>>The Old Choristers Association

 

 

 

THE CATHEDRAL CHOIR

 

There has been a choir at Hereford Cathedral since at least the 13th century, producing beautiful music in the building’s unrivalled acoustic and glorious surroundings.

Today, the choir’s 18 boy choristers aged 7-14, together with the lay clerks (the gentlemen of the choir who sing the alto, tenor and bass parts), continue this tradition into the 21st century, providing music at the cathedral’s daily services and many special occasions throughout the year. They also reach a wider audience by singing in concerts, broadcasts on television and radio, recordings and international tours.

Concerts
In 2002 the choir took part in a gala concert at the Barbican Hall in London, with the City of London Sinfonia conducted by Harry Christophers.

The choir has a regular programme of concerts in the diocese: its next performance is at Kington on Saturday 20 March 2004.

In recent years the choir has sung Bach’s St John Passion in the cathedral on Tuesday of Holy Week. The next performance takes place on Tuesday 6 April 2004 at 7.30 pm, with soloists including Rogers Covey-Crump and James Bowman.

Broadcasts
The choir has appeared on BBC Songs of Praise several times and also takes part regularly in BBC Radio 3’s weekly live broadcasts of Choral Evensong. The most recent broadcast was on Wednesday 21 January 2004.

Recordings
The choir has made several recordings on the Priory and Griffin labels.

 

 

BECOMING A CHORISTER

Could your son be a chorister at Hereford Cathedral?

Each year we look for three or four boys aged between 7 and 9 to join the choir and share in the cathedral's rich musical heritage.

Could your son be one of them?

Opportunities for your son as a chorister at Hereford:

• Receive a first-class musical training from the cathedral's staff of professional musicians. The experience of performing to the highest standards every day, and the valuable skills which they acquire of concentration, team-work, self-discipline and self-confidence will benefit them for the rest of their lives.
• Take part each year in the world-famous Three Choirs Festival, which has been hosted in turn by the cathedrals of Hereford, Worcester and Gloucester since the early 1700s. Today it provides further opportunities for the choristers to work at the highest professional standard with some of the country's best-known conductors, soloists and orchestras.
• Receive a substantial scholarship from the Dean and Chapter of the cathedral towards the cost of their education at the cathedral schools. Additional financial support is available where needed.
  

 

Hereford Cathedral Choir ­
an experience for life

What are we looking for?

Many parents assume that their son has to be a musical genius to audition for the choir, but in fact what we are looking for is a boy who enjoys singing, being part of a close-knit team and who, with his parents, will commit himself to a demanding but immensely rewarding schedule. It is always useful if a boy has some experience of a musical instrument but it is by no means essential.

The schedule

The cathedral choir sings Evensong at 5.30 pm on five days a week, and at three services on Sundays.

The choristers rehearse for these services, and extra events like tours, broadcasts and recordings, on five mornings a week from 8.10­9.00 am and on Sundays from 8.55­9.50 am. There is also a short rehearsal each afternoon with the gentlemen of the choir and on Friday evening from 6.15­7.15 pm.

Choristers normally continue in the choir until their voices change or the end of year 9, whichever is the sooner, and continue to receive a scholarship from the Dean and Chapter until the end of year 11. Additional financial support is available where needed.

If your son is interested:

You are welcome to arrange an informal meeting with Geraint Bowen, the organist and director of music, to find out more about the opportunities on offer. He is always glad to meet prospective parents, especially if they would like guidance about their son's potential for a choristership.

For further information please contact:

Geraint Bowen
7 College Cloisters
The Close
Hereford HR1 2NG
01432 374238
01432 374213 fax
organist@herefordcathedral.co.uk

 

 

LAY CLERKS

The lay clerks are the adult members of the cathedral choir. The six full-time singers (two altos, two tenors and two basses) are joined at weekends and for special services by an additional three supernumerary lay clerks. In addition to their singing, they pursue a variety of other occupations, which range from teaching and educational psychology to computer programming and music typesetting. Outside the cathedral, they also sing as a close-harmony group, performing a very wide range of music from fifteenth-century polyphony to Glenn Miller and the Beach Boys. Their recent engagements have included a recital at the Courtyard Theatre for Hereford Concert Society and a sell-out late-night concert during the 2003 Hereford Three Choirs Festival.

They can be contacted on layclerks@cantusfirmusmusic.co.uk

 

 

VOLUNTARY CHOIR

Hereford Cathedral Voluntary Choir was formed in 2000 to sing the cathedral's Sunday services on about six weekends each year. Since its foundation, it has also provided the music at other occasional services, such as weddings and funerals, when the cathedral choir has been unavailable. The choir has also given concerts at All Saints' Church, Hereford, and at Belmont Abbey, and recorded a service of Christmas music for broadcast by BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester on the last day of the last millennium.

From the beginning the choir has been directed by the cathedral's assistant organist, Peter Dyke. It is a mixed adult choir of numbering 25­30 singers, and potential new members are always welcome to arrange an audition. A high standard of sight-reading is required as rehearsal time is limited to two short practices before each weekend of services.

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.

Further information about the choir may be obtained from Peter Dyke, 14 College Cloisters, Cathedral Close, Hereford HR1 2NG, telephone 01432 264520.

 

VISITING CHOIRS

The cathedral welcomes applications from visiting choirs to sing the services at times when the cathedral choir is on holiday or away from Hereford. The commitment can be anything from a single service on a weekday or Saturday, to a whole week during the summer, from Monday to Sunday. On a Sunday, most visiting choirs sing Eucharist and Evensong but experienced choirs may be invited to sing Matins as well.

The cathedral is unable to provide or arrange accommodation for visiting choirs but can provide a list of options for a range of budgets.

For further information, and to discuss possible dates, please contact the Precentor, the Revd Canon Andrew Piper:

The Canon's House
1 Cathedral Close
Hereford
HR1 2NG
Tel: 01432 266193
Email: Response Form

 

 

Hereford Cathedral Choir Association

Hereford Cathedral Choir Association exists to support the work of the cathedral choir. Though its membership is primarily drawn from chorister parents, all supporters of the choir are invited to join the association as associate members. For a modest annual subscription they are sent a regular newsletter keeping them in touch with the choir's activities and invited to social events organised by the association. For further details please contact the associate members' secretary:

Fiona Hanks
Tel: 01432 341929
Email: wftgr@hanky5.freeserve.co.uk

 

 

THE CHOIR ON TOUR

In Europe, Hereford Cathedral Choir has toured Germany (twice), Holland and Ireland. In October 2002 the choir made its first tour of the United States of America, with a series of highly successful concerts in Pittsburgh and Erie, Pennsylvania; and Cleveland and Akron, Ohio. Plans for the choir’s next tour, in 2004, will be announced shortly.

 

 

SUPPORTING THE CHOIR

You can support the choir in many ways...

Donation
A one-off gift than can be made with or without the benefit of gift-aid.

Pledged Giving
A regular gift in support of the choir.

Legacy
A gift after your lifetime.

Gift of Shares, Property and other assets
In many cases the most tax effective means of giving to charity with up to 80% relief.

North Amerrican Donations
The Perpetual Trust is a not-for-profit organisation and can there enable you to qualify for tax-deductions.

Trusts
We always welcome enquiries from trustees who believe they might be able to help us.

For more information contact Glyn or Erica at the Perpetual Trust.