Cathedral Music Conference 2026
When: 17 & 18 September 2026
Where: Drapers' Hall, Coventry
What the Conference Will Explore
Bringing together researchers, practitioners, educators, musicians and policymakers, the conference will examine themes around cathedral music’s contribution to educational outcomes in their broadest sense, such as:
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Cognitive development and learning behaviours
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Academic attainment and progression
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Socio-emotional development and wellbeing
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Cultural, aesthetic and spiritual formation
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Personal development, identity and aspiration
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Lifelong engagement in learning and the arts
Beyond demonstrating impact, the event will provide space for critical dialogue, questioning assumptions, sharing evidence, and imagining sustainable futures for cathedral music as both educational practice and living heritage.
The conference will include keynote presentations from:
- From St Paul’s Cathedral, Andrew Carwood MBE, Director of Music, and William Bruce, Artistic Director of Choral Partnerships
- From the University of Reading, Dr Rebecca Berkley, Associate Professor in Music Education, SFHEA
- From the David Ross Education Trust, Simon Toyne, Executive Director of Music
Join the Conversation and Save the Dates
This conference offers a unique opportunity to gather those who shape, study and sustain cathedral music to consider its future together.
The full programme and speakers will be announced soon. If you would like to submit your own research for consideration, our call for papers is open until 10 April.
See here for further details: Call for papers
Booking for tickets to attend the conference will open on 13 April.
Register Your Interest
Be the first to hear when booking opens, speakers are announced and further details are released.
Register your interest to attend the conference here.
Look back at our 2024 conference details here: 2024 Conference
Call for Papers
Our Call for Papers is open until 10 April.
Find out more about areas of interest and how to submit your research for consideration. We invite proposals for contributions that engage critically, empirically or reflectively with the conference theme.