The Song School, St Asaph

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The Song School, St Asaph

Now home to the cathedral choir, this building was erected in 1810 as offices for the staff of St Asaph diocese. It incorporated parts of an earlier building. The building became the rehearsal venue for the cathedral choir in 2009, when the diocesan staff moved to the new office building a little to the west.

There are written records of a St Asaph Cathedral choir dating back to the late 13th century. Two of the choir’s leading musicians, the alto and tenor lay clerks, died on the same day in 1906, as you can read on our pages about the graves (outside the cathedral) of Charles Tomkinson and Miles Ralph Partington.

The choir’s purpose is to enhance worship in the cathedral. The choir plays a significant role in the cathedral’s liturgical and musical life.

The current boys’ choir was re-defined in 2004. The girls’ choir was formed in 2002 to offer girls a musical opportunity only previously offered to boys. Both choirs rehearse twice weekly and have various Sunday commitments at the cathedral. The boys sing Evensong on Mondays, the girls on Fridays. The choirs occasionally sing together, on major feasts.

Boy and girl choristers are drawn from all over the North Wales coastal area. The cathedral’s lay clerks regularly sing with both choirs, whose repertoire covers many styles and periods, from Gregorian chant to the present day.

The choirs have broadcast on national radio and television, live and in studio recordings, including BBC TV Songs of Praise programmes. They have released two CDs (available from the diocesan office), generously financed by the Cathedral Choir Association. One CD features Christmas carols, the other anthems for throughout the liturgical year.
To hear a clip (2min 15sec), press play: Or, download mp3 (2Mb)

The choirs have sung in concert alongside The King’s Singers during the North Wales International Music Festival. They led the music at the Inauguration of Glyndŵr University and performed in July 2012 for the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall.  

With thanks to Alan McGuinness, organist and master of the choristers

Postcode: LL17 0RD    View Location Map

To continue the Words & Music Tour, follow the path towards the cathedral then turn left. The translators’ memorial is in the grassed area. The QR codes are on the western gate into the cathedral grounds from High Street Navigation next button