New Children’s Choir sing together for first time at Newcastle Cathedral

Weeks of practice paid off when children from ten different primary schools came together for the first time as one united choir to sing in Newcastle Cathedral.

Formed as part of the National Schools Singing Programme (NSSP), the new Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle Children's Choir brought together 60 Year 3 and 4 pupils from primaries across the Bishop Bewick Catholic Education Trust, who sang at a Jubilate Deo event on Friday 5 December.

The participating schools included Our Lady and St Anne’s in Newcastle; Sacred Heart Primary and English Martyrs’, both in Fenham; St Bede’s in Denton Burn; St Bernadette’s and St Columba’s, both in Wallsend; St Cuthbert’s in North Shields; St John Vianney in West Denton; St Oswald’s in Gosforth; and St Teresa’s in Heaton.

“Jubilate Deo was not so much a performance as a celebration of a successful first term of the singing programme, and a chance for the children to experience singing in the Cathedral,” explained NSSP Choral Director Eimear Hurley, who has been delivering weekly 30-minute sessions at each school since the beginning of the academic year.

“The children have been taking part in singing sessions with me since mid-September, and have been learning the pieces we were singing since November.”

Accompanied by Cathedral organist David Allison, the young choir members sang songs including ‘Star Carol’ by NSSP Patron John Rutter, and ‘The Little Road to Bethlehem’ by Michael Head.

The success of the initiative means that two new choirs will launch in the new year, with each drawing members from the same 10 BBCET schools.

“I will be launching two new diocesan choirs in the new year, formed of boys and girls who take part in the schools programme – the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle Boys’ Choir and the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle Girls’ Choir,” continued Miss Hurley.

“There will be 25 to 30 in each choir, from Years 3 and 4, and I am inviting each of the ten partner schools to join.

“The choirs will rehearse on a weekly basis at the Cathedral, developing their vocal and musical skills. Once we have had some time to establish the ensembles, they will sing Mass at the Cathedral and at other Diocesan events.”

The NSSP has been running in Catholic and Anglican dioceses across the country since 2021, based on a model introduced by the Diocese of Leeds in 2003.

“Many children across England face barriers to accessing high-quality music education,” said Miss Hurley. “These include the cost of tuition and challenges with transport to and from activities.

“The Schools Singing Programme delivers regular, high-quality music education to children as part of their school day. This equity of provision is hugely important and can have transformative impacts on the lives of the children and young people – especially those who would not otherwise have these opportunities.”

“Building on this foundation of school-based delivery, the new diocesan choirs provide an opportunity for children with a particular aptitude for and interest in singing to extend their musical skills in a Cathedral choir context,” she added.

“Once established, they will enrich worship at the Cathedral, engaging families and communities from across the Diocese, and representing them in worship.

“As they develop, the choirs will become a vital and joyful part of liturgical life at the Cathedral.”