BRADFORD BOYS' CHOIR               Past Events

Chrism Mass                                                                                    The first of the major Holy Week Liturgies was this year held at St Winefride's Church in Bradford whilst the Cathedral is undergoing restoration.  The music was led by the Bradford Boys' Choir and the Cathedral Adult Choir: the first time the boys have performed in the presence of the Bishop.  The Mass setting was the 'St Nicholas Mass' by Philip Duffy (former Master of the Music at Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral) alongside music by Handel and Mozart.

Boys Spread their Wings...                                                               It’s been a busy Autumn term for the Bradford Boys’ choir. As well as singing in Bradford and Ilkley they performed at two sell out concerts in Leeds and Huddersfield Town Halls. On December 5th they appeared in concert at Leeds Town Hall alongside the entire Leeds Cathedral choral foundation and the choir of Leeds Parish Church: a choir of nearly 150 people!  The concert was conducted by Benjamin Saunders (Director of Music for the Diocese of Leeds) and at the grand organ was Dr Simon Lindley, Organist of Leeds Parish Church and City Organist of Leeds.

In the week before Christmas, the entire Diocese of Leeds choral foundation once again presented a festive concert at Hudderfield Town Hall to a rapturous reception. Organist and compere Dr Gordon Stewart (Kirklees Borough Organist) was on sparkling form, with both organist and choirs performing carols from around the world to a capacity crowd

Recording Date!                                                                                On a cold December night, the Bradford Boys Choir joined the Leeds Cathedral Boys Choir along with the Cathedral Adult Choir, to spend two hours recording tracks towards a CD of Christmas Music.  The recording took place at Corpus Christi Church in East Leeds, a huge building with a fantastic acoustic.

The boys worked very hard that evening, not only singing extremely well, but learning to stand perfectly still and how to turn the pages of their music without making a single sound– as you might imagine, an incredibly difficult feat!

The CD is due to be released in November 2006– just in time for presents next Christmas!  Watch this space for further details.

Boys Sing at Bradford Parishes                                                        On October 9th, Mass at St Joseph's church in Bradford was sung by the newly formed Bradford Boys' Choir, joined by Leeds Cathedral Adult Choir. Directed by Chris McElroy, the boys' choir is a partnership between the Catholic primary and secondary schools in Bradford, and forms one of the many new Catholic choirs for young people in Bradford known collectively as the Bradford Youth Choirs. Singing the 'St Nicholas Mass' by Joseph Haydn, October 9th marked the boys' first full sung mass - a special and historic occasion for the rebirth of Catholic music in Bradford.

On November 20th (Feast of Christ the King) the boys’ choir again sang at Mass, this time at the Church of the First Martyrs in Heaton. Here they were joined not only by the Cathedral Adult choir, but also by the Harrogate Boys’ choir. Musical highlights included Handel’s Coronation Anthem ‘Zadok the Priest’ and the triumphant acclamations ‘Christus Vincit!’ The only downside of the day was that the planned football match between the Bradford and Harrogate boys had to be postponed due to a frozen pitch – it is hoped that the match will be rescheduled in the New Year – watch this space!

The first Sunday of Lent (5th March 2006) saw the boys choir sing at St Francis Church in Bradford.  The Mass was sung to the Missa Brevis of Joseph Haydn, alongside other music that included 'The Lords Prayer' from the African Sanctus by David Fanshawe, and 'Sicut Cervus' by Giovanni da Palestrina.