Voluntary Choir
Hereford Cathedral Voluntary Choir was formed in 2000, primarily to sing services at the cathedral on some occasions during the year when the cathedral choir is not available.
As well as covering six Sundays a year, the choir has sung at weddings, given concerts around the county and recorded for local radio, including BBC Hereford and Worcester’s broadcast Christmas services in 2005.
In 2007 the choir undertook its first overseas tour to Nürnberg, Germany, and returned there in October 2009, singing at a morning service at St Sebald's Church in the city centre, as well as at concerts both there and in the nearby university town of Erlangen.
Rehearsal time is generally limited to just one or two practices before each public event, so a high standard of musicianship is required from the 25-30 members. Many of the choir’s student members have gone on to take up choral scholarships at universities across the country: we are always pleased to welcome them back to sing with the choir again during their university holidays.
The choir aims to complement, rather than duplicate, the cathedral choir’s repertoire, and has given world premiere performances of several works by living composers as well as singing some of the great choral works from the wealth of church music written in earlier centuries. The choir commissioned and gave the first performance of Patrick Dunachie's The Prophecy of Joel at the Three Choirs Festival in August 2009. Members of the choir have taken part in both the RSCM diocesan choirs festival held in the cathedral each autumn, and also in the meetings of the Association of Cathedral Voluntary Choirs held recently at Worcester and Exeter.
Membership of the choir is by informal audition, and enquiries are always welcome. Further information may be obtained from the director, Peter Dyke, whose contact details are:
1A Cathedral Close
Hereford
HR1 2NG
01432 353843
Composition Workshop
On the afternoon of Saturday 17 July 2010, the Voluntary Choir will be holding a composition workshop, which aims to give composers in the area an opportunity to have a choral piece they have written sung in an informal setting. Composers of all ages and levels of experience are invited to submit a previously unpublished work for SATB (or similar) choir. The work may use any sacred text and should last up to 5 minutes. During the workshop up to six works by different composers will be rehearsed by the Voluntary Choir for 20 minutes, with a performance at the end. Refreshments will be available, along with the opportunity for discussion with choir members and other experienced composers from the area.
"The Voluntary Choir has gained a reputation for performing contemporary repertoire," said Peter Dyke, the choir's director, "and we think it is very important for us to support local composers to ensure a wealth of good new music is available to choirs in the years to come. We hope that one or more of the pieces used on 17 July could be sung at future services by the choir in the cathedral."
For futher details please contact Peter, whose details are above. Please send a copy of your composition by 5 July 2010 to 5 College Cloisters, Cathedral Close, Hereford, HR1 2NG with a fee of £15 to cover duplication and other costs (cheques payable to Hereford Cathedral; this is returnable if your piece is not used).