BBC Songs of Praise

2008 gets off to a dramatic start for the Diocese of Leeds music department! Sunday January 6th Sees 'Songs of Praise' broadcast from Leeds Cathedral on BBC 1 TV.

The hymns were specially chosen to fit with the theme of priceless gifts. The Cathedral will be full with 450 young singers from Catholic Schools in Bradford, Keighley and Huddersfield - who said (young) Catholics can't sing!

Also featured in the broadcast are the Bradford Youth Choir - auditioned voices from the over 1000 children who sing each week as part of the Diocese of Leeds singing program in Bradford and Keighley. The Youth Choir sing 'I am his child' which accurately reflects two of the most valued priceless gifts: those of childhood and that of music and singing.

The congregational items were conducted by Charismatic musician Gordon Stewart who brought out the very best from the young singers!

The program will be broadcast on BBC 1 TV on Sunday January 6th 2008 at 4.45pm. Information about the program can be found here on the BBC SoP website.

If you are outside the UK it might be possible to watch the program on the BBC's new Iplayer .

Drop us a line and let us know if you enjoyed it!

2007 - the year in review!

2006 ended on a high note with BYC School Yorkshire Martyrs being crowned Yorkshire Schools choir of the year!


2007 was a very busy year - our first whole year of daily sung services in the Cathedral in addition to out flourishing Diocesan music program.


FEBRUARY

Article published in Cathedral Music magazine about Diocese of Leeds music.


MARCH

Bradford Boys' Choir give a concert in Leeds Cathedral of movements from the Llibre Vermell.

Bradford Girls' Choir make their BBC Radio debut, broadcasting live on BBC R4.

BYC Schools take top places at Robertshaw festival.

Cathedral Girls Choir take part in Festival at Leeds Parish Church.


APRIL

Holy Week at the Cathedral with the choirs singing at all the principal services, and even finding time to sing at a concert in Selby!

Third Annual BYC Gala Concert, featuring for the first time the newly formed St. Bedes MVC.

Cathedral Boys' and Adults sing Mass on the feast of St. George in the presence of the Bishops of England & Wales.

Performance of Mozart Requiem in Cathedral given by Cathedral Boys' and Adults conducted by Christopher Johns.


MAY

BYC Girls' sing at Huddersfield Town Hall with the Oldham Youth Choir and Yorkshire Youth Choir.

BYC Schools carry of a host of prizes from the Wharfadale Festival. See also the updated role of honour.


JUNE

Bradford Boys' Choir take part in a performance of Orff's 'Carmina Burana' in Leeds Town Hall with the Leeds Philharmonic Chorus, Leeds Cathedral and Leeds Parish Church Boys' choirs accompanied by the Airedale Symphony Orchestra under the direction of John Anderson.


SEPTEMBER

Diocese gives birth to another new choir!

BYC Boys' and Girls' give sellout concert at the historic Ilkley Parish Church.


OCTOBER

BYC Boys' choir become choir in residence at St. Josephs Church, Bradford. A historic re-birth of Catholic church music in Bradford!

NOVEMBER

Cathedral Girls' and BYC Girls sing Mass for Cathedral Directors of Music Conference in Cathedral.

400 children from BYC Schools record Epiphany program for BBC 1 Songs of Praise!

Cathedral Choirs record 2 further programs for BBC 1 Songs of Praise.

DECEMBER

Cathedral and BYC Choirs join together with LPC choirs for annual Leeds Town Hall Carol Concert.

Cathedral Adult Choir broadcast Choral Vespers for Gaudate Sunday live on BBC R3.

BYC Boys' and Girls perform in Bradford's premier Christmas concert in St. Georges Hall.

First BYC CD 'Jubilate Deo' is released!

NEW CD - Jubilate Deo!

Hot off the press

- the first CD recording from the Bradford Youth Choirs!

More information to follow early in the new year!

Hark, the herald angels sing!

The fourth Sunday of Advent traditionally sees the Christmas Carol service take place in Leeds Cathedral. A festive favorite, people flock to the Cathedral to hear the story of the birth of Christ through words and music. The service follows an adaptation of the 'Nine lessons and Carols' famously heard at Kings College, Cambridge on Christmas Eve each year, and was presided over by the Dean, Michael Cannon McCreadie.

The Cathedral boys', girls' and adult choirs sang, performing both exquisite choral music for the season and leading the congregation in the singing of much loved Christmas carols such as 'See amid the winters snow' 'Away in a manger' and 'Hark the herald angels sing!'

