Liturgical Music at the Cathedral

The Cathedral has five dedicated choirs which perform in rotation, singing at a total of eight services each week. Vespers and Mass are sung every weekday (except Friday) alongside the principal Sunday services.

For details of the repertoire sung at services, view our music list.

Monday

5.30pm Mass  Boys Choir

Tuesday

5.10pm Vespers  Girls’ and Scholars’ Choirs
5.30pm Mass  Scholars’ Choir

Wednesday

5.10pm Vespers  Boys’ and Scholars’ Choirs
5.30pm Mass  Scholars’ Choir

Thursday

5.30pm Mass  Girls’ Choir

Sunday

9.30am Mass  Junior Boys’ or Girls’ Choir or solo cantor
11.00am Mass  Senior Boys’ or Girls’ and Scholars’ Choirs

Leeds Cathedral Choirs

The Choirs of Leeds Cathedral draw their membership exclusively from inner-city Leeds state schools with children recruited through our weekly Schools Singing Programme sessions. The children and young people within our choirs reflect the diversity of our city with over 50% of the 158 children singing at the Cathedral from a black and minority ethnic heritage.

Children’s Choir 

Formed in September 2014 this choir consists of children aged between 5-9, many of whom later graduate to the Junior Cathedral Boys’ or Girls’ Choir. Children’s Choir members are selected from primary schools in our Schools Singing Programme, while other children audition from outside. Membership of the choir offers children the opportunity to develop their musical and vocal skills, make new friends with similar interests, and perform to a high standard. They sing a varied repertoire of sacred and secular music and have already been heard on CD.

Junior Choirs

The Junior Boys’ and Girls’ Choirs consist of around 60 children aged between 6-11 who have been recruited through the Schools Singing Programme and Cathedral Children’s Choir. These choirs provide opportunities to meet like-minded children and current members are drawn from 15 different state primary schools across Leeds. The choirs have appeared on the BBC’s Songs of Praise and Midnight Mass from Leeds Cathedral and have been heard on on BBC Radio 2 and 4 including Sunday Worship and the Daily Service.

Senior Choirs

Members of the Senior Choirs aged between 11-16 sing weekly services at the Cathedral and regularly perform in prestigious venues including Leeds Town Hall and the Clothworkers Concert Hall. They have broadcast nationally many times on BBC Television and Radio to considerable critical acclaim and have recorded Duruflé and Arvo Pärt’s complete choral works with the Brilliant Classics label. The repertoire of these choirs is centred on Medieval Chant and Renaissance Polyphony, with the choristers fluent in reading both modern and Gregorian notation.

Scholars’ Choir

The Scholars’ Choir – acknowledged as one of the finest in the country – has 25 members comprising School Scholars, aged 12-18, and University Student Choral Scholars. The choir sings cathedral services every Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday during term time and performs regularly in BBC broadcasts, concerts and recordings – most recently Choral Vespers on BBC Radio 3 in November 2022. This choir provides opportunities to develop a range of professional-level performance skills and supports members with preparation for music exams, university and conservatoire auditions, and recitals.

Learn more about scholarships at Leeds Cathedral.

Members of the Cathedral Choirs are drawn from our Schools Singing Programme sessions in local schools. If our team of Choral Directors do not visit your child’s school and they are interested in joining one of our choirs, please contact us at office@dioceseofleedsmusic.org.uk or 0113 244 8634 to arrange an audition.

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We're delighted that a group of our young singers will be taking part in this performance of Elijah tonight at St George's Hall, Bradford. These members of the Cathedral Choirs and Bradford Catholic Youth Choir all took part in Gabrieli ROAR Elijah two years ago, and we're thrilled that they're so keen to sing it again.One of our choristers, Michelle, is taking the solo role of The Youth, and the performance is conducted by our Director of the Schools Singing Programme, Tom Leech.Tickets still available online and on the door.TONIGHT!Mendelssohn’s Elijah with fiery chariots & a whirlwind to heaven with The Yorkshire Symphony Orchestra, stunning soloists and our inspirational MD Thomas Leech at St George’s Hall Bradford TheatresWe can’t wait, and delighted some young musicians from Bradford Music Service will be in the audience! Join us 🔥🎟 www.bradford-theatres.co.uk/whats-on/yorkshire-symphony-orchestra-bfd-festival-choral-society ... See MoreSee Less
Tomorrow!Bradford Catholic Junior Choirs Concert!Come and support our youngest singers in Bradford, do not miss it!We look forward to seeing you there! FREE entry! ... See MoreSee Less