Although it is only just two weeks in to the new choir term, the choir have already been out and about. A trip across the road from the cathedral to the town hall last Friday evening saw some of the choristers perform a thirty minute programme for guests attended the Lord Mayor’s Charity Ball. The choir welcomed five new choristers, and four choristers were promoted to leaders.

Lucy Rushforth was made the new head chorister

After a stormy evensong of Sumsion last Sunday with the boys singing “They that go down to the sea in ships”, the girls hope for a calmer journey next weekend to Great Budworth where they will offer Choral Evensong in the diocese before singing for Daily Worship the next morning (Monday 1st October) on BBC Radio 4 LW.

1 October – Daily Service (Girls) BBC Radio 4 LW 9:45am

15th October – Daily Service (Boys) BBC Radio 4 LW 9:45am

4 November – Requiem, Maurice Durufle 6:30pm

2 December – Advent Procession 6:30pm

21 December – Carol Concert 7:30pm

23 December – Nine Lessons and Carols 6pm

24 December – Nine Lessons and Carols 3pm

Christmas Day – Sung Services at 10am & 11.45am

At the start of term, it’s a great time to remember all those who help things run smoothly as we look forward to the next few months of music-making. The choir support group have been as hard at work as ever this weekend organising bag-packing at Morrison’s. One of the many fund-raising activities they organise throughout the year without which the choir would not have been able to enjoy the fabulous week in France back in July. We are grateful for the continued support of the Friends of the Cathedral who have provided the new robes for the choir. The song school in which daily rehearsals take place is here by the grace of numerous individuals and organisations who have supported its’ development. While the debt is now declining thanks to a generous legacy every effort is being made to diminish it completely. 

To this effect biscuits are on sale after the services at weekends priced at £1.20. All the money goes straight towards reducing the song school debt.

Glory to the New-born King

Listen to a sample recording from the new disc

Geoffrey Woollatt

Geoffrey began his musical career as a chorister at Southwell Minster in Nottinghamshire. During his time in the choir he enjoyed touring with them to Italy, Sweden and Paris.
Subsequently he attended Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester, where he continued his Organ Studies with Christopher Stokes.
In January 2007, Geoffrey was appointed as Junior Organ Scholar at Manchester Cathedral, a post which he held for eighteen months. In September 2008, he became the Organ Scholar at Chester Cathedral, where he regularly played for services, and the weekly Organ Recitals.
In September 2009, Geoffrey commenced his studies at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow. At the same time he was appointed Assistant Organist at St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral in Glasgow, where he played regularly for the choir and was also involved in many broadcasts and recordings while he was there.
 

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.

Visit the tour page for live updates! Also on twitter #ccctour

Every term, both the boy and girl choristers take the opportunity to broadcast on BBC Radio 4 LW for the Daily Service.  Performing live on the radio means that the choristers need to be right on top of their game as there will be thousands of people listening around the world. 

Listen again to the broadcast from 14th May 2012

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.

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.

Choristers by the BBC Outside Broadcasts Van

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