In tribute to Cath Edmondson

It is with great sadness that I am writing to let you know that Cath Edmondson died on 26 February.

Cath was a soprano in Orpheus for 24 years and served as Chair of the Choir Committee for many years. She also worked on the website in its early days. As Chair, she handled everything from paying accounts to stage management, applying for grants, organising concerts, running fundraisers, managing ticket sales and liaising with venues. She also kept a pastoral eye on choir members and managed communications. She was about five people in one.

Cath and Judy Berryman, the Artistic Manager, organised the first Board so Orpheus could separate governance and day-to-day management. They also employed an administrator, who took over some of Cath’s tasks. She helped appoint Michael Fulcher as Music Director in 2004, after Drew Cantrill left the position.

Cath loved singing in Orpheus and made many friendships over the years. When she auditioned for Drew Cantrill, he apparently said she had just the type of voice he was looking for. She was delighted when we sang Belshazzar’s Feast in 2023, as it was one of her favourite choral works. She also particularly loved singing Candide when Orpheus performed it with Mark Dorrell. Her husband, Osmond Borthwick, has been a bass in Orpheus since a few years after Cath joined.

At her funeral on 6 March at Old St Paul’s, members — and some ex-members — of the choir sang Wie lieblich sind deine Wohnungen from Brahms’ German Requiem. This was at Cath’s request. Mark Dorrell accompanied us on the piano and Brent Stewart conducted.

Cath was an important member of Orpheus for many years and will be greatly missed.