Chester Cathedral Choir

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.

“Seek ye the Lord” – Recital in St. Anselm’s Chapel

fjc — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 17:14:20 +0000

“Seek ye the Lord”- Sacred Arias of Consolation is A Recital by Counter-Tenor Frederick Campbell & Accompanist Ken Fayle on Saturday 3rd September @ 2.30 in St Anselm’s Chapel. The free Recital lasts 50 minutes with a voluntary collection afterwards towards the Choir’s French Tour next year.

All are Welcome!

Music Department News – Friends Newsletter June 2011

Will — Sun, 22 May 2011 20:43:26 +0000

Download the Music section from the latest Friends Newsletter :

“Music Director’s Report

The start of the New Year was busy. Ian (our Assistant Director of Music) and Kate Roberts left us for St John’s Church,Ranmoor in Sheffield and preparations had to be made for Ian’s replacement and the need for us to organise the daily worship of the cathedral between Laurence (our Organ Scholar) and me once Ian had left… ”

Download the music newsletter in pdf

Holy Week and Easter 2011

Will — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 15:33:51 +0000

Palm Sunday Procession

Following Palm Sunday and the start of Holy Week, the Cathedral Choir will be singing a number of special services through Holy Week and into Easter.

Good Friday 22nd April 10am

Good Friday Liturgy:
Sanders – Reproaches
Dvorak – Blessed Jesu
Ducasse – Crux Fidelis

Easter Eve 23rd April 8pm

Easter Eve Vigil:
Walton – Missa Brevis
Mawby - Exultet
Ducasse – Crux Fidelis

Easter Day 24th April

10am Eucharist:
Haydn – St Nicholas Mass
Ledger – This joyful Eastertide

3:30pm Evensong:
Jackson in G
RVW – Rise Heart, The Call, and Let all the World from the Five Mystical Songs

Choristers join Music Soceity Choir in Mass of the Children

Will — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 18:20:00 +0000

Senior Choristers from the Cathedral Choir will be joining the massed forces of the Chester Music Society Choir in the cathedral on Saturday 7th May, 2011 at 7:30pm as they present Poulenc’s Gloria and Rutter’s Mass for the Children. The Rutter is written for an adult mixed choir, children’s choir, soloists and orchestra. The text is taken from the Latin Mass augmented with suitable English texts.

Tickets: £17, £12 (Nave: numbered, reserved): £6 (Aisles, unreserved, restricted view). Reduced prices available. Telephone 07805 475816 or 0845 241 7868