The ambiance of the Cathedral was one of joyful expectation, the service taking place by candlelight. The readings were proclaimed by various members of the choirs, with the Gospel from St John read by Mgr Michael McQuinn, the Vicar General.

The choral music ranged from plainsong 'Hodie Christus natus est' via 16th Century Catalan 'Riu, Riu Chiu' to several 20th Century English compositions and arrangements such as 'A Maiden most gentle' (by local composer, Andrew Carter) 'A Child is born in Bethlehem' (Philip Stopford) and 'Scots' Nativity' by Allan Bullard.

The service concluded with a stunning rendition of the Finale from Louis Vierne's First Organ Symphony, played by Christopher Johns, Choral Director for the Diocese of Leeds.

Christmas in Bradford!

Christmas came a few days early to Bradford yesterday with the annual 'Family Christmas Concert' at St Georges Hall, Bradford's premier venue for music and the arts. Held in conjunction with Bradford's 'Christmas in the City' event, the concert was enthusiastically received by the large audience both young and old.

The concert was hosted by the Bradford Festival Choral Society, the cities oldest and most distinguished musical group. Christmas favorites were played by the 'Virtuosi GUS Band' much to the delight of the audience who were clapping and singing away!

The Bradford Boys' and Girls' choirs combined for this concert to appear as the Bradford Youth Choir. In the first half, they joined the BFCS to sing movements from the St. Nicholas Mass by Joseph Haydn. Conducted by Christopher McElroy (BYC director) over 130 singers (with an age range of 75 years between youngest and oldest!) raised the roof with the triumphant 'Amen!' at the conclusion of the Gloria.

The second half opened with the children in the audience coming up onto the stage to sing Christmas favorites 'when santa got stuck up the chimney' and 'jingle bells.' The Youth Choir then took centres stage to perform a Gloria by Stuart Thompson (former Director of Music for the Diocese of Leeds) 'I am his child' by notable American composer/ arranger Moses Hogan. They finished with a rousing performance of 'Gaudate' complete with soloists and a full battery of percussion!

Choral Vespers on the BBC

Choral Vespers on BBC Radio 3 yesterday came live from Leeds Cathedral. For the next seven days you can listen again by going here.

Organ Prelude: Prière (Langlais)
Introit: Qui sedes, Domine, super Cherubim (Rheinberger)
Office Hymn: Conditor alme siderum (Charlston)
Psalms: 110, vv1-5, 7; 111 (Saunders, Bevenot)
Reading: Philippians 4, vv4-7
Motet: Rorate caeli desuper (Byrd)
Homily: The Right Rev Arthur Roche
Magnificat primi toni (Colin Mawby)
Marian Antiphon: Alma redemptoris (Pedro de Cristo)
Organ Voluntary: Rorate caeli desuper (Naji Hakim)

Director of music: Benjamin Saunders
Assistant director of music: Christopher McElroy

Would you like help with your packing?

These children don't just sing! Despite having a busy schedule in the weeks leading up to Christmas, the members of the Bradford Boys' and Girls' Choirs descended on Sainsbury's in Keighley today to pack bags for Saturday shoppers and raise money towards their forthcoming foreign trips.

In June 2008 the Girls' Choir will accompany the Diocese of Leeds' pilgrimage to Lourdes, singing in Paris on their way back, while the boys have been invited to perform alongside choirs from all over the world at the international choral festival 'Festivokal' in Germany in May 2009.

We're still counting the money generously donated by the shoppers, but it's looking like being around £1000!!!

THANK YOU, KEIGHLEY!!

Boys' Choir begin residence at Bradford Church

Unfortunately, due to misunderstandings, many choirs in Catholic churches simply disappeared in the years after the Second Vatican Council. So, what did the Sacred Constitution on the Liturgy (SACROSANCTUM CONCILIUM) actually say about choirs and the treasury of sacred music?

112. The musical tradition of the universal Church is a treasure of inestimable value, greater even than that of any other art. The main reason for this pre-eminence is that, as sacred song united to the words, it forms a necessary or integral part of the solemn liturgy.

114. The treasure of sacred music is to be preserved and fostered with great care. Choirs must be diligently promoted, especially in cathedral churches; but bishops and other pastors of souls must be at pains to ensure that, whenever the sacred action is to be celebrated with song, the whole body of the faithful may be able to contribute that active participation which is rightly theirs.

