Sing Up in the Cathedral!

The joyful voices of over 60 children from diocesan schools flooded Leeds Cathedral on the evening of April 23rd in the first of a series of ‘Sing Up!’ concerts.


Children from Holy Rosary and St. Anne’s Primary, Leeds; St. Benedict’s Primary, Garforth and St. Ignatius’ Primary, Ossett entertained their audience with a variety of songs from different cultures and languages, including Italian, Zulu and Polynesian. They were joined by choristers from the Cathedral’s own Boys’ and Girls’ choirs, who complemented the schools’ music with that of Pergolesi, Franck, and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s famous Pie Jesu. The children were also treated to hear the Cathedral Organ being played at full capacity by Christopher McElroy, the Assistant Director of Music at the Cathedral, who played J.S. Bach’s dazzling Toccata in D Minor.

The whole evening was topped and tailed by massed choir pieces, including Go Down Jonah from Jonah Man Jazz, the musical cantata by Michael Hurd. Every song was sung from memory; the effort, discipline and enthusiasm of every child was outstanding and made the evening into a very enjoyable event.

The concert was introduced by Mgr Michael Mcquinn, Vicar General, who welcomed the children and their families to the ‘mother church’ of the Diocese.

The concert, directed by Charlotte Kitson, (Choral Director for the Diocese of Leeds) forms part of the Cathedral’s commitment to the ‘Sing Up!’ programme, facilitated by the Government’s Department for Children, Schools and Families. The aim of the programme is to make singing central to children’s lives in school, in the home and in the wider community. Have you ever noticed how easy it is to learn things when you sing them?

Cathedral Choirs are becoming increasingly involved with promoting singing and instrumental playing in their locality and are at the forefront of the ‘Sing Up!’ campaign to boost singing in primary schools. The Diocese of Leeds operates the largest Catholic youth singing program in the UK, with over 1000 children taking part in singing each week!

The next ‘Sing Up!’ concert will take place on Tuesday 17th June in the Cathedral, and will feature six primary schools from the Kirklees area, joined by the choir of All Saints’ Catholic College, Huddersfield a few weeks before they travel to compete in the World Choir Olympics in Austria!

Photos: © Patrick Sice