Ulysses Arts releases Poetry & Prayer, new choral music by Sarah Cattley, Phillip Cooke, Benedict Preece, Eoghan Desmond, Luke Mayernik, Neil Wright and Conner McCain on 5 June 2026, performed by Caritas Chamber Choir directed by Benedict Preece (UA260060).
Click above to download with digital booklet from iTunes or stream on Apple Music
Track List
Sarah Cattley, Ave Maria (IG/Single: 8 May)
Phillip Cooke, God be in my head (IG: 29 May 29)
Luke Mayernik, Vigil- Mary, the Dawn (IG/Single: 15 May)
Sarah Cattley, The lark's in the sky, love
Sarah Cattley, My heart is like a singing bird
Phillip Cooke, Everyone Sang
Benedict Preece, With Prayer and Supplication
Benedict Preece, Ave, Maris Stella (IG: 1 May)
Eoghan Desmond, Aestimatus Sum (IG/Sing;le: 22 May)
Eoghan Desmond, The Wayfaring Stranger
Phillip Cooke, Tota Pulchra Es
Conner McCain, You are Beautiful
Sarah Cattley, Ave Maria (IG/Single: 8 May)
Phillip Cooke, God be in my head (IG: 29 May 29)
Luke Mayernik, Vigil- Mary, the Dawn (IG/Single: 15 May)
Sarah Cattley, The lark's in the sky, love
Sarah Cattley, My heart is like a singing bird
Phillip Cooke, Everyone Sang
Benedict Preece, With Prayer and Supplication
Benedict Preece, Ave, Maris Stella (IG: 1 May)
Eoghan Desmond, Aestimatus Sum (IG/Sing;le: 22 May)
Eoghan Desmond, The Wayfaring Stranger
Phillip Cooke, Tota Pulchra Es
Conner McCain, You are Beautiful
Benedict Preece writes:
'One of the great joys of directing Caritas over the years has been the choir’s unwavering commitment to performing, commissioning, and recording contemporary music. It is therefore a particular pleasure to present this album, devoted entirely to recent works - eleven of the thirteen receiving their first recording here.
The theme of poetry and prayer has given us the freedom to place sacred and secular music side by side. In truth, the boundaries are often porous: many of the sacred works draw upon deeply poetic texts - including two settings from the Song of Songs - while several of the secular pieces resonate with a spirit of contemplation not far removed from prayer. Alongside composers with whom we have an established artistic relationship, this album also marks our first collaborations with Eoghan Desmond, Luke Mayernik, and Conner McCain.'
The recording was made in All Saints’ Church, Boughton Aluph, Kent (pictured), returning to the church in which our first album was recorded in 2017.
'One of the great joys of directing Caritas over the years has been the choir’s unwavering commitment to performing, commissioning, and recording contemporary music. It is therefore a particular pleasure to present this album, devoted entirely to recent works - eleven of the thirteen receiving their first recording here.
The theme of poetry and prayer has given us the freedom to place sacred and secular music side by side. In truth, the boundaries are often porous: many of the sacred works draw upon deeply poetic texts - including two settings from the Song of Songs - while several of the secular pieces resonate with a spirit of contemplation not far removed from prayer. Alongside composers with whom we have an established artistic relationship, this album also marks our first collaborations with Eoghan Desmond, Luke Mayernik, and Conner McCain.'
The recording was made in All Saints’ Church, Boughton Aluph, Kent (pictured), returning to the church in which our first album was recorded in 2017.
Benedict Preece is an award-winning conductor who trained at the Royal Academy of Music in London. He is currently Music Director of Caritas Chamber Choir, East Bridge Chorale and Graduati Singers in London. Passionate about working with both singers and instrumentalists, he is also in demand as an orchestral conductor. He was Genesis Sixteen Conducting Scholar 2017-18.
