The Diocese of Leeds has the largest church-based music programme in the UK. Its particular focus is on areas of social marginalisation and economic deprivation, striving to offer the best possible musical opportunities in communities which are least likely to encounter them, but where hearts and minds are at their most open. Each week 4000 children from across the region meet together in around 100 choral groups, including the six choirs of Leeds Cathedral.

Opportunities for engagement with classical and choral music are highly limited; the 53 West Yorkshire schools with which our highly trained Choral Directors work regularly express their strong belief that our programme very much fills a need in the teaching and enjoyment of music. To date, the Schools’ Singing Programme has successfully worked with over 20,000 children and young people and many go on to join our six boys’ choirs and six girls’ choirs, who rehearse weekly and regularly perform at Leeds Cathedral, in BBC broadcasts, national competitions and other prestigious venues. Since March 2018 our Bradford, Huddersfield and Leeds choirs have been invited to broadcast a total of four BBC Radio 4 Daily Services, one Sunday Worship, Midnight Mass and Radio 3’s Choral Vespers.

Our excellence and professionalism is recognised nationally with regular live broadcasts and recordings on BBC One and Radio 3 and 4; since 2005 we have appeared within 43 BBC radio and television broadcasts. We maintain a consistent level of good practice and our team are frequently requested to act as advisers to other UK and American institutions on the establishment and ongoing management of music programmes for disadvantaged young people.

Click here for Schools Singing Programme brochure.