Our Choral Tradition

Choral Evensong will be broadcast live from Blackburn Cathedral today as they get ready to host BBC R3.

Our Choral Tradition – Evensong from Blackburn Cathedral and Chorister Days

Music has been at the heart of our magnificent buildings for over a thousand years, an integral part of our daily rhythm of prayer.

Listen to the broadcast from Blackburn live or on catch up here.

Our cathedrals nurture some of the most famous choral foundations in the world. Many choristers get the chance to sing for concerts, recordings and radio and TV broadcasts too – like the girls from Truro Cathedral Choir who made history as the first female choristers to join the choirs of Westminster Abbey at the Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla.

And every year many of our cathedrals host new chorister days offering youngsters a taste of choral life in a cathedral.

Sunday was the Royal School of Church Music’s International Chorister Day – a way of showcasing what it means to be a chorister and encourage children to come along and try it out.

On the website the RSCM stated:

“The chorister tradition is a living one, envied across the world. But like anything, if you take it for granted it will wither and fall away. 

“People love the sound of choristers singing, and how they bring worship in church alive, but choirs need a supply of fresh, new voices to become part of the next generation and it is vital to invest in that living tradition, and this is what the RSCM is encouraging today”

Last Saturday (5 Oct) Salisbury Cathedral and York Minster held their chorister taster days.

Children met at York Minster in the afternoon for a series of fun, child-focused activities that explored life as a York Minster Chorister. This was followed by simple songs with expert music tutors, the chance to have a go on the cathedral’s Grand Organ before they were invited to join in a rehearsal with the Choir of York Minster and sing at a service of Choral Evensong.

The day was aimed at children in school years 2 and 3 and there was an opportunity for parents to attend a question-and-answer session about being a chorister before Choral Evensong at 5.30pm where they could hear their children perform.

And in Salisbury Cathedral 50 children with a love of singing were given a taster of what it is like to be a chorister there.

They met the current choristers, joined them for a rehearsal in the Cathedral with Director of Music David Halls, who led them through warm ups, and taught them the music they would be singing for a special Evensong that evening. They also recorded a Christmas carol to be sent to their parents as an e-card.

If you have a child with a passion for singing and would like to be a chorister, please check out your local cathedral for chorister taster days or visit the RCSM website to find listings of chorister days.

St Albans Cathedral will host the RSCM Celebration Day on Sunday 19 October, an annual opportunity to celebrate and give thanks for the work of the RSCM and to present their Honorary Awards. This year’s service includes the opportunity to sing Evensong together with rehearsals from 2pm ahead of the service at 5pm.

More here.