The Diocese of Leeds has the largest church programme of choral music for young people in the United Kingdom. In total it maintains 53 choirs comprising some 2250 children meeting weekly. There are 42 school choirs, five boys' choirs, five girls' choirs a new choir school and a semi-professional adult choir. more »
Choral Director Charlotte Kitson writes:
‘At St. Joseph's College on the evening of Tuesday 27th March, I was pleased to participate in my first concert since joining the staff of the Schools' Singing Programme in January.
Alongside the Bradford Youth Choir, I was proud to feature pupils from St. Matthew's, St. Winefride's and St. Columba's, three schools at which I teach; as well as pupils from St. Anthony's, Clayton and St. Joseph's, Bingley, directed by Tom Leech and Keith Roberts. The school singers joined forces with the Bradford Youth Choir in performances of Bernadette Farrell's ‘Christ be our light' and Liberian folksong ‘Banuwa' (with a little audience participation!).
Repertoire from the primary schools ranged from ‘Brother James' Air' to ‘Tomorrow' from Annie. The Bradford Youth Choir as boys' and girls' sections revisited Mozart's ‘Ave verum corpus' and Delibes' ‘O Salutaris' from their recent BBC Radio 4 broadcasts. They combined forces to perform Górecki's ‘Totus tuus', a challenging piece written to commemorate the visit of Pope John Paul II to his homeland in 1984. With superb accompaniment on piano and organ from Daniel Justin and Elizabeth Cockshott, performers and audience enjoyed a diverse celebration of youth singing. I had a great time - and can't wait to do it all again soon!'
Competition Success!
Congratulations are also due to two members of the Bradford Boys' Choir on their recent singing success at the Robertshaw Music Festival in Bingley. Mark Foster and Anthony Beckwith together won the Head Choristers' Duet Class. Anthony also went on to win the Family Contest, Under 11 Boys Solo and Under 16 Boys Solo classes. Both boys have been valued members of the Bradford Boys' Choir for several years.
<<Back
To join the choirs and for all other
enquiries please contact:
Mrs Peyee Chen
Music Administrator
Leeds Cathedral
Great George Street
Leeds LS2 8BE
Tel: 0113 244 8634
Email: click here