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The Southern Cathedrals Festival, hosted at Winchester Cathedral last weekend, was a resounding success, bringing together the choirs of Salisbury, Chichester and Winchester Cathedrals. The festival showcased a range of musical talents and highlights, including a mesmerizing improvised organ soundtrack to the 1925 silent film Phantom of the Opera. Attendees were treated to a memorable experience with the opportunity to participate in a special ‘come and sing’ event featuring Faure Requiem conducted by the esteemed Bob Chilcott. The festival’s pinnacle was the grand concert on Saturday, where all three choirs delivered stunning performances of works by Stanford, Bairstow, Kerensa Briggs, and Philip Moore, accompanied by the Southern Cathedrals Festival Brass Ensemble alongside Claudia Grinnell and Joshua Stephens on the organ. It was amazing to welcome composers, including Philip Moore to the concert. The Festival concluded on Sunday afternoon at the final Evensong of the choir year, where we said goodbye and paid tribute to Claudia Grinnell and Andrew Lumsden.

There was very positive feedback about the Come and Sing led by Bob Chilcott.  Those taking part really enjoyed it, both the rehearsal workshop at St Lawrence’s and the performance.  It was ‘sold out’ as far as singers were concerned. 

This year’s programme was very varied, from the opening Phantom improvised organ recital by Jonathan Hope which really engaged the audience in the atmospheric setting of the Cathedral Quire, to the Come and Sing which saw singers join with the Cathedral choirs to experience the festival first hand. Both events were a new and successful innovation for the SCF. 

The Junior Choir concert also sold out. 

 The Fringe, as ever, was a great occasion for members of the Music Department to have fun at their own expense and show how talented they are not only at singing ‘serious’ music but also the lighter variety as well. 

Saturday’s final festival concert was very popular with some stand out performances, culminating in Philip Moore’s ‘At the Round Earth’s Imagined Corners’, the composer was in the audience and shared in the applause. The concert finished to a standing ovation.

The standard, musically, of everything was outstandingly good this year, from the very young (Junior Choir), through both Verity and Lawrie Sawbridge’s Recital for Soprano and Piano to the Cathedral Choirs. The Services and concerts were well attended and received.

SOUTHERN CATHEDRALS FESTIVAL kicked off with the Festival Fringe on Wednesday night to sold out audiences, the Lay Clerks receiving standing ovations for their efforts.

Following the Festival Welcome Service on Thursday, sung by the Boy Choristers and Lay Clerks of Winchester, Jonathan Hope gave a thrilling recital of organ improvisation set to Lon Chaney’s 1925 ‘The Phantom of the Opera’, eliciting bold colours from the organ and lots of laughs from the audience.

On Friday, we welcomed Chichester and Salisbury to sing Mattins, featuring music by Ireland, Walton and Gibbons. Meanwhile, at St Lawrence’s Church, former-Chorister Verity and former-Quirister Lawrie Sawbridge gave a recital of music for piano and soprano. In the afternoon, Katherine Dienes-Williams (who will be playing an organ recital for us in the autumn term) gave a lecture on her experiences as a New Zealander in English Choral Music, while Bob Chilcott (composer, conductor and former King’s Singer) led a Come and Sing workshop ahead of the evening concert of Fauré’s Requiem. The Boy Choristers and Lay Clerks were honoured for the second time this year to sing for BBC Choral Evensong, alongside their Salisbury and Chichester counterparts. All of Bob Chilcott’s hard work cam to fruition in the evening with a beautiful performance of Fauré’s Requiem with solos by Ruby, Annie and Eira and Mr Gallear and Mr Wilson-King.

Saturday morning saw a Festival Eucharist of the massed choirs, featuring the Cantus Missae by Rheinberger, led by Miss Grinnell. The combined choirs filled the space with rich, resonant tones, creating an uplifting and deeply spiritual experience for all who attended. In the afternoon, as the massed Cathedral Choirs rehearsed, a number of other concerts took place over at St Michael’s Church. The Junior Choir, led by Mr Burton, sang a concert of spirituals alongside children from local schools who have been part of the Cathedral’s outreach project this term. Later the Chamber Choir, led by Mr Stephens, gave a thrilling recital of music by English composers from the renaissance to the present day. 

The SCF culminated in the Festival Concert, a stonking performance of music with the Southern Cathedrals Festival Brass Ensemble. It began with the favourite Winchester Te Deum by Sir John Rutter, followed by a collection of pieces featuring prayers by Jane Austen set to music by living female composers. Also featured in the concert were anthems by Bruckner, Stanford and Bairstow, led by the DoMs from each cathedral, Dr Lumsden, Mr Harrison and Mr Halls and Kerensa Briggs’ anthem O nata lux which was commissioned for the 25th anniversary of our Girl Choristers earlier this year. Interspersed with these pieces were interludes by the Festival Brass Ensemble who gave thrilling renditions of music by Berkeley and Sam Toth and Gigout. The concert culminated in Mr Irwin’s incredible solo in Moore’s At the round earth’s imagined cornerswhich was first commissioned for the SCF and premiered in Winchester in 2011. With trumpets dotted around the cathedral, evoking the angels standing at the corners of the earth, the choir, organ and brass ensemble created a fizzing atmosphere throughout the Nave with the final words from John Donne’s sonnet ’The trumpet shall sound… and we shall be changed’.

