Chester Cathedral Choir

Chorister to join Diamond Choir

Will — Wed, 16 May 2012 09:00:48 +0000

Thomas Fesmer, a chorister at Chester Cathedral has been selected to join the Diamond Choir.

The Diamond Choir has been created by St Paul's Cathedral to bring together all the UK regions and nations for the Service of Thanksgiving to mark the Queen's 60 years on the throne - Her Diamond Jubilee.

They will sing a brand new work, The Call of Wisdom, by British composer Will Todd. The Choir will be conducted by St Paul's Director of Music, Andrew Carwood.

BBC Radio 3 – Choral Evensong 11th July 2012

Will — Sat, 05 May 2012 13:40:57 +0000

As part of the Chester Summer Music Festival this year, the cathedral choir will be broadcasting Choral Evensong live on BBC Radio 3 on Wednesday 11th July at 4pm.

The music will include a premiere of The Chester Service by Francis Pott and "These
Three" by Richard Rodney Bennett which was commissioned by the Dean and Chapter of Westminster in 2007 to mark the Diamond Anniversary of the marriage of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh and is included in the recently published Choir Book for Queen to mark her Diamond Jubilee.

The anthem will be Blest Pair of Sirens by Parry.

France Tour 2012 – Albi and Toulouse

Will — Sat, 05 May 2012 13:13:48 +0000

From 24th -31st July, Chester Cathedral Choir will be visiting France. We will be singing in the Basilica of St. Cecile, Albi and St Sernin's, Toulouse. The Choir Support Group have been working hard to raise funds to send the choir on tour this year and we are very grateful for a generous donation from MBNA without which the tour would not be possible.

Diamond Jubilee Concert

Will — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 13:10:53 +0000

Saturday 26th May at 7:30pm at Chester Cathedral
Directed by Philip Rushforth
Organ: Benjamin Chewter

Programme
Zadok the priest GF Handel
Thou God of wisdom Orlando Gibbons
I was glad Henry Purcell
I My Best-Beloved’s Am John Rutter
(Choirbook for the Queen)
My heart is inditing GF Handel

Interval

I was glad CHH Parry
O hearken Thou Edward Elgar
Organ Solo:
Crown Imperial William Walton
Blest pair of Sirens C H H Parry

Tickets £12.50/£7.50 from the Cathedral Box Office

Organ Recital – Roger Fisher and Philip Rushforth

Will — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:53:01 +0000

Monday 30th January: Roger Fisher and Philip Rushforth will be performing a recital in Chester Cathedral at 7.30.p.m. for the Chester and North East Wales, Organists’ Association.

BBC Daily Service Broadcasts this term

Will — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 10:03:51 +0000

The girls will be visiting Emmanuel Church, Didsbury to sing for the BBC Daily Service on 17th October, 2011 whilst the boys will be broadcasting on 14th November, 2011. Tune in at 9:45am on BBC Radio 4 LW or on digital.

Brand New CD Release – Whitlock and Hylton Stewart

Philip — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 20:46:54 +0000

Philip Rushforth plays the organ of Chester Cathedral.

This is Priory’s first recording of the Chester organ for 15 years. Philip Rushforth concentrates on two early twentieth century composers. The Whitlock Sonata and the Hymn Preludes and this couples well with five short pieces of Hylton Stewart who is chiefly remembered for his settings of the canticles and psalm chants. A full length CD of over 79 minutes.

The disc is available directly from Philip Rushforth priced at £10.

Other recordings of Philip Rushforth playing the Grand Organ of Chester Cathedral are also available on Priory Records including “The Grand Organ of Chester Cathedral” and “The Organs of Southwell Minster and Chester Cathedral”. Please contact Philip directly if you would like to obtain a copy of one of these discs, also priced at £10.

Available for direct download through Amazon are some of Philip Rushforth’s recordings on “The Organs of Cambridge“

A day in the life of a chorister – Louisa

Will — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 20:44:02 +0000

The latest website feature aims to help you get to know the choir a little better.

Joined the choir in 2008
Favourite anthem: Elgar – Light out of Darkness
Hobby outside choir: Rowing

I don’t get up until about nine on a Saturday. I have a lazy morning with a long shower (I’m glad I don’t have to pay the water bill!) and I’m on my iPod when my mum shouts up the stairs asking if I’ve done my homework …

Chester Cathedral Ball

Will — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 15:09:39 +0000

SATURDAY 8th OCTOBER 2011

THE QUEEN HOTEL
CITY ROAD, CHESTER
This year we are delighted to be holding our “first” Cathedral Ball at the Queen Hotel in Chester. It is in aid of raising funds for the chorister’s tour to Albi, France in 2012. The Ball is open to anyone connected to Chester Cathedral and their guests. The aim of the evening is to raise funds through our raffle and auction of promises, whilst enjoying a wonderful evening of delicious food and wine in the company of friends. All monies raised at the ball will be used exclusively for the benefit of the Choristers of Chester Cathedral.
TICKETS £40 per person
Price includes:
KINGS SCHOOL STRING QUARTET and drink on arrival
Selection of CHESTER CATHEDRAL CHORISTERS sing “Grace”
Three-course dinner (Special dietary options are available)
Coffee & Chocolates
Raffle and Auction of promises
Plus Disco
(Tables will seat 8/10 and whole tables may be booked, for those wishing to make up a party)
Tickets are limited and will sell out so contact Lisa Fearn on 07971 832 885 or email lisa.fearn@tiscali.co.uk as soon as possible to guarantee your booking.

We hope you will support this excellent event and join us for a great night of entertainment.

New Assistant Director of Music – Benjamin Chewter

Will — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 21:06:00 +0000

We are pleased to welcome Ben Chewter as he takes up the post of Assistant Director of Music at Chester Cathedral.

Benjamin Chewter is the Assistant Director of Music at Chester Cathedral, where he is responsible for the accompaniment of the statutory services and the direction of the Cathedral’s Nave Choir. Educated at Christ’s Hospital School, he held the Organ Scholarship at Canterbury Cathedral before going up to Emmanuel College, Cambridge as Organ Scholar (where he read Music and was Organist of King’s Voices, the mixed-voice choir of King’s College Chapel). He subsequently held the Organ Scholarship at Westminster Abbey and was Assistant Organist at Lincoln Cathedral for three years before taking up his current post in September 2011.

As an organist and conductor he has performed extensively throughout the UK (at venues including Westminster Abbey, Chichester, Lincoln, Canterbury, St Albans and Westminster Cathedrals, and St John’s Smith Square in London) and abroad (Sweden, Mexico, Belgium, Poland and Germany); forthcoming recital venues for the remainder of 2011 include Gloucester and Chester Cathedrals. Benjamin continues his studies in organ repertoire and improvisation with David Briggs and Stephen Farr. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists and also holds the College’s Choral Conducting Diploma.