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!!