Vision for Music

The cathedral is extremely proud of its 900 year choral heritage, and we care deeply about preserving our standards of excellence in choral music.

Our vision for the choral foundation at Winchester is based in the principle that we will cherish the traditions we have inherited and ensure the highest standards of sacred music offered daily. Strengthening the existing foundation will inspire more people to come and sing in a developing range of choirs for different ages and widen our service to our community.

Here we give you a broad overview of how we plan to achieve that.

Our vision for music starts with celebrating and strengthening the traditional heart of our choral foundation, consisting of boy and girl choristers, lay clerks and other professional adult musicians, led this year by our interim Director of Music, Andrew Lucas.

Alongside daily choral services, we will continue to develop our existing programme of singing engagements at local schools enabling more children to benefit from the wealth of opportunities we have to offer.

Working with our partners and stakeholders, we will engage communities more widely to recruit into our Boy and Girl Choristers, Junior Choir and Youth Choir. We will recruit similarly into our adult voluntary choirs.

Singing in a cathedral choir offers a truly transformative experience for children and young people. Beyond the academic benefits of school, extracurricular activities like choral singing provide invaluable opportunities for personal growth and development. The inspiring setting of Winchester Cathedral, with its rich history and spiritual significance, creates a unique and enriching environment for young musicians to learn and flourish.

Choral singing fosters the development of confidence, responsibility, teamwork, and discipline. It also cultivates a deep appreciation for music, culture, and the arts. The experience of performing in a cathedral, surrounded by the beauty and grandeur of the space, is incredibly inspiring and empowering for young people.

We are committed to seeking opportunities for celebration, recording and touring for the enrichment of our Choir at Winchester and continuing the reputation of world-class musicianship and connecting to wider musical communities.

We will invest further in our live-streaming resources so that more people worldwide can join in Cathedral music and worship and benefit from its comfort and inspiration.

We will continue to offer talented children and young people a range of choral opportunities, through choristerships, the Junior Choir and our choral outreach projects in collaboration with local schools, and by developing Youth Choirs.

We are committed to nurturing and growing our Cathedral adult voluntary choirs, ensuring they continue to thrive and inspire our vibrant singing communities.

We will further develop the Chamber Choir, strengthening musical output, diverse repertoire, and continue to actively seek outward-facing performance opportunities, reaching wider congregations and audiences. Likewise, we are dedicated to expanding our Nave Choir through recruitment and inclusive practices, fostering a renewed sense of community and purpose.

We will work closely with all those engaged in the musical life of the Cathedral, including chorister families, to take forward and deliver our vision together.

1. We will continue to champion excellence
2. We will invest more in recruitment of choristers and the chorister experience for both boys and girls
3. We will continue our special relationship with the Pilgrims’ School in its education of our boy choristers
4. We will invest more in bursaries, music and activities for girl choristers
5. We will continue to remunerate our professional musicians competitively and maintain a reputation as a sought after employer
6. We will fill all vacant music posts as soon as possible, but not at the expense of rigour and excellence
7. We will develop our young voluntary choirs and continue to develop the range of opportunities to sing so that everyone finds their place.
8. We will look to the musicians and Liturgy and Music department to play a part in the whole life of the Cathedral.

Thank you to those at the heart of the music and worship of Winchester Cathedral.

Thank you to all our musicians, children, young people and adults and their families.

Thank you to Andrew Lucas, Interim Director of Music for his invaluable expertise and support as we look to appoint a new permanent Director of Music.

Thank you to our Virgers and the Liturgy and Music Department and to all who support and enable their work.

Chapter commends this vision and invites you to be part of this great and joyful work of faith, hope and love.

1. Join a Cathedral choir
   The Cathedral Choir / Chamber Choir / Nave Choir / Junior Choir 
2. Support your children to join a Cathedral choir
   The Cathedral Choir /Junior Choir  
3. Volunteer in the cathedral
   Email sarah.williams@winchester-cathedral.org.uk for more information
4. Pray for our musicians and staff
   Email your prayers to pray@winchester-cathedral.org.uk   
5. Offer regular financial support
   For more information about ways to give, click here