Worcester Cathedral Chamber Choir

Worcester Cathedral Chamber Choir was founded 20 years ago by its present day Music Director, Stephen Shellard, who is Senior Lay Clerk at Worcester Cathedral. The aims then, as now, were to bring together a group of high-quality singers from across the diocese to enrich the cathedral’s already renowned choral tradition, and to support the singing of the liturgy. The choir participates in services at the cathedral, including Eucharists and Evensongs. It also sings services at other churches in the Diocese and further afield.

A mixed-voice choir of about 30 singers, its creation marked the first time that women’s voices were included in the musical life of the cathedral since its foundation about 1,000 years ago. The choir has established a reputation for musical sensitivity and ground-breaking performance, an acclaimed recording catalogue, and some more unusual engagements in other musical genres.

The concert repertoire includes choral staples such as Handel’s Messiah and Fauré’s Requiem but, unafraid to push boundaries, a performance of Arvo Pärt’s Passio was well received, along with works from contemporary composers that have been commissioned for both liturgical use and concert performance. The Responses you will hear at this evening’s service were commissioned by the choir from local composer, Ian King.

A willingness to step outside the usual traditional chamber music parameters has also been demonstrated by the choir’s supporting performances with Brit award-winning male trio Blake, and rock legend and radio/TV personality Rick Wakeman.

Tours have taken the choir to Dublin (where one of their services was attended by U2 front man Bono) and Norfolk, while the choir has been heard more widely thanks to tracks from their increasing number of CD recordings being broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and Classic FM.