On Sunday 18 October, musicians from the Dioceses of Leeds and Hallam, together with students from the University of Texas El Pas (UTEP), filled St Marie’s Cathedral in Sheffield with glorious choral music spanning the centuries.
The UTEP Chamber Singers and Trombones were in their sixth residency at Leeds Cathedral - spending a week working with the cathedral choirs and visiting schools in the Diocese of Leeds Schools Singing Programme for workshops and performances. Led by Dr Elisa Wilson and Dr Steve Wilson, the UTEP musicians brought a distinctive collaboration of voices and brass reflecting the cultural richness of the US-Mexico border region and the similar diversity of Leeds Cathedral’s own choir.
After singing for the 11am Holy Mass in Leeds, the Senior Boys Choir, Schools Scholars and Choral Scholars of Leeds Cathedral Choir rushed to Sheffield with their partners from UTEP, arriving to rehearse in the beautiful St Marie’s - a first visit for almost all of the singers. Diocesan Director of Music and National Schools Singing Programme consultant Thomas Leech was delighted that young singers from Hallam’s own Schools Singing Programme were able to join them: ‘This wonderful performance spanned so many stages of young people’s positive engagement with the music of the Church - from their joyful beginnings in the schools programmes of Hallam and Leeds, to the amazing commitment displayed by the cathedral choristers, and the achievements of the university students pursuing their musical studies.’.
Similarly impressed, Chris Edge (Choral Director, Diocese of Hallam) reflected that ‘the two visiting choirs were phenomenal and I enjoyed the programme tremendously. My young Junior Choir certainly has something to aspire to now!’.
The concert featured sacred repertoire from the 16th century to the present day - English renaissance polyphony alongside music from the Spanish siglo de oro, together with Haydn and Mozart, and brilliant contemporary arrangements performed by the UTEP singers. The children from Hallam’s Schools Singing Programme had the chance to sing with the UTEP tenors and basses, and performed a beautiful motet by one of the Diocese of Leeds Choral Directors, Oliver Heath.
Diocesan Director of Schools for Hallam, Rachel Rouse, said ‘This was a great example of the progression routes the Schools Singing Programme provides - from whole-class singing to professional-level performance, all centred on providing formation through sacred music. It was amazing to see the achievement of the Leeds singers, and to think that growing numbers of our own pupils are now on that journey’.
A tired but delighted group of singers headed back to Leeds having thoroughly enjoyed their visit to Sheffield Cathedral and grateful for the warm welcome they received from Chris Edge and his young singers.
Find out more about the National Schools Singing Programme
