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)

The National Schools Singing Programme is transforming church music across the UK (© 2022 Royal College of Organists)

Choirs and the joy of singing this Christmas – Bishop Marcus Stock (© 2021 Yorkshire Evening Post)

Confident, cultural and Catholic – how one diocese beat the lockdown with online music classes (© 2021 The Catholic Universe)

Partnerships, Schools Singing Programme, Diocese of Leeds (© 2021 Ensemble Magazine, Music Teachers’ Association) 

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)

Redefining Outreach (© 2007 Royal School of Church Music)

A New Model (© 2006 Friends Cathedral Music Magazine)