On Saturday 10th February 2024, Bradford Cathedral will be holding its seventh annual ‘CathedralSing!’ event, where children from local schools are invited along to discover more about the choir and singing at Bradford Cathedral.

To sign up, all you have to do is fill in the short form at https://bradfordcathedral.org.uk/cathedral-sing. The deadline for applications is Monday 5th February 2024.

Ahead of the event, the Music Department at Bradford Cathedral have been visiting local primary schools in the city.

Throughout January they have visited Hill Top CofE Primary, Calverley CofE Primary School, St John's CofE Primary, Myrtle Park Primary, Greengates Primary Academy, Trinity All Saints’ Bingley, Wycliffe Primary, Low Moor Primary, Swain House Primary, Cullingworth Village Primary School and Hipperholme Grammar Junior School.

At each school they have run special inclusive singing workshops with school children in different years. These workshops include how to work on singing technique, and they practise singing rounds and how to sing in harmony.

Graham Thorpe, Director of Music at Bradford Cathedral, says:
“At the workshops we explain about the choir and at the end all the children who have taken part in the workshop get the opportunity to sing to us in groups, and those who are interested in finding out more will be given a Golden Ticket to take home at the end of school.”

The Golden Tickets are a special invitation to the ‘CathedralSing!’ event held at Bradford Cathedral on Saturday 10th February 2024, a morning where the child can come in with their parents to take part in some singing workshops with the music department staff.

As well as the recruitment through the schools, you can contact Bradford Cathedral if you know of any other children who would like to get involved.

Graham Thorpe:
“We also speak to their parents and explain what it is to be a chorister and they get to observe a chorister singing lesson and choir practice.”

The Saturday workshop also includes a short service and, at the end, refreshments. The children also get the chance to sign up for the ‘Grace Notes’ choir, who meet every week, as the first step on the journey to becoming a full member of the choir.

Graham Thorpe:
“We first ran CathedralSing! in 2018. It's such a lively and joyous event, and is a really important way for us to recruit children to the choir.”

‘CathedralSing!’ takes place on Saturday 10th February 2024 from 9:00am - 12.30pm. This event is where children across Bradford are invited to sing with the Bradford Cathedral choristers. If you know any children who would love to be involved, you can find out more please visit: bradfordcathedral.org.uk/cathedral-sing. The deadline to apply is Monday 5th February 2024. You can watch a short video recorded at 2022’s CathedralSing! at youtu.be/OzdCaLngdaE

ENDS