For children with a love of singing, there can be few more rewarding experiences than being a Chorister at Canterbury Cathedral.
WANT TO JOIN? See www.canterbury... for audition dates and details of the audition process.
The Choir of Canterbury Cathedral comprises two separate treble lines of up to 25 boy choristers (aged 7-13) and 25 girl choristers (aged 12-18), as well as 12 professional adult singers, known as Lay Clerks. These musicians continue a centuries-old tradition of singing at the Cathedral that dates back to its foundation by St Augustine in 597AD. The Choir’s repertory ranges from early plainchant to music commissioned from leading contemporary composers.
The Choir’s central purpose is to sing at the daily services which take place at the Cathedral. These services are broadcast live on the Cathedral’s KZfaq channel, and are appreciated by a substantial global audience. As the Mother Church of the Anglican Communion, and as the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury, many special occasions take place at the Cathedral in which the Choir plays a central role. In 2022, it sang at the fifteenth Lambeth Conference, the decennial gathering of Anglican Bishops from around the globe.
Parallel to its liturgical work, the Choir pursues a varied programme of recordings, concerts and tours. It has performed extensively throughout the USA and in Europe. At home, the Choir has appeared at numerous music festivals and venues; each year it presents an orchestrally-accompanied concert at the Cathedral. The Choir has collaborated with various leading ensembles, including The English Concert, Fretwork, and His Majestys Sagbutts and Cornetts.
The Choir has recorded for a number of high-profile labels, recently including Decca Records, Signum Classics and Accent Records. Its latest album, titled Palimpsest: new works from old, is a collaboration with saxophonist Sam Corkin, and consists of specially-commissioned pieces by leading composers for choir, organ and saxophone. The girl choristers also recently recorded music by Johann Christoph Pepusch with internationally-renowned soloists and critically-acclaimed period instrument ensemble, The Harmonious Society of Tickle-Fiddle Gentlemen.
News of the Choir’s activities is posted regularly on the Cathedral’s social media channels.