The Choir of Choirs

1 night: 80 choristers: 1,000 year old musical tradition. Thursday 13th June 2019

Boy and girl choristers from over 40 cathedrals and choral foundations across the country are coming together for one night only to perform in Liverpool Cathedral to raise funds to protect and bolster the musical tradition in our cathedrals and greater churches in the face of steadily rising costs.

The young singers will spend one day rehearsing together before the performance on 13 June which will act as a showcase for Britain’s 1,000 year old choral tradition.

It is only the second performance of its kind since The Cathedral Choristers of Britain formed in 2016 at St Paul’s – a performance that marked the launch event of Friends of Cathedral Music’s fundraising arm, the Diamond Fund for Choristers, and also saw the choristers record four tracks on the CD Jubilate – 500 Years of Cathedral Music.

The Diamond Fund which has the backing of some famous former choristers including MP, David Lammy, radio and TV presenter, Alexander Armstrong, actor Simon Russell Beale, and Channel 4 News’ John Snow – raises funds to support choristers and cathedral music departments throughout the UK.

Grants so far totalling £140,000 have provided voice and instrument tuition support for chorister families in need, and funded outreach and recruitment projects – including a project at Bangor Cathedral that saw 75 young people introduced to choral singing – four of whom joined the cathedral choir as new choristers.

Maurice Kenwrick Piercy, Director of the Friends of the Diamond Fund said:

“This will be unforgettable.

“The sound of 80 highly trained choristers working together is rarely heard anywhere and these are amongst the finest in the world performing to standards every bit as demanding as adult singers.”

The event will be a showcase for the very best of our choral tradition – a tradition that can transform young people’s lives, break down barriers and offer huge opportunities and life skills while providing us, the public, with uplifting music day in, day out, in a busy and tense world.

“Cathedral music is one of the UK’s greatest contributions to our own and world culture, our cathedral choirs are admired globally, and our choristers are a national treasure” he added

The concert will bring together voices from 34 cathedrals – including Liverpool, Norwich, Wells and Wakefield, St David’s and St Mary’s, six collegiate choirs, one abbey and two minsters.

Proceeds will go to the Diamond Fund for Choristers.

Composer John Rutter will speak at the concert which is being held in the presence of HRH The Duchess of Gloucester, royal patron of the Diamond Fund for Choristers.

The play list includes much-loved favourites like Handel’s Zadok the Priest, Allegri’s Miserere, Howard Goodall’s Psalm 23 (The Vicar of Dibley theme tune) and Parry’s I Was Glad as well as works by Fauré, Vaughan Williams, Tavener The Beatles, and a new specially commissioned piece by Richard Shephard.

The Cathedral Choristers of Britain in Concert at Liverpool Cathedral, Thursday 13th June 19.30, tickets from £12.

https://www.cathedralshop.com/