No where in these excepts from does it call for choirs to be abandoned! What it does call for is a balance in the role played by the choir in worship, alongside the part played by the congregation.

In the Liturgy, many people have roles. Hence we think of the lector whose job is to read from the scriptures, the Deacon who proclaims the Gospel, the Altar Servers who assist in the Sanctuary, the Priest who presides over the celebration, the Congregation who sing and speak responses and prayers. All of these have tasks 'proper' to their role - it is indeed the same for the choir. They have the joint endeavour to both lead the congregation in singing, as well as to offer music for the glory of God in their name.

Here in the Diocese of Leeds, we take seriously the call of the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council to 'diligently promote' choirs and to preserve the 'treasury of sacred music.' Mass and Vespers are sung 5 days a week in our Cathedral church by our Boys' and Girls' choirs (click here for the music list.)

From time to time, our Cathedral choirs sing in Parishes throughout the Diocese, as also have our Bradford Boys' and Girls' Choirs. From this Sunday, a new and innovative arrangement will be taking place in a Bradford Parish: the Bradford Boys' Choir will become choir in residence at St. Josephs Church, Bradford.

The Boys' choir will sing once a month in St. Josephs Church, complementing the fine congregational singing that is led by cantor and organ each week. It is hoped in the future that other churches throughout the Diocese will be able to benefit from arrangements: indeed, plans are already afoot for the creation of a liturgical boys' choir in Huddersfield .

Choirs on Song in Ilkley

They may not have sung all the way on top of the moors as the famous chorus goes, but the Bradford Boys' and Girls' choirs recently delighted concert goers in the historic town of Ilkley.

All Saints Parish church was packed for the Gala Concert which featured a wide range of music ranging from 14th Century Catalan songs through to a medley from Andrew Lloyd Webber's hit musical 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.'

The Girls' choir entertained the audience with songs from Africa (complete with percussion) alongside 'Hail Holy Queen' from Sister Act and Caccini's Ave Maria. The boys' complemented these selections by singing songs from the Llibre Vermell and works by Peter Hurford and Mervyn Cousins.

The choirs opened the concert together with the Gloria from Haydn's 'St. Nicholas' Mass, also joining together to sing the spiritual 'I am his child' by Moses Hogan.

The concert was rounded off with organ solos fro the two conductors: Christopher Johns played Percy Whitlock's evocative 'Folk tune' while Christopher McElroy roused the audience with a transcription of War march of the Priests by Felix Mendelssohn.

MP supports cathedral choirs

Frank Field, MP for Birkenhead recently published an article praising the work of music and choirs in Cathedrals in England, both Anglican and Catholic.

Describing Cathedral choirs as a 'national musical treasure chest' the MP makes the case for Cathedral Academies as a model for future choir schools. In his article Frank Field holds up the Diocese of Leeds music program as an example of thinking for the future outside of the traditional 'choir school' approach.

With 35 schools now working in partnership with the Diocese, and upwards of 1500 children singing across West Yorkshire on a weekly basis, the Dioceses of Leeds music program is now the largest Cathedral/ Diocesan music program in the UK.

Torchlight procession

This week saw the revival of a long treasured occasion: the Batley torchlight procession. Torchlight processions are familiar to those who travel on Pilgrimage to Lourdes each year, but less common here in England.

The procession began with the singing of the 'new' Lourdes Hymn 'Holy Virgin, by God's Decree' which was followed by a welcome from Bishop Roche. The Homily was preached by Bishop Hopes, Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster and chair of the Bishops' Conference Liturgy committee.

The procession ended with solemn Pontifical Benediction in St. Mary of the Angels Church. As the procession entered the church the choir sang two contrasting settings of the Hail Mary: 'Bogoroditse Devo' from the All Night Vigil by Rachmaninov, and a setting in Latin by Victoria.

Benediction saw the singing of the traditional plainsong melodies of the O Salutaris and Tantum Ergo, alongside Palestrina's motet 'Adoramus Te.' The service concluded with all singing the seasonal antiphon to the Blessed Mother: Salve Regina.

All Saints choir hit the right note!

The Diocese of Leeds gave birth yesterday to yet another choir! The newly formed choir of All Saints Catholic College in Huddersfield made their first public performance on the occasion of the installation of Fr. Ian Smith as Parish Priest of Huddersfield North by Bishop Roche.


