Lichfield Cathedral welcomes choirs from the Diocese, all over the country and abroad to provide the music whilst the Cathedral Choir is on holiday. Visiting choirs play a valuable and important part in the life the Cathedral, enabling our choral tradition (which we can trace back to the year 1315) to continue throughout the year.
Visiting Choirs
We are delighted to welcome the following choirs on the dates noted below:
| 2022 | |
| 12 February | St Alphege, Solihull |
| 5 March | St George, Stockport |
| 2 April | West London Free School |
| 23/24 April | Priory Voices |
| 28 May | Holy Trinity, Bledlow |
| 23/24 July | Bluebird Singers |
| 30/31 July | Erleigh Cantors |
| 2-7 August | Available for a visiting choir |
| 13/14 August | Rectory Choral |
| 22-28 August | Danensian Choir |
| 3/4 September | Laudes |
| 10 September | St Eligius Singers |
| 21/23 October | Romsey Singers |
| 2023 | |
| 19 February | Lichfield Cathedral Chamber Choir |
| 28 May | Lichfield Cathedral Chamber Choir |
| 16 July | Lichfield Cathedral Chamber Choir |
| 22/23 July | Brotherton Singers |
| October | Oriana Singers |
FAQs for choirs
When do visiting choirs sing services?
We would be happy to welcome visiting choirs during the Cathedral choir’s half-term holidays (February, May and October) and during their Easter, Christmas and Summer holidays, for either a full week with one or more days off, a long weekend (Thursday or Friday-Sunday) or Saturday/and or Sunday.
We are particularly keen to welcome visiting choirs on Saturdays when the Cathedral Choirs have a rest-day. We would like to encourage as many parishes from our Diocese (and beyond) to participate in our services – please do not feel that your choir needs to be able to offer the full Evensong repertoire in order to be able to visit us – a short well-prepared anthem in an otherwise said service (with a hymn or two) is perfectly acceptable.
When and where can choirs rehearse?
Visiting choirs may rehearse in the Cathedral from 1600-1700 for Evensong (which is at 1730 Monday to Saturday) and on Sundays before the Choral Eucharist and Evensong.
Our Song School at 14 The Close is available at other times – there is a rehearsal room, space for storage of robes, toilets and a kitchen where you can make your own refreshments.
If you wish to use the Song School please let us know so that it can be booked in the diary.
Who plays the organ for visiting choirs?
Visiting choirs need to provide their own organist (who must be at least ARCO or a similar standard).
Practice time for your organist must be booked with the Cathedral prior to your visit as it will need to fit around the daily life of the Cathedral.
Please contact us and we can let you know what practice slots are available.
We have a wonderful William Hill organ dating from 1908, most recently rebuilt by Harrison and Harrison in 2000. The pitch is nearly a semitone sharp of modern concert pitch at about A452.
Accommodation
Details of local providers of accommodation are included in the Guidance Notes (available from Nigel Argust at nigel.argust@lichfield-cathedral.org). Further information is also available here.
How to apply
Before you apply please read the Notes for Visiting Choirs
Once your visit is confirmed
Please then complete and return the Visiting Choirs Information Form which we will send to you.
Please contact our Assistant Organist, Nigel Argust at nigel.argust@lichfield-cathedral.org