The global pandemic has made all instrumental teachers drastically rethink the ways in which they can deliver high-quality, engaging teaching. In the Diocese of Leeds, we had to respond quickly to the enforced lockdown and consequent closure of schools: how could the many children within our Organists’ Training  Programme remain engaged, focussed and musically stimulated?

Following the success of our April Webinar: ‘Practical Approaches to Cathedral Choir Rehearsals Online’, we hosted our second national webinar on Tuesday 12th May titled ‘Transformation or Extinction? Planning for the New Normal’. This session considered longer term issues for music making under lockdown. 

David Pipe, Artistic Director and Ben Saunders, Diocesan Director of Music discuss the upcoming LIOF Live.

This Sunday (3 May) at 7.10am, the BBC Radio 4 Sunday programme will feature the work of the Diocese of Leeds Schools Singing Programme.

We’re delighted that the billed Monday recitalists for Leeds International Organ Festival 2020 are generously providing video and audio clips for us to broadcast on our LIOF YouTube channel each week, so that everyone can enjoy these world-class performers from the comfort of their own homes.

Tune in each Monday at 1.15 pm to lioflive.org.uk for Leeds International Organ Festival Live.

On Thursday 2nd April, Diocese of Leeds Music hosted a webinar for the Cathedral Organists' Association and Conference of Catholic Directors of Music: Practical Approaches to Cathedral Choir Rehearsals Online. The webinar explained the technology and teaching methods...

In mid-March, members of the Leeds Cathedral Junior Choirs and Children’s Choir had been enjoying learning songs for our Spring Concert and were excited about the performance.  Some of us were becoming slightly anxious about the progress of Coronavirus around the world, but we generally continued as normal, singing a full choral Mass as recently as 15th March, albeit with extra hygiene measures in place and a few children missing. 

Holy Mass will now be live-streamed each weekday at 10.30am and on Sundays at 11am whilst the celebration of public Masses is suspended. There will also be a live-stream of the Angelus at 12 noon each weekday, followed by praying the Rosary. To participate online, please visit the new YouTube channel www.leedscathedrallive.org.uk

Due to the increasing seriousness of the Covid-19 outbreak and public health guidance to avoid inessential contact we are suspending all of the Diocese’s choirs with immediate effect. This includes all scheduled rehearsals, liturgies and concerts.

Leeds Cathedral in the Diocese of Leeds is to hold the second Leeds International Organ Festival this summer. Between 13th May and 10th July, organists young and old will have the opportunity to hear, meet and perform alongside renowned international concert organists...