The Southern Cathedrals Festival, a hallmark event for choral music enthusiasts, unfolded in a splendid array of performances from July 10th to 14th.  Taking place at Winchester Cathedral, this year’s festival showcased the extraordinary talents of the Winchester, Salisbury, and Chichester Cathedral choirs and also marked significant farewells, making it a memorable gathering for all attendees. 

Day one saw the festival kicked off with a lively Festival Fringe event. The night of comedy, helmed by the Director of Music, Organist, and Lay Clerks of Winchester Cathedral, set a joyous tone for the days to come. The audience was treated to a blend of humour, musical talent and even a pantomime horse.

On day two the Service of Welcome and Blessing filled the cathedral with profound musical expressions. The repertoire included a rapturous setting of the 150th Psalm by C.V. Stanford, James MacMillan’s “A New Song,” and Ralph Vaughan Williams’ “Antiphon.” These selections resonated through the sacred space, enveloping the congregation in a serene and reflective ambiance. In the evening, Jonathan Hope, Assistant Director of Music at Gloucester Cathedral, captivated attendees with his organ improvisation accompanying the silent film “The Phantom of the Opera.” This fusion of visual and auditory art was a standout moment, blending tradition with innovation.

Day three was rich in musical diversity and intellectual engagement. The morning’s Choral Matins, performed by the choirs of Chichester and Salisbury Cathedrals, featured William Walton’s Jubilate and John Ireland’s Te Deum in F, among other pieces. The voices of the choirs soared, filling the cathedral with a sense of grandeur. In the afternoon, Verity and Laurie Sawbridge’s soprano and piano recital offered a more intimate musical experience. Their performance spanned a range of composers, from Purcell to Debussy, showcasing versatility and a profound connection to the music.

A talk by Katherine Dienes-Williams, Organist and Master of the Choristers at Guildford Cathedral, added a reflective dimension to the day. Her journey from being an organ scholar in Wellington, NZ, to becoming the first female organist at Guildford Cathedral in the old Winchester Diocese, provided inspiring insights into the evolving role of women in ecclesiastical music. The day culminated in a magnificent Choral Evensong by the combined cathedral choirs, featuring Charles Wood’s “Collegium Regale,” and a workshop with Bob Chilcott, culminating in a powerful performance of Fauré’s Requiem.

The festival’s momentum continued on day four, with a Festival Eucharist that featured music by Stanford and Josef Rheinberger, performed by the three cathedral choirs. The morning’s liturgical celebration set a reverent tone for the day. In the afternoon, the Winchester Cathedral Junior Choir and local primary schools, directed by Chris Burton, delighted audiences with their youthful exuberance. This was followed by a concert by the Winchester Cathedral Chamber Choir, directed by Joshua Stephens, highlighting the depth and skill of the cathedral’s musicians.

The evening’s Festival Concert, featuring the combined choirs and the Southern Cathedrals Festival Brass Ensemble, was a triumphant celebration of choral music. John Rutter’s “Winchester Te Deum,” Stanford’s “Ye Choirs of New Jerusalem,” and Philip Moore’s “At the round earth’s imagined corners” were performed with precision and emotion. The collaboration between the choirs and brass ensemble created a rich, layered sound that resonated deeply with the audience.

On day five the festival concluded with the Winchester Cathedral Foundation Day. The Festival Eucharist featured Flor Peeters’ “Missa Festiva,” followed by a poignant Choral Evensong. This was the final services for both Dr. Andrew Lumsden and Claudia Grinnell. Dr. Lumsden’s 22-year tenure as Director of Music at Winchester Cathedral was celebrated with heartfelt gratitude. His final Evensong, featuring Stanford’s evening service in A and Parry’s “Blest Pair of Sirens,” was a fitting tribute to his remarkable contributions. Claudia Grinnell, the Sub-Organist, also bid farewell, her performance adding to the emotional weight of the service. 

The Southern Cathedrals Festival 2024 was not just a series of concerts, it was a profound celebration of musical heritage and community, showcasing the individuals who bring these traditions to life. As the final notes faded, the legacy of Dr. Lumsden and the harmonious spirit of the festival left an indelible mark on all who attended. Winchester Cathedral echoed with gratitude and admiration of its community, celebrating a journey that transcends time and resonates with the soul.