Newcastle, Hexham & Durham Gathering

Join fellow cathedral music lovers for a weekend of music and discovery in Newcastle, Durham and Hexham.

The Northern Cathedrals National Gathering will be based in Newcastle but will involve three sites. We meet at Newcastle Cathedral on Friday afternoon for a tour, a talk by Ian Roberts, Director of Music, and an organ recital.This will be followed by cream tea in the Cathedral Café 16 before observing the choir rehearsing for Evensong then the service. Those wanting to attend the Royal Northern Sinfonia’s concert at the Glasshouse in Gateshead in the evening can make the short walk over the river and find food at the venue before the concert begins. The concert programme features Ravel’s Mother Goose alongside other works by the composer, conducted by Dinis Sousa, with pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard.

On Saturday morning you will travel by coach to Hexham Abbey for a guided tour of the Abbey and Crypt, have coffee, and visit the exhibition before enjoying a presentation from the Abbey Music Department including a talk from Michael Haynes, Director of Music, and a short concert. After lunch in the Abbey Great Hall there will be some free time to explore the Abbey Grounds and the market town of Hexham. The coach will return to Newcastle in time for Evensong. The gathering dinner (view menu) will be served in the Nave of Newcastle Cathedral preceded by a drinks reception. We will be entertained after dinner by the Lay Clerks who will later sing at a candlelit service of Compline.

On Sunday, after morning Eucharist, you make your way either by car or train to Durham Cathedral where we will be provided with a soup and sandwich lunch in Durham Cathedral Chapter House and Prior’s Hall. There will be a tour of the cathedral in the afternoon followed by Choral Evensong sung by Durham Cathedral Choir. After Evensong there will be a short talk by Director of Music, Daniel Cook, about music in the cathedral followed by a farewell reception in the transept. Tea/coffee and cakes will be served and there will be an opportunity to meet clergy, music staff, choristers, lay clerks, chorister parents and alumni.