Liverpool Cathedral welcomes choirs from all over the country and abroad to provide the music while the Cathedral Choir is on vacation. Visiting choirs play a valuable and important part in the life of the Cathedral, enabling our choral tradition to continue unabated throughout the course of the year.
When do visiting choirs sing services?
- The first Sunday of half term (February, May & October)
- The Sunday after Christmas
- Over the Spring Break (please note - this may fall during Lent, or after Easter)
- During the summer vacation
Which services do visiting choirs sing?
During half terms, only the Sunday is available.
During Christmas, Spring break and the Summer vacation, you are welcome to choose from the following options:
a) A full week with one day off
b) A long weekend (Thursday / Friday - Sunday)
c) Saturday & Sunday
d) Sunday
What will the schedule be?
Depending on the number of days you wish to sing, the schedule of rehearsals and services will consist of all, or a selection of the following:
Monday
Rehearsal: 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Evensong: 5:30pm - 6:00pm
Tuesday
Rehearsal: 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Evensong: 5:30pm - 6:00pm
Wednesday
Silent
Thursday
Rehearsal: 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Evensong: 5:30pm - 6:00pm
Friday
Rehearsal: 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Evensong: 5:30pm - 6:00pm
Saturday
Rehearsal: 1:30pm - 2:30pm
Evensong: 3:00pm - 3:45pm
Sunday
Rehearsal: 9:00am - 10:00am
Eucharist: 10:30am - 11:45am
Rehearsal: 1:30pm - 2:30pm
Evensong: 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Accompanist
When the Cathedral choir is away, weekday and Saturday Evensongs are held in the Cathedral's Lady Chapel, for which your own organist is very welcome to play. The services on the Sunday are held in the main Cathedral for which one of the Cathedral's duty organists will be available to accompany you. The reason Chapter have set this rule is that there is no available rehearsal time for visiting organists to get to know the Cathedral organ. In order for us to maintain our 'free entry' policy, the Cathedral is heavily used in the evening time, and, unfortunately, there is no opportunity for organ practice during the day. The Cathedral cannot provide an accompanist for weekday services outside of term time.
It is important for visiting choirs to be aware of this policy before making a booking, as many choirs wish to perform with their own organist, and hence withdraw at a later stage which is inconvenient for both parties involved.
Will we have access to rehearsal rooms?
Yes. You will have the run of the Eastern Undercroft and Courtyard for the duration of your visit, including Song Room and robing areas. You are free to use the undercroft at any time during your visit as a base, and for extra rehearsal and warming up before your rehearsal time in the Lady Chapel or Cathedral.
Facilities include:
Song Room (main rehearsal room with Grand piano, conductor's stand & stalls)
Smaller rehearsal room with piano
Adult toilets
Toilets for those under the age of 18
East end courtyard (secure outdoor area)
Accommodation
Details of local providers of accommodation are included in the information booklet we send to visiting choirs. For further information, please contact us to discuss the various options available.
How to Apply
In the first instance, please check the list of dates below and contact our Associate Organist, Daniel Bishop, who will discuss the various options available to you. Email: daniel.bishop@liverpoolcathedral.org.uk Phone: 0151 702 7240.
We look forward to welcoming you and your choir to the Cathedral!
Dates in 2013
Saturday 16th & Sunday 17th February - Priory Voices
Saturday 6th & Sunday 7th April - Peterborough Chamber Choir
Sunday 26th May - St. John's Chapel Choir, Southsea
Sunday 21st July - St. John, Walton
Sunday 28th July - Cathedral Ex-Girl Choristers (10th Anniversary)
Saturday 3rd & Sunday 4th August - Voces Petrensium
Wednesday 7th - Sunday 11th August - St. Paul's Bedford
Friday 16th - Sunday 18th August - Goring Chamber Choir
Friday 23rd - Sunday 25th August - Choral Voices of Groningen
Sunday 1st September - Christopher Wren Singers
Saturday 7th September - RSCM Voices North
Sunday 27th October - Broughton Parish Church
Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th December - The St. John's Consort
Dates in 2014
Sunday 16th February - The Border Singers
Spring Break - Beckenham Parish Church
Sunday 25th May - St. John's Chapel Choir, Southsea
Monday 21st - Sunday 27th July - VACANT
Saturday 2nd & Sunday 3rd August - Weatsheaf Consort
Saturday 9th & Sunday 10th August - Canterbury Singers, USA
Thursday 14th - Sunday 17th August - Damian Singers
Saturday 23rd & Sunday 24th August - Leicester Church Music Consort
Thursday 28th - Sunday 31st August - Oakville Singers
Saturday 13th September - RSCM Voices North
October Half Term (Sunday only) - Poscimur
Sunday 28th December - VACANT
Dates in 2015
February Half Term (Sunday only) - St. John's Chapel Choir, Southsea
Friday 10th - Sunday 12th April - The Harsnett Choir
May Half Term (Sunday only) - VACANT
Friday 24th - Sunday 26th July - Plaxtol Scholars
Monday 27th July - Sunday 2nd August - St. Peter's Erindale Parish Choir, Mississauga Ontario
Monday 3rd - Sunday 9th August - VACANT
Monday 10th - Sunday 16th August - VACANT
Monday 17th - Sunday 23rd August - VACANT
Tuesday 25th - Sunday 30th August - VACANT
Saturday before Cathedral choir return - RSCM (date to be confirmed)
October Half Term (Sunday only) - VACANT
Sunday after Christmas - VACANT
Dates in 2016
February Half Term (Sunday only) - St. John's Chapel Choir, Southsea
Spring Break - Beckenham Parish Church