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 »
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There are two main elements to the system: auditioned choirs for boys and girls and the diocesan schools' singing programme, where choral directors lead the development and training of choirs in regional clusters of primary and secondary schools. These two areas of work support each other; the catechetical, musical and educational rewards flow into the schools and the liturgical life of the Diocese.
The development of the choral programme is facilitated by a financial partnership with schools, and has been the subject of a number of press articles and news reports in recent years. A selection of these is reproduced below by kind permission of the publishers and broadcasters.
Songs of Praise - Primary School Choirs ( © BBC Television)
Songs of Praise - Bradford Boys' and Girls' Choirs ( © BBC Television)
News report - Chapeltown Choir School Project ( © 2010 BBC Television)
News report - Singing to Pope Benedict ( © 2010 BBC Television)
The heart of cathedral music ( © 2012 Cathedral Music Magazine)
New appointment at Leeds ( © 2012 Friends of Cathedral Music)
Singing for the Pope ( © 2010 Times Educational Supplement)
New Cathedral Organ ( © 2010 Organists Review)
Choristry revival ( © 2010 Bath Abbey Music Society)
Inner-city voices ( © 2010 Yorkshire Evening Post)
First state primary turns choir school ( © 2009 Times Educational Supplement)
A week in the life of a Choral Director ( © 2009 Diocese of Leeds)
Singing in Leeds Diocese ( © 2009 Association of British Choral Directors)
Roll out the choirs ( © 2008 Classical Music Magazine)
Laying Solid Foundations ( © 2008 Choir and Organ Magazine)
Sing Choirs of Schoolkids ( © 2007 The Tablet)
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