Durham Cathedral Choir Association

Registered Charity 1078233

Welcome to the DCCA website

In keeping with the great tradition of English Cathedral music there has been a choir at Durham for over six hundred years. This almost unbroken tradition of praising God in music continues to the present day. Evensong is sung in the cathedral every day of the week except Monday, and there are three choral services each Sunday. This is a considerable responsibility for the Choir and there is a way in which you can support them in this important service to God.

 

If you have heard our Choir sing and enjoy choral music you may like to become more involved. This website tells you about the Choir and how it is supported by the DCCA.

 

The Cathedral Choir today...

There are 20 boys, 5 lay-clerks who are permanent members of the Choir and 7 choral scholars who are students at the university. The boys join the choir at the age of eight or nine and are boarders at the Chorister School in the cathedral precincts. The Choir is directed by the Master of the Choristers and Organist, with a Sub-Organist, an Assistant organist and an Organ Scholar. The Choir is soon to be joined by a team of 20 girls who will take turns with the boys in singing services, and whose lives and responsibilities will be identical to those of the boys.

 

In addition to singing the daily services there are practices twice a day. Throughout the year the Choir also sings services in churches in the Diocese, gives concerts in the Cathedral and regularly broadcasts on radio and television. Because of the high standard that they achieve they have been invited to tour, most recently to France, Brazil, Germany, Norway and the USA. They have made several recordings and sung with leading orchestras including the Northern Sinfonia and the BBC Philharmonic.