LIVERPOOL - 12 May 2008 - 320 words
Liverpool: largest gathering of Cathedral choristers since Coronation
Next Tuesday, 13 May, will see the largest choral gathering of Cathedral Choristers since the 1953 Coronation when 150 choristers from 18 Cathedrals will sing together at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King, Liverpool. This national celebration is taking place in Liverpool in recognition of the City's role as 2008 Capital of Culture with boy and girl choristers from throughout the country taking part including some from Westminster Abbey and York Minster. They will be singing a new work specially commissioned for the occasion.
It is being organised as part of the three day Annual Conference of the Choir Schools' Association (CSA) which is taking place in Liverpool from Monday 12 to Wednesday 14 May. Uniquely the Cathedral Organists' Association will also be holding their meeting simultaneously in the City and the two groups will be holding joint sessions.
Timothy Noon, Director of Music at the Metropolitan Cathedral says: 'It is both a tremendous honour for Liverpool to be hosting these conferences this year and a terrific opportunity to highlight the amazing singing taking place nationally in our cathedrals on a daily basis.'
On Tuesday 13 May at 1.30 pm there will be a concert in the Metropolitan Cathedral, open to the public and with free admission, at which the choristers will be joined by more than 200 pupils from Liverpool Schools and musicians from St Edward's College, the Metropolitan Cathedral Choir School, and Chetham's School of Music, Choir School to Manchester Cathedral.
CSA is part of the National Singing Programme which the Government launched in 2007 to boost singing in primary schools. There are 21 chorister outreach programmes already running throughout the country with more in the pipeline. The concert will aim to highlight the work of Choir Schools in promoting singing in Cathedrals and, by involving some of Liverpool's other young singers, the wider community. The programme will include a specially commissioned work 'Alleluia Jubilate' by composer James Whitbourn .
CSA represents 44 choir schools attached to Cathedrals, churches and college chapels around the country as well as a number of cathedrals without choir schools. The host Choir School for this year's meeting is St Edward's College, Liverpool. College Principal, John Waszek, says: 'I am delighted to be the host to this unique event, chosen to mark Liverpool's Year as Capital of Culture. It is marvellous to see choristers from all over the country come to join in our celebrations, and participate in this concert.'
Source: Archdiocese of Liverpool
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