Funding boost for 26 cathedral choirs

Nearly £450,000 distributed to enable choirs to expand their work with musicians and young people

Thanks to the generosity of our many friends and patrons, this year we’ve been able to support cathedral music-making in all its forms – from school engagement and chorister development programmes to paid adult positions – all essential to a thriving tradition.

What will the impact be?

Almost £450,000 awarded in grants

Assisting 26 choral foundations

Supporting 50 professional posts

Enriching over 250 weekly choral services

Impacting more than 1,000 young choristers

Highlights of this year’s grants include helping rebuild Sheffield Cathedral's music department (£30,000 over two years), investing in school engagement programmes in Newcastle (£21,500) and Bradford (£15,000) and enabling Welsh cathedrals to establish new lay clerk positions – in Bangor and St Asaph (£15,000 each). We’re also supporting Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral (£25,000) in developing a new choral/organ studentship pathway for former choristers.

View our full grants list

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT

It would simply not have been possible to make these transformational grants without your generosity – so, thank you for believing in the power of cathedral music to change lives.

We’re also indebted to the Friends of Cathedral Music and the Diamond Fund for Choristers who laid the foundations for this vital work. We’re proud to be continuing their legacy by enriching the present and securing the future of this great tradition.

BROADENING HORIZONS

“We could not sustain the high standard expected, nor include children from such a breadth of backgrounds, without your generous help. This grant will ensure that the choristers will build on their success both vocally and spiritually.” – St Davids Cathedral

“We want to ensure that family income and background is not a barrier to young people in Merseyside encountering inspiring choral music. The Cathedral Music Trust's grant ensures that this can remain the case, through your support of our outreach choirs.” – Liverpool Cathedral

“This funding will enable us to continue developing our schools outreach programme, increasing access to singing for those children who might otherwise never encounter it.” – Bradford Cathedral

Supporting Development

“This grant will allow us to develop pathways for our former choristers, enabling them to continue their involvement in cathedral music, and for the cathedral to benefit from their training, commitment and loyalty built up over their many years of service.” – Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral

“This grant will enable us to continue to provide the highest quality singing tuition to all members of our choirs.” – Worcester Cathedral

Edington Festival Award goes to Newcastle Cathedral

We’re grateful to the Edington Music Festival – the oldest festival of music within the liturgy in the world – whose £3,000 award has allowed us to grant a total of £21,500 to Newcastle Cathedral.

“This grant will enable every child here to receive individual singing tuition from an expert teacher, whilst also revolutionising our Organ and Choral Scholarship programmes.”

A lifeline for Sheffield

“Sheffield Cathedral is on a musical journey, taking singing into schools to re-invigorate local music making, and to develop cathedral choirs which truly represent the diverse communities we serve. Music-making helps children to build confidence and to thrive. We are delighted Cathedral Music Trust are supporting us on this journey.”

Grants by location

Explore our grants map

What's next for cathedral music?

Following the publication of the ground-breaking report into the Future for Cathedral Music in September 2022, we’ve undertaken extensive research to identify gaps in provision for cathedral musicians of all ages. In response, we’re in the process of developing a number of educational initiatives aimed at opening up pathways into choristerships for young people of all backgrounds, and supporting the development of early career conductors, singers and organists across the country – inspiring the next generation.

We’ll be announcing the recipients of the Church Choir Award 2023, in partnership with the RSCM, in the coming months. The purpose of the award is to recognise and develop excellence in music-making by church choirs through the funding of imaginative new projects and activities.

Would you like to help more choirs flourish?