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)
Highlights of our Rome tour with Bradford Catholic Youth Choir...Mass at the Basilica of San Paolo fuori le mura - singing under the 5th century mosaics and with the tomb of St Paul, preceded by a visit to the Pontifical College Beda for afternoon tea and rehearsal.
3One of the highlights of singing mass at St Peter's Basilica was our cathedral organ scholar Anthony conducting the choir - Anthony joined the choir 11 years ago as a treble, and is now studying music at Huddersfield University. Donate to our tour fund: https://t.co/WFFxzSSV96
4Lovely singing for the All Saints' Mass at @vecrome from BCYC this morning - thank you for having us! #bcycrome
3A great first day in Rome - pizza, Colosseum, and beautiful singing at Santa Maria Maggiore; we rehearsed in the most amazing chapel, then sang for the Vigil Mass of All Saints'.
4
Today at Leeds Cathedral:
5.30 pm Mass (Girls)
Missa IX, Gregorian
Ave virgo sanctissima, Guerrero
Ave verum, Byrd
Today at Leeds Cathedral:
5.10pm Vespers (Boys and Scholars)
Magnificat octavi toni, Justin
5.30 pm Mass (Scholars)
Missa XVI, Gregorian
Benedic, anima mea, Lassus
Ave verum, Mozart
Today at Leeds Cathedral:
5.10pm Vespers (Girls and Scholars)
Magnificat octavi toni, Morales
5.30 pm Mass (Scholars)
Mass for three voices, Byrd (K, A); Missa XVI (S)
Adoramus te, Lassus
Tantum ergo, de Séverac
Today at Leeds Cathedral:
5.30 pm Mass (Boys)
Missa XI, Gregorian
Ave Maris stella, Monteverdi
In paradisum, Fauré
We're back from Rome - an amazing trip for Bradford Catholic Youth Choir! We finished a busy schedule with an informal performance at the Palazzola last night, and a fully sung Mass this morning in the wonderful 13th Century chapel. Their excellent singing and behaviour were very warmly commented on everywhere we went. Thank you to the fabulous staff at Villa Palazzola for making us so welcome in the beautiful accommodation, and of course to our wonderful volunteer parent chaperones and staff who made this trip possible.