After only three weeks of rehearsals the choir acquitted themselves very well, singing a wide range of music ranging from a haunting setting of the beautiful 'Anima Christi' text, through to a contemporary setting of the Gloria by Bob Hurd - 'Missa Ubi Caritas' which is notable for the syncopated rhythms provided by the bongos and tambourine, expertly played by the schools music staff!


UPDATE - Article in the Huddersfield Examiner 'Going for Gold'

Cathedral Concerts

Each week, on Thursday lunchtimes, Leeds Cathedral host a wide variety of music concerts as part of the Cathedrals' outreach to the wider community.

These concerts feature both the organ, and other instruments and voices.

The coming terms program feature amongst others a return visit by the Leeds College of Music Sax ensemble, Bach flute sonatas, Unaccompanied Works for Violin & Cello and much more.

Concert begin at 1.10pm each Thursday, and are free. A retiring collection is taken at the conclusion of each concert.


We hope to see you there!

Requiem Mass for Jane Tomlinson

Friday 14th September saw the City of Leeds bid farewell to Jane Tomlinson, the lady who raised both money and support for others despite suffering for incurable cancer herself.

The Funeral was a high profile occasion, being broadcast live on BBC News 24 and Sky News and BBC Radio Leeds. News bulletins throughout the day also carried music and images from the Mass. The Mass was also broadcast on the big screen in Millennium Square in Leeds, where over a 1000 people gathered to give thanks for Jane's life.

The music was led by the Cathedral boys' and adult choir. Much of the music was chosen by Jane herself as it had been sung/ played at her wedding. The choir led the congregation in the singing of hymns such as 'Faith of our Father,' as well as the Latin plainsong Requiem Mass. During communion the choir sang Colin Mawby's powerful full setting of the Ave Verum.

Choir Chaplain celebrates 25 years ordained!

Mgr Philip Moger, Parish Priest of First Martyrs Church in Bradford, and Chaplain to the Bradford Youth Choir recently celebrated the 25th annivarsary of his ordination to the priesthood.

In addition to his pastoral duties, Mgr Moger is Chair of the Diocese of Leeds Liturgy Commission, and a great friend of the music department.


Ad Multos Annos Monsignor!


For a brief report and pictures, click here.

Popes' words on Choral Singing

Inspiring words from the Holy Father:

Pope: Choral Singing Educates for Peace

Calls It Training for LifeLORENZAGO DI CADORE, Italy, JULY 22, 2007 (Zenit.org).-

Benedict XVI says that choral singing is an authentic education in life and peace, and an exercise in the "hearing of the heart."

The Pope said this Friday following a concert in his honor performed by Alpine choirs at the Castle of Mirabello, near where he is vacationing until July 27.

"Training in singing, in singing in choir, is not only an exercise of the external hearing and voice; it is also an education of interior hearing, the hearing of the heart, an exercise and a education in life and peace," the Holy Father said in his improvised remarks.

"Singing together in choir and with other choirs together, demands attention to the other, attention to the composer, attention to the conductor, attention to this totality that we call music and culture. And," he added, "in this way singing in choir is a training in life, a training in peace, a walking together."

Seven different choirs from Cadore participated in the concert, offered by Bishop Giuseppe Andrich of Belluno-Feltre.

Before the beginning of the concert, Bishop Andrich spoke of the dramatic stage of the First World War in which the Dolomites were also a theatre.

The Pope too spoke of those dramatic moments "when this mountain was a barrier, a terrible and bloody theatre of war."

"Let us thank the Lord because there is peace now in our Europe and let us do everything to make peace grow in us and in the world," he urged. "I am certain that precisely this beautiful music is a commitment to peace and a help to live in peace."

3 Choirs concert in Huddersfield TH

In May, the BYC Girls performed at a 3 choirs concert in the magnificent setting of Huddersfield Town Hall.

Compared by John Pryce Jones, the concert featured the prize winning Oldham Youth Choir under the baton of their esteemed director, Dr. Eileen Bentley. The largest single choir was the Yorkshire Youth Choir who hosted the concert.

The choirs each performed 20 minutes alone, before combining in items by John Rutter, Barry Russell and Sir Charles Hubert Parry's coronation anthem 'I was Glad' in which the choirs were joined on the organ by Benjamin Saunders.

Below are photo's from the occasion:

Turbulent history..

Well, the Summer vacation is a go slow time for news of what's happening musically in the Diocese of Leeds. That will all change come September with some big events coming up, including 2 programs for BBC Songs of Praise. More about that soon!

