gift of music in our community and trust that, with your help, we will continue to move forward with faith and joy.

With best wishes, and on behalf of the Wardens and Vestry

Jeremy Filsell, 6o, is no stranger to turbulence. He worked as repetiteur for John Eliot Gardiner before taking up post at several leading US churches. He joined St Thomas’s in 2018, its third British director in succession.

A Slippedisc churmouse reports: ‘Jeremy Filsell told the rector and others that he would leave if they took apart the Choir School tradition. He has done the honourable thing. The Rector now has a mega-Church without people in the pews and perhaps not in the choir stalls either.’

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