A Year of Musical Opportunities Culminates in New Choir CD

Published December 2025

This article by our Director of Music, Ian Roberts, was originally published in the Winter 2025 edition of Link, the quarterly magazine for the Diocese of Newcastle, available now from the Cathedral…

Choral music lies at the heart of worship at Newcastle Cathedral. On most days, the walls resound with song led by the Cathedral Choir – independent lines of boy and girl choristers supported by Lay Clerks and Choral Scholars.

This year has been particularly exciting. The choir has recorded a brand-new album, ‘O Nata Lux’, featuring music for Advent, Christmas and Epiphany, and they shared their gifts nationally in a live choral evensong broadcast on BBC Radio 3 for Easter Day.

Central to our mission is ensuring that the musical, cultural and spiritual education we offer remains accessible to children from all backgrounds across the city and region. So, how can young people begin their journey into Cathedral music?

Small Sounds, supported by the Cathedral Music Trust, offers an introduction to music-making for children aged 0–5 and their grown-ups. These joyful sessions take place every Tuesday in term time at 10:15am, providing a welcoming space to sing, play and connect.

For children in Reception to Year 2, ChoriStarters meets every Wednesday in term time from 4:10–4:50pm. Led by professional musicians and educators, these fun gatherings help young singers develop musical skills, confidence and friendships through the joy of singing.

Older children benefit from our Schools Singing Programme, which brings chorister training directly into a diverse range of classrooms. Complementing this, initiatives such as Cambiata Voices – a pioneering choir supporting boys in Years 9-13 as their voices change – allow even more pupils to experience the Cathedral’s rich choral tradition.

Children from schools not yet involved are welcome to email music@newcastlecathedral.org.uk to arrange a solo audition.

Beyond school-age children, our Lay Clerks and Choral Scholars – including students from Newcastle, Durham and Northumbria Universities – are an integral part of the Cathedral’s musical life. Our collaboration with local schools and universities also extends to our Organ Scholarship, run jointly with St Andrew’s Church and Newcastle University, and we recently welcomed our first junior organ scholar.

Through our ongoing ‘Not Just a Pipe Dream’ Organ Appeal, we are committed to preserving and enhancing this magnificent instrument, ensuring that future generations can learn, perform and be inspired by its extraordinary sound.

‘O Nata Lux: Music for Advent, Christmas and Epiphany’ is available to purchase for £12.99 from the Cathedral’s retail space and online as a digital download via iTunes and Amazon Music.