Southern Cathedrals Festival returns to Chichester

The brilliance of our cathedral choirs as national treasures will be celebrated as the Southern Cathedrals Festival returns to Chichester.

Featuring the combined choirs of Chichester, Salisbury and Winchester Cathedrals, the festival rotates each year between the three cathedrals.

This year it is Chichester’s turn – the fourth time of organising it for Charles Harrison,

organist and master of the choristers at Chichester Cathedral since 2014.

“It is a wonderful reminder of the achievements of our cathedral choirs,” Charles says. “Our cathedral choirs are especially defined by the children, and it is a real endorsement and a real celebration of the achievements of these children. You've got children as young as nine or ten that are singing really complicated repertoire to a really professional standard, and they love it.

“There are challenges in preparing for it. It is certainly a lot of work. But they love the camaraderie. They love meeting their colleagues from other cathedrals, and it is refreshing for them to see that they are not alone. We work very intensively and it's fairly rarely that we get to interact with others. So this is great – great for us to know that we are not alone, that it is an endeavour that is going on around the country. It is affirming for us to know that we are part of a cultural national treasure.”

Charles added: “This is the fourth home festival for which I have been responsible, and it does get easier. I know what to expect and what questions need to be answered, and I know what members of the other choirs need and how they need to be looked after. That side gets easier.

“But preparing the music is always likely to be a challenge not least because we have got some demanding music, the kind of repertoire that we would not normally sing as a cathedral choir. One piece this year by Copland is In the beginning which is nearly 20 minutes of quite exposed unaccompanied music, a setting of the Christian creation. It is quite a challenge.

“We have got two big choral concerts, one on Friday and one on Saturday featuring different combinations from the three cathedral choirs, boys, girls and adults. There are a lot of different permutations, but what it gives us is a bigger palette of colour than we are used to. 30 or more years ago, there were just three cathedral choirs of boys and men. But now between us we have five choirs. We have different a vocal range and different levels of vocal experience. But every piece we do is a celebration of every member of the choirs, especially the children that work so hard to make this festival a success.”

As the Cathedral Choir School, Prebendal choristers will be fully immersed in the festival experience; performing, collaborating and worshipping alongside some of the country’s finest cathedral musicians.

Alison Napier, head of The Prebendal School said: “The Southern Cathedrals Festival is a highlight of the musical calendar, and we are immensely proud of our choristers who will be taking part this year. Opportunities like this sit at the heart of what we believe education should be, immersive, inspiring and rooted in real experience.”

“At Prebendal, we are committed to nurturing each child’s individual strengths, whether in music, sport, drama or academic endeavour. The festival is one example of how children are given the chance to thrive in areas they are passionate about, building confidence and a sense of belonging that lasts far beyond their time with us.”

Tickets through https://southerncathedralsfestival.org.uk/

The 2026 feature concerts are:

• Friday, July 17 – Wesley, Parry & Brahms. Chichester Cathedral Choir, and the combined girl choristers and lay clerks of Salisbury and Winchester perform a concert of choral music commemorating the 150th anniversary of the death of composer Samuel Sebastian Wesley. Also featuring music by Brahms and movements from Parry's Songs of Farewell. Doors open: 18.00. Concert begins: 18.30. Programme: Johannes Brahms – Warum ist das Licht gegeben; SS Wesley – Cast me not away from thy presence, Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, Blessed be the God and Father; CHH Parry – Selection from Songs of Farewell: - My soul, there is a country, - Never weather-beaten sail - There is an old belief, - Lord, let me know mine end.

• Saturday, July 18 – Vivaldi, Copland & Hussey. The combined choirs of Chichester, Salisbury and Winchester Cathedrals perform a concert of choral music featuring the Vivaldi Gloria, Aaron Copland's In the beginning, and a new commission by Christopher Hussey with text by Rowan Williams. With orchestra Southern Pro Musica and soloists Natasha Page, Belinda Williams and Jessica Gillingwater. Doors open: 18.00. Concert begins: 18.30. Programme: Antonio Vivaldi – Gloria; Henry Purcell – Movements from King Arthur; Aaron Copland – In the beginning; Christopher Hussey – Songs from the Temple.

Illumination No. 1: Man (SCF Commission 2026)

Also coming up:

• Talk: Alan Thurlow in Conversation with David Riley, Thursday July 16, 12 noon. Alan Thurlow (organist at Chichester 1980-2008) speaks with Chichester Lay Vicar David Riley, as he prepares to retire after 35 years' service.

• Organ Recital – Markus Eichenlaub, Thursday July 16, 8pm, Chichester Cathedral (Quire). Celebrated German organist Markus Eichenlaub (Organist, Heidelberg Jesuit Church) performs in Chichester Cathedral, playing music by Bach, Heredia, Müthel, Karg-Elert, Cochereau, Bossi and Whitlock.

• Song Recital: A Woman's Life – Natasha Page and Ella O'Neill, Friday, July 17, 2pm, Pallant House Gallery, North Pallant, Chichester. Soprano Natasha Page and pianist Ella O'Neill perform Schumann’s song cycle Frauenliebe und -leben together with other complementary works in the stunning surroundings of Pallant House Gallery.

• Late Night Piano Recital: Tim Rumsey, Friday, July 17, 9pm, Chichester Cathedral (South Transept). Pianist Tim Rumsey gives a late-night piano recital in the intimate space of Chichester Cathedral's South Transept, performing music by American composers Charles Griffes and Earl Wild.

• Chamber Recital: Duo Dorado, Saturday, July 18, 3pm, St John's Chapel, St John's Street, Chichester. Violin and harpsichord ensemble Duo Dorado perform music by baroque masters including Bach and Vivaldi in St John's Chapel, Chichester.