Leeds Cathedral
The Cathedral has seven dedicated choirs, singing at a total of eight services each week. Vespers and Mass are sung every weekday (except Friday) alongside the principal Sunday services, and these are shared between the Senior Boys, Girls, Schools Scholars and Choral Scholars, with the Junior Choirs rehearsing weekly and singing for two Masses each month. The Cathedral Children’s Choir is our youngest group, meeting weekly to develop musical foundations through songs and musical games.
The choirs draw their membership from inner-city Leeds state schools with children recruited through our sustained weekly Schools Singing Programme sessions. The children and young people within our choirs reflect the diversity of our city, and the superb standards of singing achieved lead to regular BBC broadcasts and partnerships with groups including The Sixteen and Gabrieli.
For details of the repertoire sung at services, view our music list.
As well as their regular pattern of rehearsal, listed below, all the Cathedral Choirs sing regular Sunday Masses and special liturgies as required.
Children’s Choir
- Leeds Cathedral Children’s Choir, Tuesdays 4.30 pm-5.15 pm
- Ages 5-7 (years 1 and 2)
Junior Boys Choir
- Leeds Cathedral Junior Boys Choir, Mondays 4.30 pm to 6 pm
- Ages 7-11 (years 3-6)
Junior Girls Choir
- Leeds Cathedral Junior Girls Choir, Thursdays 4.30 pm to 6 pm
- Ages 7-11 (years 3-6)
Senior Boys Choir
- Senior Boys Choir: Mondays and Wednesdays, 4.30 pm to 6 pm
- From age 9 (year 5)
Senior Girls Choir
- Senior Girls Choir: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4.30 pm to 6 pm
- Ages 11-18 (years 6-13)
Schools Scholars
Unlike many choral foundations we are proud to offer our boy choristers the chance to continue singing tenor or bass after their voices begin to change. Our Schools Scholars choir offers an opportunity to continue developing their voices and musicianship in choir with expert support through voice change. The Schools Scholars sing regular services with each of our upper voice choirs, tackling repertoire from ancient chant and polyphony up to new commissions from living composers.
- Wednesdays, 4.30 pm to 5.30 pm
- Up to age 18
Choral Scholars
- Choral Scholars: Tuesdays, 4.30 pm-5.30 pm and Wednesdays, 4.30 pm to 5.30 pm
Find out more about Choral Scholarships at Leeds Cathedral.