How we have helped

In 2022, we made a lasting impact on the lives of thousands of individuals involved in the UK’s vibrant choral tradition. We supported choirs and musicians at every stage in their journey, from education and engagement programmes through to early career training and scholarship opportunities.

Training & Education

Over 1,000 young choristers across the UK benefitted from a world-class music education through their choir in 2022. Through the funding of music lessons, as well as providing support for bursaries and choral/organ scholarships, children and young people from all backgrounds were able to participate.

Individual time with an experienced vocal trainer gives our choristers the very best opportunity to realise their vocal potential as well as building confidence with repertoire and performance challenges. We could never have considered this provision without your support, and we are so grateful.

Dr Elizabeth Stratford, Director of Music at Arundel Cathedral

Widening Participation

Well over 5,000 children and young people from all backgrounds engaged with singing sacred choral music in their cathedrals, churches and local communities, benefitting personally, socially and musically.

I loved the focus and professionalism of everyone involved. It really inspired me to take my own singing up a notch… This will definitely be near the top of my life-long achievements.

Gabrieli Roar Participant

Enriching Worship

In 2022, we launched the Church Choir Award in partnership with the RSCM to recognise and develop excellence in music-making by church choirs through the funding of imaginative new projects and initiatives.

In 2021 we became the first place of worship in Wales to hold regular choral services in the Welsh language. Our new choral scholars will help us to put Welsh on an equal footing with English in our music and better serve our community, where 80% are Welsh speakers. We are incredibly grateful to you for making this a reality.

Joe Cooper, Director of Music at St Deiniol's Cathedral, Bangor

Enhancing Excellence

We have supported 27 professional roles, from lay clerks to Assistant Directors of Music, and funded vital music department costs.

Salford Cathedral has undergone a musical renaissance since July 2020 and is now home to five choirs, offering a larger number of choral services. It is our ambition to establish a music department that becomes a centre of excellence for cathedral music in the North West. Your support will fund our choral scholars and enable an organ associate to join the team, as well as help us to buy much-needed sheet music. Thanks to this generosity, music at Salford will go from strength to strength.

Alex Patterson, Director of Music at Salford Cathedral

Research & Advocacy

We work in partnership with other charities to research and present an evidence-based case for cathedral music and musicians with senior policy makers, church leaders and funders. In 2022 this included a visit to the House of Commons with the RSCM to meet the Minister for Schools and an opportunity to lead a workshop at the National Cathedrals Conference in Newcastle on the role of music in cathedrals and its future.

The More Report should serve as a rallying cry; for cathedral music to survive, we all must work to make this world and its traditions accessible to everyone and appealing to the young people of today. Elite sport is a point of pride for our nation, steeped in history with roots running deep in schools across the country. Elite music should be just the same; not something to be feared, but something to celebrate, enhancing the lives of all involved.

Anna Lapwood, Organist, Choir Director & Ambassador of Cathedral Music Trust

See who we have helped in recent years

View recipients of our grants