Wakefield Cathedral Choir
Wakefield’s best kept secret.

The Parish Church of All Saints became the Cathedral for the new Diocese of Wakefield in 1888, and has since developed a splendid tradition of liturgy and music which attracts congregations from a wide area. The Cathedral has a long tradition of training boy choristers. In 1992, it became only the second Cathedral in the country to establish a girl’s choir.
Wakefield Cathedral Choir is nationally and internationally acclaimed as one of the finest in England but paradoxically has also been described by many as ‘Wakefield’s best kept secret.’ To aficionados of beautiful music, the magnificent performances by the choir and organists at the Cathedral are an enticement to come from far afield. But, amazingly, there are many who live in Wakefield, who are completely unaware of the fabulous music that is produced within the majestic walls of the Cathedral.
Jonathan Bielby is the Director of Music and Thomas Moore is his able Assistant. Under their guidance and mentoring, the novice choristers flourish and develop, often displaying a purity and perfection of their combined voices that is simply magical.
The music department seeks to uphold and renew the liturgical traditions for which Wakefield Cathedral is famous. It follows an innovative programme of commissioning new music. Amongst those who have written works for the Cathedral Choir are Kenneth Leighton, himself a Wakefield old chorister, Andrew Carter, Philip Moore and Philip Wilby.
The Cathedral Choir consists of twenty boys, twenty girls and ten lay clerks. The boys and girls come from Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Wakefield Girls’ High School, Silcoates School and local state schools. The lay clerks in some cases travel vast distances in their devotion to the musical worship of the Cathedral. The boys, girls and men undertake a full programme of services, concerts, recordings and TV appearances. In 2005 they sang in front of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh at the Royal Maundy service.
All choristers get the opportunity to participate in English and foreign tours. National tours started in 1975 with a visit to Wells Cathedral, and overseas tours have included visits to Germany, France, Sweden, Italy, Austria, Holland and the United States.
On the 13th July 2007, there will be a recital by the choir of St Thomas, Fifth Avenue, New York under the direction of John Scott, a former chorister and assistant organist of the Cathedral.