On the evening of Wednesday 27 June, Hereford Cathedral Choir had the great honour of performing in the Sistine Chapel alongside the Sistine Chapel choir. The concert celebrated the music of the Roman Catholic and Anglican churches with Geraint Bowen, director of music at Hereford Cathedral, conducting alongside Mgr Massimo Palombella, director of the Sistine Chapel Choir.

The evening’s programme included pieces by Tallis and Byrd, alongside music by female composers including Judith Weir, Master of the Queen’s Music, and the mainland Europe premiere of Kerensa Briggs’ setting of Set me as a seal upon thine heart. The two choirs also came together to perform My soul, there is a country as a special way of commemorating the centenary of the death of the composer Hubert Parry.

The Bishop of Hereford, The Right Revd Richard Frith, who attended the concert, said: ‘It was amazing, a fantastic setting and the singing was wonderful. Seeing the two choirs perform together was just… extraordinary.’

Geraint Bowen, director of music at Hereford Cathedral said: ‘The concert was a great success and amazing to be a part of. It was certainly a unique occasion and one we will remember for a long time to come.’

One of our youngest choristers simply summed the concert up with a big smile and ‘It was really, really good’.