Christmas starts here

This has now been postponed (due to technical difficulties) and will take place on Tuesday 22nd December.

A Wakefield Cathedral chorister is among a star-studded cast who have come together to create a virtual Christmas celebration as part of a fundraiser to support other young choristers.

Christmas starts here….

Here’s a sneak taster of what to expect …

Charlie Truman, a finalist in the BBC 2 and Songs of Praise Young Chorister of the Year 2019 and 2020, will open The Rodolfus Foundation’s The Christmas Celebration with his solo of Once in Royal David’s City when it premieres on their YouTube channel at 6pm this Thursday (17 December).

The event is raising money for the Rodolfus Foundation’s Choral Courses Bursary Fund which aims to help at least 100 singers in 2021 attend a course who might not otherwise be able to.

The Christmas Celebration will feature familiar carols and festive readings from The Rodolfus Choir who will be joined by celebrity readers and professional soloists as well as the Pimlico Music Foundation and Youth Choir of St John the Divine Kennington – there will even be chance for congregational carols you can join in with from the comfort of your own home

The star studded line up includes BBC Radio sports journalist Eleanor Oldroyd, the actor and singer Julian Ovenden, the much loved composer John Rutter CBE and star of stage and screen actress Barbara Flynn.

The event will be introduced by Alexander Armstrong. Charlie Trueman will sing the first verse of Once in Royal David’s City and Roderick Williams OBE will be singing Peter Cornelius’s The Three Kings, accompanied by the Rodolfus Choir.

You can find out all the details of the event and how you can support the fund on their webpage by clicking here.

The Rodolfus Foundation’ launched a Virtual Choral Evensong on May 19 this year -conceived as a service of thanksgiving and unity in a time of crisis. It was also a fundraiser for the Cathedral Choirs’ Emergency Fund and the Rodolfus Foundation’s Emergency Fund aiming to raise £1m to help choirs sing again. It closed in December having raised 97 per cent of its target and is currently dealing with grant applications to fund cathedrals in need.