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 4500 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.
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)
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)
Join Choral Director Wil for a vigorous vocal warm-up, a celebration of God's beautiful creation, everything that goes with chips, and lots more fun too! Stay to the end for great round of Don't clap this one back!
https://youtu.be/_2lpBrlN3xg
Today, join Lucy H, our Cathedral Choral Director, to shake like a wet dog and wave to your imaginary friend! Learn about Hans Christian Anderson, the Pacific region of Polynesia and how to sing a round.
https://youtu.be/1CWpdXZA-ws
Our Director of the Schools Singing Programme, @thomas_leech, writes about our award-winning work during lockdown for the @GramophoneMag blog.
Thank you so much!
Thanks so much...and who knows, perhaps the spark is being lit for some brilliant consort singers of the future! 🎶🎶🎶
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My voice is changing right now so I’m in this range where I can sing quite high or low, so I can either sing treble or tenor right now! When I sing it gives me more confidence in school and everywhere. The whole choir feels like a community and you get to meet lots of new people as well. My favourite pieces are some of the Glorias, I also like singing in other languages. 13 years old, Leeds Cathedral Senior Boys Choir
Merry Christmas! Tune in now to hear the fantastic Bradford Catholic Youth Choir sing Mass on BBC One!
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000csln?fbclid=IwAR0ogvwOLxPBN-ThyyCgvvwRAyQ8-EoKCarbPYgcU9unVw1gIIjcYI...
BBC One - Christmas Day Eucharist, Christmas Morning from St Joseph's Catholic Church, Bradford
www.bbc.co.uk
A joyful celebration of Christmas, led by the Rev Christopher Angel.Today at Leeds Cathedral:
9.30 am Mass (Cantor)
11 am Solemn Mass (Boys)
Missa in Honorem SS Cordis, Andriessen
Hodie & This little babe, Britten
Deo gratias, Britten
I feel happy because it just lets all your emotions out. I like singing. My favourite thing about choir is singing, and I’m really excited for the BBC broadcast. We’ve been rehearsing for it since September, since we came back from the holidays. If you feel nervous about singing imagine it’s only you in the room and you’re singing to yourself. When I joined I was really nervous, but my sister was in the choir (she’s in Seniors now) and she helped me to sing. 10 years old, Bradford Junior Choir
An excellent BBC rehearsal this afternoon for Bradford Catholic Youth Choir...tune in tomorrow at 10am!