Press
The Diocese of Leeds has the largest programme of choral music for young people in the United Kingdom.
Our Choral Directors work with some 4,500 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, 1 university choir 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.
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)
Leeds Cathedral…We don’t do outreach! (© 2021 Cathedral Voice, Friends of Cathedral Music)
From strength to strength in Leeds (© 2019 Royal College of Organists)
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)
Alleluia, alleluia!
A very Happy Easter to all our wonderful young singers, our staff and supporters - 'never tiring be our choiring!'
The Easter hymn, Battle is o'er, hell's armies flee, sung by Bradford Catholic Youth Choir
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UB4EV9qmr9A
A year since our first online rehearsal with the Cathedral Girls' Choir...we're back in schools but our choirs are still online. Here's some medieval raucousness for yesterday's solemnity of the Annunciation, an archive recording of our Bradford choirs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8H1lG1ohNQ
Brilliant! It’s so good to be back in schools! @WilJonesMD
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This channel is for live streaming Cathedral services for those unable to attend. Stay informed of upcoming live streams by "Subscribing" (This is free of ch...
Virtual Sing! The Easter Season
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Rejoice and sing throughout the fifty days of the Easter Season with a selection of songs to uplift, educate and praise. Use our videos to sing your way thro...
Favourite Catholic Hymns: Battle Is O'er
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'Battle Is O'er' performed by the Choirs of the Diocese of Leeds. Taken from 'Favourite Catholic Hymns', a collection of the finest traditional songs and mel...