Who are we?
Our choir has gathered nearly every Summer since 1979 (since 1985 as ‘The Cathedral Chamber Choir’ – see below) to sing daily choral services for in British Cathedrals and Abbeys, together with some weekends, usually during half-term periods. Choir members are based all over the UK and even further afield – we are brought together by a love of creating beautiful music to a high standard. The choir does not belong to any particular church, geographical area or denomination. Weekday and Sunday evening services in Cathedrals use the 1662 Book of Common Prayer liturgy.
Singing Standards and Auditions
Members of The Cathedral Chamber Choir come from across the UK to sing together. Other choirs that visit cathedrals might have local or regional memberships and meet regularly to rehearse for a visit. We only rehearse our music when we meet and some of it will be new each time. Our singers must be competent sight readers, with a good blended tone and well-used to singing in choirs. Solo parts are sometimes allocated by audition on the day. Our Director may ask new singers to sing something, so that they can assess the most appropriate place for them to stand when rehearsing and and singing services.
The Choir’s Registered Name…
Although the choir first sang from 1979 as ‘The Martin Hall Singers’ in 1985 we renamed ourselves as The Cathedral Chamber Choir registering the title in 1987 with The UK’s Charity Commission. We have registered our Choir Constitution with the Commission.
We wanted a name for the choir that described what we do and which ensured that wherever we go to sing, we can provide a natural and unobtrusive background to the music and liturgy in a place of worship, without drawing too much attention to ourselves as a group. It is the cathedral and our contribution to its worship that should always be the focus for its visitors and congregation – not the choir.
The Choir’s ‘Cathedral’ Logo
Our logo was designed for us many years ago. We wanted a drawing that was not of an actual cathedral but had all the aspects that you would expect to see in one. Our logo is a sketch rendering of Old St Paul’s Cathedral which was completely destroyed in The Great Fire of London in 1666. We have used it ever since.
The Cathedral Chamber Choir 