The earliest reference to choristers at St Davids Cathedral was in 1132. Thomas Tomkins was born in St Davids in 1572 and he became a chorister in the cathedral while his father was the Organist and Master of the Choristers.
The present Cathedral Choir is unique in the UK in that its top line consists of girls aged 8-18. The lay clerks of the choir work locally in a variety of occupations. The choir sings at four services each week and has recorded several CDs and broadcast many times on BBC radio and television. In the last ten years the choir has toured widely in Europe, Australia and the USA (three times). The choir plays a major part in the Cathedral's Festival and has performed with Florilegium and Charivari Agreable and given premieres of music by Malcom Archer, Mark Blatchly, David Briggs, Alun Hoddinott, Francis Jackson, Alexander L'Estrange and Howard Goodall. This summer the choir toured in Bulgaria and has released a new CD 'Blessed City' on the Regent Label.
Choral Scholarships are available (see below).
In addition to the Cathedral Choir, there is a separate Boys' Choir. The choir sings Evensong on Tuesdays and Fridays (fortnightly with the lay clerks). Members of the choir are drawn from across the county. The choir has sung at cathedrals in the UK and Ireland and recently recorded its first CD.
The Junior Choir is open to boys and girls in Years 3-6 and currently has 25 singers from the primary schools of St Davids, Croesgoch, Roch and Solva. The choir rehearses at 3.45pm on Fridays and sings two services in the cathedral each term. Many of its members go on to join the Cathedral Choir or Boys' Choir.
All three choirs benefit from a first-rate musical education. For the Cathedral Choir and Boys' Choir there are other perks: they receive payment and the girls have a number of singing lessons each year with a professional singer, subsidised by the Dean and Chapter.
If your son or daughter is interested in joining one of the choirs, please contact: the Organist & Master of the Choristers, Daniel Cook, whose contact details are at the bottom of this page.
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| St Davids Cathedral Singers 2009/10 |
In 1991 the Cathedral Singers, an adult choir of mixed voices,was established. The choir sings evensong every fortnight and often deputises for the cathedral choir during half term holidays. The choir has also enjoyed singing weeks in Exeter and Hereford Cathedrals and Yorkshire. If you are interested in joining the Cathedral Singers please contact:
Simon Pearce
The Deanery Office, The Close, St Davids SA62 6RH
Tel: 01437 720057
Email: sk.pearce@onetel.com
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| Choral Scholars & Lay Clerks 2009/10 |
Choral Scholarships are available for the academic year 2012-2013.
Applications are invited from altos (counter-tenor/contralto), tenors and basses.
Scholarship of £3500 + fees, free accommodation and singing lessons, opportunities for Festival concerts, recordings and tours.
Details are available from:
Daniel Cook, The Deanery Office, The Close, St Davids, Pembs SA62 6RH
Telephone: 01437 720128
E-mail: stdavidsmusic@gmail.com
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