In the meanwhile, here is a link to a history of the music at Leeds Cathedral, which as you can see, was rather turbulent at times. Thankfully Bishop Konstant's foresight in appointing a full time Director of Music for the Cathedral laid the foundations for what has today become the largest Catholic singing program in the UK.

Enjoy!

New Job Posting

We are looking for a new Choral Director to join our expanding music department. Please do spread the word!

The Diocese of Leeds has an innovative approach to liturgical music centred around its young people. (You may have seen the article in the Tablet 2 weeks ago.) The music programme currently involves 4 childrens choirs at the cathedral and 20 in Bradford. We wish to develop this outreach work from the Cathedral to more schools in the Diocese, particuarly in the areas of Huddersfield and Keighley, and as a result a new full time position is available

This post is funded by Diocesan schools, in conjunction with the Department for Education and Skills.

Diocese of Leeds Seeks Choral Director

To deliver a singing curriculum to children in both primary and secondary schools throughout the Diocese, as part of a well established outreach program.

circa £20.0k plus full pension package

An application pack is available from:

Benjamin Saunders

Director of Music
Cathedral House
Great George Street
Leeds LS2 8BE

Tel. 0113 244 8634

Email: music@leedscathedral.org.uk
Website: www.leedscathedral.org.uk www.bradfordyouthchoir.org

Closing date: 19th June 2007

Busy Summer for Boys

The Bradford Boys' Choir have a busy month ahead with both liturgical and concert performances across West Yorkshire.

This Sunday, the feast of Pentecost, the Boys will sing Mass at St. Peter's Church, Bradford. Music will include a Mass setting by Joseph Haydn, Peter Hurford's 'Litany to the Holy Spirit' and 'Come let us all this Day' by J.S Bach.

Then, from the sacred to the profane, the boys will particapate in a performance of Carl Orff's masterpiece 'Carmina Burana'. This takes place on Saturday 16th June at Leeds Town Hall. The boys will join the the Leeds Philharmonic Chorus, Leeds Cathedral and Leeds Parish Church Boys' choirs accompanied by the Airedale Symphony Orchestra under the direction of John Anderson.

Finally, to conclude the end of the first year of Christopher Johns' Directorship, the boys will sing at the Solemn Mass at Leeds Cathedral on Sunday 24th June at 11am.

Roll of Honour

Following this years success at the Wharfedale Festival, the BYC 'Roll of Honour' has been updated. Take a look here

Thus far we have had our choirs win prizes at two local music festivals, in addition to Yorkshire Martyrs taking the coveted 'Yorkshire Schools Choir of the Year' title for 2007.

Next year will hopefully see us venturing to other music festivals in the area, particularly the Mrs Sunderland competition in Huddersfield, and the Harrogate competition.

Wharfadale Festival Successes!

This years Wharfedale Festival of Performing Arts featured a record number of BYC schools: 10 in all! Between them, they competed in 6 classes singing 24 different pieces of music!!




All the BYC schools performed extremely well: for most, it was their first ever visit to a musical festival and they all thoroughly enjoyed the day.



Two trophy's will spend the next year in Bradford at St. Josephs Catholic College. The A P Farnum Trophy was awarded to St. Josephs for winning the School Choirs 13 and under class. In the same class, the recently formed St. Bedes Male Voice choir achieved a commendable 2nd place with their hearty rendition of 'You'll never walk alone.' St. Joseph's College Choir also claimed the The Elizabeth Ingle Memorial Trophy in the church music class, with a magical performance of Douglas Coombes 'Sing to the Lord of Heaven' (commissioned for last year's festival and premiered by Yorkshire Martyrs.)



Out of 8 choirs competing in the primary school class, 6 were led by BYC directors Christopher Johns and Christopher McElroy. All performed very well with many commendations: St. Walburgas picking up a creditable 2nd place to overall winners; Clayton CoE.

Joseph Update

Unfortunately the BBC Joseph Choir Search site is unable to cope with the 'phenomenal' number of visitors looking to vote, so they have closed it down until next Monday, 21st May. So Please be patient and cats your vote sometime next week..

As an update, St. Joseph's Bingley are currently 14th !!! (Which would put them in the top 20 that Andrew Lloyd Webber would judge.)

St. Walburgas are 199th.

The Telegraph and Argus on Tuesday published an article 'School choirs 'dream' of TV prime show slot!' about the four different Bradford schools that have all entered the competition.. Let's hope Bradford get a representative in the final 20!

