The Cathedral choirs of Newcastle, Hexham Abbey and Carlisle will come together for a special concert this week as part of the 1900th-anniversary celebrations of Hadrian’s Wall.
Cathedral choirs come together to mark Hadrian’s Wall anniversary in Carlisle Cathedral’s 900th year.
The combined choir featuring more than 100 choristers will perform at Carlisle Cathedral on Saturday, July 9 for the Hadrian’s Wall Choral Festival.
It will be the first time the choirs have performed together since the pandemic.
The concert, which is part of Carlisle Cathedral’s six-day summer festival of music – part of its 900thanniversary year events – will include works by Parry, Elgar and Stanford, sung by the massed choir, as well as individual performances from each choir.
Mark Duthie, Director of Music at Carlisle Cathedral, said:
“We are delighted to welcome the choirs of Newcastle Cathedral and Hexham Abbey to Carlisle Cathedral for this special concert.
“As part of our 900th anniversary celebrations during 2022, we felt it was important to reflect the integral role music has played in Cathedral life over the centuries and continues to do so in the present day.
“This joint concert celebrates this as well as recognising the important connection of Newcastle, Hexham and Carlisle to Hadrian’s Wall.”
The Music Festival begins on Tuesday (July 5) with Carlisle Cathedral’s Schools’ Outreach concert at which nearly 180 local schoolchildren will perform a programme of folk songs, show tunes and modern pop. During the week there will be music from the Cathedral’s Cantate Choir performing alongside three local schools, a summer of music from the Cathedral’s Lay Clerks choir and Friday will see The Sixteen return to Carlisle Cathedral as part of their 2022 Choral Pilgrimage tour.
Carlisle Cathedral’s Music Festival is one of the highlights of a busy programme of worship, events, talks, concerts and exhibitions throughout 2022 to mark the 900th anniversary of its foundation.
Carlisle Cathedral was founded by King Henry I as an Augustinian Priory in 1122 and became the Cathedral Church of the newly created Diocese of Carlisle in 1133.
Many of the events in the programme are supported by grants from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Friends of Carlisle Cathedral. The Hadrian’s Wall 1900 Festival celebrates the beginning of the construction of Hadrian’s Wall. The festival runs until December 23, 2022 and includes events and activities along the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The principal sponsor for Carlisle Cathedral’s 900th anniversary programme is Hayward Tod estate agents, based in Carlisle. The Hadrian’s Wall Choral Festival is sponsored by Armstrong Watson.
To book tickets and for more information about Carlisle Cathedral’s music festival visit the Carlisle cathedral website here.
Tickets are also available to buy in person from the Cathedral Gift Shop.
Photo: Carlisle Cathedral Choir, David Hollins.
