From this year onwards there will be three cathedral choirs:

 

1. The Schola Cantorum - a new choir of children (aged 8-14 ) with professional adult cantors and psalmists. From September onwards, this choir will sing the 10am Solemn Mass each Sunday.

 

2. The Cathedral Consort - the newly revitalised adult voluntary choir who currently sing at the 10am, but will sing at the 12noon Mass each Sunday  from September onwards.

 

3. A new Cathedral Youth Choir of teenagers aged 15 - 18 who will sing two masses each month and rehearse each week. 

From January onwards we are recruiting into the Cathedral Consort. We are looking for Sopranos, Altos, Tenors and Basses who have had some singing experience before. You do not need to be able to read music fluently, but you must be able to sing in tune. Rehearsals are each Thursday 6.30pm - 8pm in the designated choir rehearsal room. There is a Mass each week, currently at 10am, but from September 2026 onwards, this will be the 12noon Mass. Although we encourage a full commitment, we are flexible  - especially for those with work and family commitments, so don't let your busy schedule put you off. You do not to be a Catholic either - you may be curious or just interested to sing this wonderful music. Contact George Richford for more information and an informal chat grichford@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk.

 

At Easter, a campaign to recruit children into the new Schola Cantorum will begin. This will provide an unrivalled and manageable opportunity for local children aged between 8 and 14 to sing each week. There will be rehearsals after school on Mondays and Thursdays for boys and Tuesdays and Thursdays for girls with 3 masses a month on Sunday mornings. More details will be published soon, but you should contact George Richford for more information. grichford@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk.

 

 

The Music at the Cathedral is born out of the best Roman Catholic tradition with a renewed focus on plainchant and polyphony as the basis of all we do. This is not all we do, and our special Diocesan 'French connections' colour some of the music we sing as well. Only the best of new music is admitted to our Liturgy, which is focussed on recapturing beauty and sincerity in worship, to the Glory of God.