Blackburn Cathedral’s Director of Music set to move to new post

The cathedral's Organist and Director of Music, Samuel Hudson, has been named as the new Organist and Director of Music at Worcester Cathedral.  Sam has been in post at Blackburn Cathedral since 2011, where he is also the artistic director of the Friends of Blackburn Cathedral Music. He also regularly works for the BBC as organist and director of the Daily Service. The Dean of Worcester, the Very Reverend Dr Peter Atkinson, said, ‘We’re enormously pleased that Sam has accepted our invitation to come to Worcester, and we know that he’ll make an invaluable contribution to Worcester’s distinguished musical tradition.’  The Precentor, the Reverend Canon Dr Michael Brierley, said, ‘I’m hugely excited by Sam’s appointment, and am very much indeed looking forward to working with him, and to welcoming him and Louise to Worcester.’ The Dean of Blackburn, the Very Reverend Peter Howell-Jones, said, ‘While I’m delighted by Sam’s appointment as organist and director of music at Worcester Cathedral, I’m deeply sorry to be losing him.  He is a gifted musician and has contributed significantly to the development of music here in Blackburn.  I’m absolutely sure that he’ll be a great blessing in his new role and bring freshness and creativity in an already well-established department.’ Commenting on his appointment, Samuel Hudson said, ‘I am thrilled and honoured to have been chosen as Worcester Cathedral’s next organist and director of music. It is a privilege to have an opportunity to come to a cathedral, city and region so steeped in musical heritage, while also home to living music-making of the highest standards. I shall be sorry to leave Blackburn too, of course, and would like to thank the whole cathedral community for their support over the course of my time here, which I have enjoyed and valued tremendously.’