Diocesan Choral Festival

The Cathedral hosts the annual Peterborough Diocesan Choral Festival, usually held on the second Saturday in October each year.

Some 300-400 members of choirs from churches throughout the Diocese sing a Festival Evensong in the Cathedral at 6.00pm with the Cathedral Choir, preceded by regional rehearsals and a training day.

All Diocesan parish and benefice choirs are welcome to attend, and school and other choirs and local choirs from neighbouring Dioceses are also welcome to apply. The music is chosen to reflect the different make-up and abilities of choirs within the Diocese.

This includes some simpler items that can be used in all churches, and some more challenging pieces that become possible because of the large forces which gather together for the Festival. Rehearsals are held around the Diocese.

In the summer months a Preliminary Rehearsal is held, principally to introduce directors, organists and singers to the music, and indicate the manner of performance which will be adopted (tempi, scoring, style of singing, etc).

This is followed by a Training Day on a Saturday during which much of the music for the Festival is taught. The five Final area Rehearsals are held in September/October across the Diocese. Singers should attend at least one of these rehearsals. On the day of the Festival a rehearsal, attended by everyone, is held at 2.00pm in the Cathedral.

For more information, please visit the festival's website