He developed his orchestral conducting with Stephen Portman (a former student of Monteux and Szell) and with Peter Stark, with recent conducting engagements with the Festival Chamber Orchestra and Kent Sinfonia. As the Genesis Sixteen Conducting Scholar, he studied with Eamonn Dougan and Harry Christophers and with Nicholas Chalmers at the Royal Academy of Music. Benedict graduated from the RAM with an MA with Distinction, the DipRAM, the Regency Award for high achievement and the Exam Board Prize for the highest final recital mark.
He began his career as a Chorister of Canterbury Cathedral singing for many years as a tenor. At Trinity College of Music, London, he specialised in horn and natural horn under Roger Montgomery and Anthony Halstead. As an organist, Benedict studied with Dr. David Ponsford, David Flood, then organ and composition with Neil Wright. For ten years he was Music Director of Sandwich Concert Band and has held numerous church music positions. For more than five years, he was Head of Chapel Music, Head of Keyboard and Organist at The Duke of York’s Royal Military School.
He has released many recordings to critical acclaim with Caritas Chamber Choir. Ritmo magazine described his conducting: “Preece is very convincing…he always knows which voice to bring out, how to accentuate the beauty of the phrase.” Benedict is a signed artist with Ulysses Arts, a London-based record label, as both a conductor and organist. His choral compositions are regularly performed on both sides of the Atlantic and often featured on Caritas Chamber Choir recordings. He is passionate about contemporary music having commissioned composers including Sarah Cattley and has conducted première recordings of works by leading composers such as Sir James MacMillan, Cecilia McDowall, Gabriel Jackson, Phillip Cooke and David Conte. He is looking forward to bringing more brand new works to audiences around the world.
He developed his orchestral conducting with Stephen Portman (a former student of Monteux and Szell) and with Peter Stark, with recent conducting engagements with the Festival Chamber Orchestra and Kent Sinfonia. As the Genesis Sixteen Conducting Scholar, he studied with Eamonn Dougan and Harry Christophers and with Nicholas Chalmers at the Royal Academy of Music. Benedict graduated from the RAM with an MA with Distinction, the DipRAM, the Regency Award for high achievement and the Exam Board Prize for the highest final recital mark.
He began his career as a Chorister of Canterbury Cathedral singing for many years as a tenor. At Trinity College of Music, London, he specialised in horn and natural horn under Roger Montgomery and Anthony Halstead. As an organist, Benedict studied with Dr. David Ponsford, David Flood, then organ and composition with Neil Wright. For ten years he was Music Director of Sandwich Concert Band and has held numerous church music positions. For more than five years, he was Head of Chapel Music, Head of Keyboard and Organist at The Duke of York’s Royal Military School.
He has released many recordings to critical acclaim with Caritas Chamber Choir. Ritmo magazine described his conducting: “Preece is very convincing…he always knows which voice to bring out, how to accentuate the beauty of the phrase.” Benedict is a signed artist with Ulysses Arts, a London-based record label, as both a conductor and organist. His choral compositions are regularly performed on both sides of the Atlantic and often featured on Caritas Chamber Choir recordings. He is passionate about contemporary music having commissioned composers including Sarah Cattley and has conducted première recordings of works by leading composers such as Sir James MacMillan, Cecilia McDowall, Gabriel Jackson, Phillip Cooke and David Conte. He is looking forward to bringing more brand new works to audiences around the world.
Caritas Chamber Choir was founded in 2011 by Benedict Preece, its Music Director. Caritas is the Latin word for charity and through its performances, the ensemble raises funds for charities, good causes and churches. Members are drawn from around Kent, in south east England. The ensemble has become an important part of the cultural landscape of Kent and is renowned for its commitment to contemporary choral works.
Caritas have many international collaborations and have performed in Sweden, Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands. Every year, the choir proudly sings in Lille Cathedral as part of their summer music festival. For three years the choir ran an international choral composition competition and continues to champion new music with Sarah Cattley as the choir’s Associate Composer.
Caritas have many international collaborations and have performed in Sweden, Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands. Every year, the choir proudly sings in Lille Cathedral as part of their summer music festival. For three years the choir ran an international choral composition competition and continues to champion new music with Sarah Cattley as the choir’s Associate Composer.
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