Press
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.
There are two main elements to the system: auditioned choirs for boys and girls and the Diocesan Schools Singing Programme. These two areas of work are complementary and the musical and educational rewards flow into the schools and the liturgical life of the Diocese.
Click here to read testimonials from schools, choir members and parents.
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 ( © BBC Television)
News report – Singing to Pope Benedict ( © BBC Television)
Past Hymns ( © 2018 Music Teacher Magazine)
A Top-flight Choir ( © 2018 Catholic Herald)
Schools Singing Programme ( © 2017 The American Organist)
Singing Our Praises ( © 2016 Royal School of Church Music)
Its all about the music for Leeds Choirs (© 2016 Catholic Universe)
Finding their voices ( © 2016 The Tablet)
Medal Glory for Bradford Girls (© 2014 Catholic Universe)
Sure Foundation (© 2014 Music Teacher)
Leeds Diocese Youth Choirs (© 2014 Catholic Life)
Leeds Cathedral leads the way (© 2013 Organists Review)
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)
What do more than 400 musicians performing Parry look like? I'm glad you asked... 🎺🎺👑👑🎻🎻🎶🎶🍾🎉
👉https://t.co/Su9aSxIh92 ❤️
A brilliant review for @DOLMusic's BCYC and the other Gabrieli Roar partner choirs! https://t.co/UQuMBNhP2J
Looking forward to playing Howells' epic Sonata (the 1933 one) in this... https://t.co/GDr6w1D9TT
A wonderful afternoon at Hinsley Hall with DoL choirs from Huddersfield, Bradford, Pontefract, Wakefield and Leeds for the Diocesan Eucharistic Procession
Today at Leeds Cathedral:
5th Sunday of Easter
9.30 am Mass (LTC Boys)
Missa VIII, Gregorian
Rejoice, praises render, JL Bach
Tantum ergo, Andriessen
11am Mass (Girls and choral scholars)
Introit: Cantate Domino
Missa Petrus et Orbis, Duggan / Lyle
Regina caeli, Duggan
O sacrum convivium, Duggan
Organ: Fantasia in A minor, Byrd
The first lecture of Leeds International Organ Festival is this evening, given by Professor Francis O'Gorman. 7pm, Wheeler Hall, Leeds Cathedral, free admission.
We are really pleased that due to high demand for our July CPD event, 'Developing Your Work with Young Voices' with Dr. Jenevora Williams, we have changed our room booking to open up more places. Don't miss out on this superb opportunity in Leeds. Booking will close 5th June 2019, or when these final places have sold - there really will be no more space!
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/developing-your-work-with-young-voices-dr-jenevora-williams-tickets-585730...
Today at Leeds Cathedral:
4th Sunday of Easter
9.30 am Mass (LTC Girls)
Missa XVI, Gregorian
If ye Love me, Wilby
Anima Christi, Frisina
11 am Solemn Mass (Boys and Adults)
Introit Misericordia Domini
Missa 'O Quam Gloriosum', Victoria
Laetatus sum, Scarlatti
Cibavit eos, Byrd
Organ: Toccata (5th Symphony), Widor