A new model for children's . sIngIng InEn IS e ralS The Cathedral Choirs in concert at Huddersfield Town Hall. Benjamin Saunders All Photographs taken by and courtesy ofJohn Bertalot. Director of Music, Leeds Cathedral ~---~.... -- , t the heart of Yorkshire's biggest and busiest city, Leeds ACathedral provides a peaceful spiritual refuge. It is also one of the finest examples in this country of Edwardian Arts & Crafts Architecture. The eminent architectural historian, the late Patrick Nuttgens, described it as 'one of the best of all the Catholic cathedrals in the country, and probably the most outstanding after Westminster'. It was built at the tutn of the last century and was largely paid for by the poor Catholics of the Diocese, who raised the equivalent of £10 million in today's money. At the beginning of August 2005 the Cathedral finally closed to allow a £2 million programme of major Kingdom. It includes two boys' choirs, May they are looking forward to internal repairs and restoration work to three girls', and a professional adult performing the Berlioz Te Deum at begin. Today, the building can be found choir, with eighteen choral scholars. Leeds Town Hall with the Royal surrounded by portakabins, earth- During the past 12 months the choirs Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, moving machines and cement mixers. have broadcast seven times on BBC under David Hill. The Cathedral congregation has Radio including Charal Vesperslive on relocated temporarily to Holy Trinity Radio 3 for the election of Pope Future plans at Leeds Cathedral Anglican Church, where the daily Benedict XVI, and Midnight Mass on The Bradford schools programme liturgies are maintained for the city's Radio 4. They have also produced three operates independently from that of large Catholic population. commercial CD recordings and the Cathedral. Currently the four Since its foundation in 1904, the attracted record audiences to cathedral choirs are preparing for the Cathedral has enjoyed a fine tradition lunchtime concerts at Huddersfield and challenges of the reopened building in of liturgical music based on Gregorian Leeds Town Halls. November 2006 when they will have to chant. Historically, this was led by a sing ten services between them each large choir of boys and men, singing Singing in Schools week. The choirs (and choir directors!) the chant largely from memory. After At present there are three full-time and will operate on a rotation basis, singing the Second Vatican Council (1962-64), four part-time members of the music Choral Vespers and Mass every weekday music in the Roman Catholic Church department staff. The choral (except Friday) alongside the two faced a number of serious and new programme is on a larger scale than principal Sunday services. Two new challenges. Regrettably, with one or other UK cathedrals because the Latin settings of the Magnificat have two exceptions, the quality of Catholic Director of Music is also responsible for been commissioned from Colin Mawby, church music in England sank to new liturgical music in the 98 schools of the forming the centrepiece of the musical depths in the immediate aftermath of Diocese. This large geographical area celebrations in November. the Council, when congregational includes Leeds, Huddersfield, It is a sad fact that many English participation and populism became Wakefield, Harrogate, Halifax and cathedrals now struggle to fill chorister the watchwords. Ripon. Bradford and Keighley have places, and choirmasters invariably cite In 1988, the then Bishop of Leeds, enjoyed special musical provision since the general deterioration of singing in David Konstant, took steps to address 2003 when a consortium of local high schools as the underlying cause. As a this decline with the appointment of a entered in to a funding partnership response to this challenge, the music professional musician to form a new with the Diocese to offer an exceptional department in Leeds Cathedral has boys' choir. The first Director of Music level of choral provision for their chosen to take over responsibility for a was Joseph Cullen, appointed in 1988, students. The Assistant Director of large part of the music curriculum and well known nationally today as the Music, Christopher McElroy, carries within the schools of the Diocese. A chorus master of both the London delegated responsibility for the delivery well-resourced programme and Symphony Chorus and the of this unique programme. Special generous funding partnership has laid Huddersfield Choral Society. He took school choirs benefit from timetabled strong foundations for future up a similar post at Westminster rehearsal slots during the normal generations and today every cathedral Cathedral in 1993 and was succeeded school day - much like at a cathedral chorister place is oversubscribed by by Stuart Thompson, who established choir school. talented applicants. the first girls' choir in a Catholic In addition to the school choirs, cathedral. Christopher McElroy founded a For further information about Today, the Diocese of Leeds has Bradford Boys' Choir in February 2005. Cathedral and Diocesan music, developed one of the fastest growing Eighteen boys rehearse weekly after please visit the website and largest programmes of choral school and have already made a first CD www.leedscathedral.org.uk music for young people in the United with the choirs at Leeds Cathedral. In Cathedral Music 11.