An ex-chorister and his cello!

Tecchler’s Cello: From Cambridge to Rome, a new album from Guy Johnston and King’s College, Cambridge is out today! Guy Johnston celebrates his 300 year-old Tecchler cello by tracing a musical journey from Cambridge – where Guy was a chorister at King’s – to Rome, the birthplace of his cello. Featuring the Choir of King’s … Continue reading →

Welcome Back Choristers!

Boy and girl choristers will be heading back to school this week and resuming their cathedral duties. For others this will be the beginning of a new adventure as they start their probationary training to become a chorister. The first-class musical training along with a first-class education promises to lay foundations that will support them for life. … Continue reading →

England’s Greatest Musical Legacy

BBC viewers are in for a treat this autumn when Lucy Worsley charts the story of ‘England’s greatest musical legacy’ – choral evensong. The programme is part of a series of new arts, music and drama commissions on BBC Four to mark the 500th anniversary of The Reformation. Reformation: The Story of Martin Luther The … Continue reading →

Northern Choristers’ Sports Day!

Choristers from several Northern choirs in membership of CSA will be heading to Durham on Wednesday 27 September to join forces for Choral Evensong in Durham Cathedral at 5.15 pm. But first they will be competing on the sports field. Boys and girls from St Martin’s Ampleforth College, Blackburn Cathedral, St Mary’s Music School in Edinburgh, … Continue reading →

Ian Wicks Heads to Durham

Congratulations to Ian Wicks, currently Director of Music at Salisbury Cathedral School, who has been appointed as Headmaster of The Chorister School, Durham Cathedral.  Ian succeeds Yvette Day who is leaving to be Headmistress of King’s College School, Cambridge, starting her new position in January 2018. Whilst at Salisbury Cathedral School Ian has been Assistant … Continue reading →

Former Durham Head Remembered

It is with sadness we report that Commander Raymond Lawrence, Headmaster of The Chorister School from 1978-1994, died on 24 July, aged 87. His successor, Stephen Drew (1994-2002) writes: “The ongoing success of The Chorister School at Durham Cathedral owes a great deal to Ray Lawrence. In 1978 he became its first twentieth century headmaster not … Continue reading →

Tewkesbury Abbey Choristers Pay Their Way!

Tewkesbury Abbey Choristers have been busy fundraising for their summer tour to France. The boys, who are at Dean Close Preparatory School, have spent the last few weeks collecting unwanted clothes and soft toys to help raise money for their Summer Tour. The charity Bags2School collected 560kg of textiles and clothes, raising £224 towards the boys’ tour. Other … Continue reading →

Exeter Cathedral School Pupils Win Record Number of Scholarships

A plethora of major scholarships and exhibitions have been awarded to Year 8 children at Exeter Cathedral School – and its reputation for musical excellence also remains undiminished with a staggering 15 music awards being won to the UK’s leading senior schools this year. The school – founded in the 12th century and the only … Continue reading →

Cricket Superstar Freddie Enters the Record Books for King’s Ely

KING’S Ely Junior cricketer Freddie Fairey has recently reached the extraordinary milestone of 1000 runs for a single season. Freddie Fairey, 13, from Norfolk, has amassed a total of 1048 runs representing the school at senior and junior level, whilst successfully captaining the U13A side. This outstanding feat is even more impressive when taking into … Continue reading →

It Looks Like a Mayor’s Chain of Office, but….

…. it isn’t! Alastair Pollard (right), Chairman of the Federation of Cathedral Old Choristers’ Associations (FCOCA) models his very elaborate ceremonial chain of office, which is often mistaken for a civic Mayoral chain. The chain was first made in 1977. The centre piece is a large, heavy, rounded lozenge-shaped, gold and maroon medallion – an … Continue reading →