Last updated at 13:16, Friday, 09 May 2008

Carlisle Cathedral will be filled with joyful sounds later this month when acclaimed city violinist Emma Hancock returns to get married.

Emma Hancock and Matt McGrath

Emma, 26, and fiancé Matthew McGrath live in America, but it was Emma’s special memories of Carlisle Cathedral that influenced their decision to cross the Atlantic for their big day.

Emma, currently the first violinist with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, and Matt, a freelance double bass player, met while they were doing a masters degree in music at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh in September 2005.

The nature of their work means they often work in separate locations. It was during one of their lengthy phone calls in August 2006, while Emma was in America and Matt in Switzerland, that the conversation turned to the subject of marriage. A week later Matt jumped on a plane back to America.

Emma said: “I was expecting the proposal when I knew he was coming back. We didn’t have an engagement ring at that time but it didn’t matter. My wedding and engagement rings are my late grandmother’s. They have a great legacy as they represent 65 years of marriage.

“It has been quite a long engagement as our lives are so transient at the moment and organising an international wedding is no mean feat!”

The couple had to get special permission from the Archbishop of Canterbury to get married in the cathedral on May 17.

“We wanted to get married in a place that is special to at least one of us,” said Emma.

“I feel like I grew up in Carlisle Cathedral. I’ve witnessed so many special things there and performed there many times. It will feel like home to get married there.

“I also think our American friends and family will be really in awe of such a beautiful old sandstone cathedral.”

The service will consist of special music chosen by the couple.

Before the service begins, Bach’s Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring will be played, chosen by Emma because she has played the violin obbligato part in the cathedral before.

The service, which will begin at 1pm, will be conducted by canon warden Brian McConnell. Emma’s stepmother Eleanor Hancock, who is an ordained priest, will be assisting.

The service promises to be a musical spectacular, with a mixture of favourite pieces.

Jeremy Suter, master of the music, will conduct the cathedral choir, and the organ and piano will be played by the assistant organist John Robinson. Bells will be rung by the Carlisle Diocesan Guild of Church Bell Ringers.

Emma will walk down the aisle with her dad Michael to Richard Strauss’s Morgen, sung by Fiona Weakley with a violin obbligato played by Emma’s friend Lucy Baker, who now plays in the Northern Sinfonia.

Hymns will include All My Hope on God is Founded by Herbert Howells and the Arthur Somerville arrangement of Praise to the Holiest in the Height.

A musical interlude, specially written by Harold East, will by sung by the choir, and during the signing of the register John Turner will play Fantasy by Edmund Rubbra on the recorder. The choir will sing Rise, Heart! by Ralph Vaughan Williams, in which the soloist will be Emma’s father Michael.

Emma said: “Fantasy is very yearning and romantic. I remember vividly listening to a recording of Rise, Heart! done by the choir and my dad when he was away for 12 weeks one summer and it made me miss him.”

Toccata from Organ Symphony No 5 by C M Widor will be played while Emma and Matt leave the cathedral.

Emma said: “This is played quite a lot, but I remember it from when I attended services as a child. It brings back a lot of happy memories.”
After the ceremony, the bride and groom will be taken in a vintage car to the reception at Kolbeh at Skitby House, Kirklinton, where there will be more than 85 guests and a ceilidh in the evening.

Emma said: “I know there is going to be roast beef and Yorkshire pudding – you can’t get that in the States!”

Emma and Matt will spend the wedding night at the Crown in Wetheral.

She said: “I used to go for a lot of walks along the river there as a child so I’m looking forward to Matt sharing that with me.”

First published at 13:15, Friday, 09 May 2008
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk