The critically acclaimed Manchester Cathedral Choir is part of the historic fabric of the city of Manchester. It has been in existence for over five hundred years and consists of up to twenty choristers (girls and boys aged 8–13 years) and lay clerks, who are among Manchester’s leading professional male singers. The choir has sung for the recent visit of the archbishops of Canterbury and York to Manchester, visits by Her Majesty the Queen in 2002 and 2007, and other high profile occasions at the Cathedral. BBC Radio 3 broadcasts Choral Evensong from Manchester Cathedral on a regular basis and the choir have made a number of recordings and numerous radio and television broadcasts. The choir also tours to sing in other venues around the UK and abroad. The activities of the choir contribute greatly to Manchester’s historic and musical credentials and do much to raise the profile of Manchester as one of the UK’s destination cathedral cities. The choir is directed by Manchester Cathedral’s Organist and Master of the Choristers, Christopher Stokes, and the choristers are all educated at Chetham’s School of Music.

Photo: Derrick May