Bradford Cathedral Sings for City of Culture

Bradford Cathedral Choristers will join the Black Dyke Band, Marti Pellow, soprano Carly Paoli and BBC Radio 2 host Zoe Ball for The Big Brass Blowout next month.

Bradford Cathedral Sings for City of Culture

BBC Radio 2 Loves Brass is the opening concert in The Big Brass Blowout, Bradford 2025’s weekend-long festival of all things big, brassy and Bradford for City of Culture.

Alongside classic songs from Joni Mitchell and Wet Wet Wet, the programme includes operatic arias, bhangra beats, powerful ballads and hymns, song settings by Bradford born composer Frederick Delius – plus a new commission from Peter Graham, one of today’s leading brass band writers.

The event which will take place in the city’s St George’s Hall will celebrate Bradford’s 19th-century ties with the ‘New World’ across the Atlantic.

This concert is being recorded for transmission on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds.

Graham Thorpe, Bradford Cathedral’s Director of Music, said:

“We’re really excited to be working once again with the Black Dyke Band for the forthcoming Big Brass Blowout. 

“It’s a fantastic opportunity for the choristers to sing on BBC Radio 2 and learn some repertoire of a completely different style from what they would normally sing.”

You can find out more – and book your tickets – on the Bradford Theatres website.

And in other musical notes the Dean of Bradford has been chosen to be part of the “Bantam of the Opera” choir formed in celebration of Bradford’s year as UK City of Culture.

The group of Bradford City fans will come together to perform for a new BBC programme named after the choir.

Amongst the chosen fifty are the Very Revd Andy Bowerman, Dean of Bradford, and congregation member Eileen Gunn, who will both be taking part in the rehearsals and performances as part of the Bradford 2025 event.

Dean Andy said: “It’s really exciting to have been selected to be part of this unique choir.

“I’m a little bit nervous as – though I’m around choirs all the time in the Cathedral –I’m a little bit lacking in confidence when it comes to singing. 

“I’m looking forward to learning a bit about my voice and how I might improve my singing, but more than that I’m just looking forward to being with a new group of people, singing together, and celebrating all that is great about this city and our football club!”

Dean Andy will be taking place in a series of rehearsals over the next few weeks, with performances to take place at events throughout the year.

You can find out more about it on the BBC website.