Jeremy Pound takes a look at the history of Truro Cathedral Choir, ahead of their performance at King Charles III coronation <\/p>
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Truro Cathedral Choir dates back to the founding of Truro Cathedral itself, back in the 1880s.<\/p>\n
Today, the choir is made up of 12 adult singers, plus 34 boy and girl choristers. The boys are in school years 4 to 8 (9-13 years old) and the girls are in years 9 to 13 (14-18 years old). The adults sing in all services, with the boys and girls alternating. Situated in the heart of Cornwall, Truro is England\u2019s most southerly cathedral.<\/p>\n
We named Truro Cathedral Choir one of the best cathedral and abbey choirs across the UK<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n The choir sings Evensong in the Cathedral four times a week, and usually at Eucharist on a Sunday Morning as well \u2013 the Cathedral\u2019s website indicates whether it is boys or girls (or sometimes both) singing on each occasion. The choir also goes on tours, gives concerts and makes regular recordings, both on disc and for the radio.<\/p>\n Truro Cathedral choir will also be singing at King Charles III\u2019s coronation service<\/a><\/strong> on 6 May 2023<\/p>\n The current organist and master of the choristers (i.e. choirmaster) is James Anderson-Besant, who took over from Christopher Gray at the beginning of 2023.<\/p>\n Gray himself left to fill the vacancy at St John\u2019s College, Cambridge created by Andrew Nethsingha<\/a><\/strong>, recently appointed choirmaster at Westminster Abbey. Nethsingha is, in fact, also a former Truro Cathedral organist and master of the choristers, having held the post from 1994-2002.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Yes, and one notable feather in its cap is that this is where, on 24 December 1880, the first ever service of Nine Lessons and Carols was held. It was the idea of Edward Benson, bishop of Truro, who wanted an accessible service that might entice people out of the pub and into church on Christmas Eve.<\/p>\n The format was adopted by King\u2019s College, Cambridge at the end of World War I<\/a> <\/strong>and then became famous thanks to the BBC\u2019s Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols<\/a><\/strong> radio broadcast from King\u2019s College Chapel every Christmas Eve. Many choirs across the globe now also follow the same format.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Try In My Father\u2019s House<\/em>, the choir\u2019s 2017 recording of music by Philip Stopford. One of today\u2019s most accomplished choral composers, Stopford was himself organ scholar (i.e. organist) at Truro Cathedral from 1995-96.<\/p>\nWhen can I hear the choir sing?<\/h3>\n
Who is the choirmaster of Truro Cathedral Choir?<\/h2>\n
Does Truro Cathedral have a strong musical tradition?<\/h2>\n
What Truro Cathedral Choir recording should I listen to?<\/h3>\n