St Albans Cathedral Girls Choir Expand St Albans Cathedral Girls Choir was formed in 1996 and consists of up to 26 girls between the ages of 8-14 and is directed by Tom Winpenny, Assistant Master of the Music. The choir is regarded as one of the finest ensembles of its type in the UK, and has made CD recordings including releases for Naxos of music by Elizabeth Poston, Michael Haydn, Felix Mendelssohn and William Mathias. In recent years the choir has made tours to Germnay, Denmark and Sweden and has given the first performances of works by Judith Weir, Carl Rütti, Alec Roth and Cecilia McDowall. The choir has performed at the Royal Albert Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Symphony Hall, Birmingham, and has sung live broadcasts of Choral Evensong on BBC Radio 3. Becoming a Chorister To find out more please contact the Music Department by email. The Choir sings Evensong twice a week, and the choristers are drawn from many local schools. The girls rehearse three times each week, before or after school. The girls sing certain weekend services each term alongside the Lay Clerks of the Cathedral Choir.
St Albans Cathedral Choir Expand St Albans Cathedral Choir consists of up to 24 boys between the ages of 8-14 and is directed by Andrew Lucas, Master of the Music. It is regarded as one of the finest Cathedral Choirs in the country. Each week the boys rehearse six times and sing five services. For three weekend services they are joined by up to twelve Lay Clerks – professional musicians who sing the lower parts. Becoming a chorister means joining a musical heritage which stretches back to the Cathedral’s monastic roots. There is no residential choir school: the choristers are drawn from local schools. Weekday rehearsals therefore take place before or after school. In addition to the daily round of choral services, the Choir also takes part in concerts, tours, broadcasts and recordings. In recent years the Choir has visited the USA, the Netherlands, Italy (3 times), Spain, Germany and Sweden (twice). It has performed at the Royal Albert Hall, the Fairfield Halls and Symphony Hall, Birmingham, and has given live broadcasts on BBC Radio 3 and BBC One. It has also given the first performances of works by Alec Roth and Joanna Marsh. The choir has made recordings on the Naxos label including two discs of music by John Rutter and Masses by Mozart. In 2022 they recorded the motets of Bruckner for First Hand Records (FHR143). The Gramophone reviewer say the “three dozen singers are on impressive form, combining tonal beauty with sheer stamina… This splendid new release will take some supplanting” (Gramophone ‘Editor’s Choice’ & Gramophone ‘Critics’ Choice’ 2023) Become a Chorister Boys normally join the choir at the beginning of Year 4 As members of the choir, they receive a first-class musical education Choristers make new friends from different schools The choir's director, Andrew Lucas is always pleased to hear about potential applicants. To discuss an audition or to find out more please contact the Music Department by email Click here to download more details. Choir News In June 2023 the choir released a new album of music by Anton Bruckner, which has quickly become critically acclaimed. You can buy the CD of the album in the Cathedral shop, online through First Hand Records, or it can be streamed on most platforms. Photo © Toby Shepheard
Abbey Singers Expand The Abbey Singers offer a unique opportunity for young singers to develop their talents in a supportive and enriching environment. This youth choir welcomes recent former choristers from the Cathedral Choirs, alongside other passionate singers in schools years 9 to 13. Many previous members have continued their singing through university choral scholarships. Abbey Singers rehearse weekly and regularly sing services in the Cathedral. They have also graced prestigious stages alongside renowned ensembles like the King's Singers and Jethro Tull, and even participated in a BBC Radio 4 Easter Sunday broadcast. Becoming an Abbey Singer: Do you have a passion for singing and a desire to be part of a vibrant musical community? There is no fee to join, so we encourage all talented young singers to audition.For more information about joining the Abbey Singers, please contact the Music Department by email or call 01727 890245.
Parish Singers and Orchestra Expand Parish Singers: The Parish Singers is a mixed voice auditioned choir enriching the Cathedral's worship through uplifting choral music. They lead congregational singing at the 9.30am Eucharist and perform a diverse repertoire, ranging from established classics to contemporary pieces. Join the Choir: If you would enjoy singing high-quality liturgical music in a wonderful building and can get out of bed in time on a Sunday, why not consider joining us? The fortnightly one-hour Wednesday rehearsal is led by their Director, Christopher Muhley. Parish Orchestra: The Parish Orchestra is a dedicated ensemble of musicians who contribute a majestic touch to the 9:30am service once a month. They perform a variety of orchestral pieces that enhance the beauty and grandeur of worship. Rehearsals are held on the Thursday evening preceding the service, providing an opportunity for musicians to refine their skills and collaborate in a supportive environment.Join the Orchestra:Are you an instrumentalist seeking to share your talent and contribute to meaningful worship experiences? The Parish Orchestra welcomes passionate musicians to join their ranks. Contact:For more information about joining the Parish Singers and/or Orchestra, please email [email protected]
St Albans Young Singers Expand SAYS emphasises learning music in a fast-paced and fun environment. All our young people learn basis singing technique in a really enjoyable and supportive atmosphere. Children are encouraged to take a role in leading parts from an early age and learn to lead groups, which grows confidence and autonomy as part of the process. Our highly successful St Albans Young Singers has recently split into juniors and seniors. One of the most exceptional things about this choir is that we usually rehearse in the millennium-old nave of the Cathedral. This is an exceptional experience for our young people, and provides a unique encounter for them with the Cathedral – where they are encouraged to enjoy everything that the acoustic has to offer! Although the choir is not one of the Cathedral’s liturgical choirs, we sing at church services around six times a year, and also at other events. Juniors: Monday 4.45pm-5.15pm (term time); Seniors: Monday (5.15pm-6pm). Interested in joining? Email [email protected]
Visiting Choirs Expand Sing at St Albans Cathedral When the Cathedral Choirs are on leave, the Cathedral welcomes visiting choirs from around the country and abroad to help maintain a regular pattern of choral services. We take applications from visiting choirs to sing during schools holidays and half terms Available dates: 2025 weekends and week residencies: 18-24 August 2026 weekends and week residencies: 18 & 19 April 23 & 24 May* 30 & 31 May* 18 & 19 July 27 July - 2 August 3 - 9 August 10- 16 August 17- 23 August 24 - 30 August 5 & 6 September 24 & 25 October* 31 October & 1 November* *please note availability of these dates are subject to term dates set by the council which are TBC. How to apply To make an application please contact [email protected]For more information click here to download a pdf of our notes for visiting choirs. The choir loved being part of something so special 📷 St John's Connecticut