Joseph Choir search

Unless you have a very active social life, you will probably have been watching BBC 1's 'Any dream will do' on a Saturday night. The idea behind the show is to find a 'Joseph' to star in the forthcoming West end run of 'Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.'

This program provides a very good role model for those of us working with children's singing, particularly for boys. It is good for boy's to see grown men singing, especially on such a prime time TV slot.

As part of the show, the program has organised a search for a primary school choir to sing on the final show, when the winning Joseph will be chosen. To enter a school has to record a 60 second selection from a medley of Joseph songs, and upload them on to the shows website. People are then invited to go on line a view the clips, and vote for the favorites!

Two of our BYC primary schools have entered - so please do go and vote for them! St. Josephs, Bingley can be found here, and St. Walburgas here.

Best of luck to both schools!

Schools Prom Pictures

In March, the BYC Girls performed at the City of Bradford Schools' Prom at St. Georges Hall - Bradford's premier venue for music and the arts.

Here are some more pictures of the choir taken on that evening:

Mozart Requiem

If you have seen the film 'Amadeus' then you will be familiar with the myths surrounding the composition and completion of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Requiem (1971.)

Yesterday saw the first in what is hoped will be a series of collaborations between the Leeds University Symphony Orchestra and the Choirs of Leeds Cathedral. A packed Cathedral yesterday witnessed a passionate performance of the Mozart Requiem conducted by Diocese of Leeds Choral Director, Christopher Johns.

The soloists were all drawn from the Cathedral choir itself: Laura Lamph (Soprano) Eleanor Corcoran (Alto) Peter Davoren (Tenor) and Dominic Rose (Bass.) The Cathedral Adult choir was joined by the Cathedral Boys' Choir for this performance.

Pictures were taken during the final rehearsal (hence the relaxed dress sense!) as not to disturb the actual performance!

BYC Gala Concert 2007

A packed house at St. Bedes Grammar school last night enjoyed the singing over 150 children from Bradford Catholic Secondary and Primary schools. Despite the warm climate in the Great Hall, the children managed to keep their cool (pardon the pun!) and give outstanding performances all around!

Here are a few pictures of the concert: more will be posted over the next few days when I got my breath back!

Holy Family, Keighley

Chris Johns and St Walburgas Primary School Choir

Soloist Djesi Kabeya with St. Cuthert and the First Martyrs Primary School Choir

The St. Bedes MVC on their Debut performance!

St. Anthony's Primary School, Shipley

St. Josephs Catholic College Choir

Yorkshire Martyrs Catholic College Choir,

YORKSHIRE SCHOOLS CHOIR OF THE YEAR 2006-2007

St. George

St. Georges Day, Patron Saint of England was this year marked by a very special Mass in Leeds Cathedral. The principal celebrant was HE, Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor, Archbishop of Westminster and president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England & Wales.

The Cardinal was joined by all the Bishops' of England and Wales who are currently in Leeds for plenary session of the Bishops' Conference. The Mass was offered for the intentions of our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, who recently celebrated his 80th Birthday.

The universality of the Roman Catholic church was acknowledged in the introit sung by the choir: Duruflé's setting of 'Tu es Petrus' - You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church. Following this, the choir, servers, concelebrating priests and bishops all processed into the Cathedral singing a 8 verses of the great Hymn 'For all the Saints.' The Mass was sung to Victoria's 'Missa O Quam Gloriosam,' with motets by Viadana and Colin Mawby. The service concluded with the rousing singing of the acclamations 'Christus Vincit!'

For a slideshow of pictures from the Mass, click here.

Celebrate Leeds 2007 Awards Dinner

The Bradford Girls' Choir returned to Leeds Town Hall last night to perform at the Celebrate Leeds 2007 Awards Dinner.

Over the last month, the girls have been working hard on learning sign language! At the request of the organisers, the choir sang 'What a wonderful world' in both song and sign language, led by

Terry Harton, Janet Scarfe and children from the Leeds Society for Deaf and Blind People.

The choirs performance was very well received, with the attendees praising the beautiful sound made by the choir.

3 Choirs concert

In May the Bradford Girls' Choir will join the Yorkshire Youth Choir and Oldham Youth Choir on the Stage of Huddersfield Town Hall for a concert in aid of the West Yorkshire Forget me not Trust.

Get your tickets now for what promises to be a very exciting evening of choral music sung by some of the North of England's finest young singers.