UK’s top choral director to work with the cathedral children’s choir
Observe a rehearsal of the Young Choristers directed by one of the UK's top choir directors
What: Observed workshop with Simon Johnson (Westminster Cathedral) and Christ Church Cathedral’s Young Choristers
When: Saturday, May 28, 10.30 a.m. -12.00 p.m.
Where: Christ Church Cathedral (Chapel of the New Jerusalem)
Tickets: $75 for event and reception (includes $50 charitable receipt) BUY TICKETS HERE
Founded in 1903 and comprising 20 boy sopranos and altos aged 8 to 13, together with ten professional adult singers, the Westminster Cathedral Choir is the only catholic cathedral choir in the world to sing daily mass and vespers, in addition to a busy schedule of concertizing and recording. In September 2021, Simon Johnson moved from his position as Organist and Assistant Director of Music at St Paul’s Cathedral, London to the prestigious job of Master of Music at Westminster Cathedral. Later this month, the newly formed choir of boy and girl sopranos at Christ Church Cathedral will receive the opportunity of a lifetime: a chance to be conducted by this esteemed musician. Simon Johnson will be playing a recital on the cathedral’s organ on Wednesday, June 1 (featuring Prokofiev’s “Peter and the Wolf”) (Tickets Here).
But the weekend before, he’ll be taking a short break from his preparations to put our choristers through their paces. The morning’s event, a fundraiser for the choir’s tour to Edinburgh in 2023, is a unique opportunity to look inside the anatomy of a choral rehearsal. Johnson will work with the young singers for about 30 minutes, teaching them new warm-ups, working on repertoire and skills, and leaving them with a bit of that “secret sauce” which makes his choir in the UK one of the world’s best. We’ll also have an opportunity to hear a bit about the busy musical life of London’s cathedrals and ask questions about Simon’s experience of rebuilding the choral foundation post-pandemic. The morning will conclude with a reception of coffee and pastries.
