The Diocese of Leeds has the largest church programme of choral music for young people in the United Kingdom.
Our Choral Directors work with some 3500 children weekly (over 100 groups across 53 schools), returning to their bases to run our elite choirs; 6 boys’ choirs, 6 girls’ choirs, 5 mixed children’s choirs, 2 youth choirs, 3 university choirs and an adult choir, all drawing their membership from our school sessions. more »
The Summer Term concluded with the now traditional Boys and Girls Choir Festivals which bring the Diocesan Choirs together for Sunday morning mass and an afternoon concert of celebration. The Girls Festival was honoured by the attendance of renowned choral composer John Duggan, who had written the mass setting used on the day. The Boys Festival also had a new setting of the mass - ‘Messe du Grand Départ' - a brilliant new upper voice setting by Daniel Justin. Two broadcasts also took place towards the end of term: a BBC Radio 4 Daily Service sung by the Cathedral Junior Girls' Choir and a BBC Radio 4 Sunday Worship with Bradford Catholic Youth Choir. Meanwhile the Cathedral Junior Boys' Choir recorded music for a new film soundtrack which includes actors from ‘Game of Thrones' and ‘Broadchurch.' Bradford Catholic Girls' Choir are making their final preparations for their July tour to Latvia, where they have been selected to compete in the Champions' Category of the World Choir Games in Riga.
A busy Autumn Term includes Britten's War Requiem in Huddersfield Town Hall, and further concerts in venues including St George's Hall, Bradford and Leeds Town Hall. There are broadcasts on BBC Radio 3 and 4 and three new recordings for Brilliant Classics will be released with international distribution. Our education programme for musicians includes workshops for parish musicians, cantors, organists and teachers. Further details of all these events can be found here.
To join the choirs and for all other
enquiries please contact:
Music Administrator
Leeds Cathedral
Great George Street
Leeds LS2 8BE
Tel: 0113 244 8634
Email: click here