Other Old Choristers' Associations
The Cathedral Choir had a very successful tour to Normandy and Paris during July.
Seventeen choristers, twelve adults, the organists and pastoral staff had a six-day tour to the Cathedral's link diocese of Bayeux-Lisieux, and Paris.
They gave concerts of mixed programmes of anthems to large and very appreciative audiances at:
The Precentor wrote in Cathedral News (25th July 2025): "... that the acoustics in the churches were a revelation to many of the choristers, who revelled in hearing their voices resonate for many seconds, in contrast to Exeter’s drier ambience. But of course, the social aspect of the tour was as important as the music-making. There were trips to the Bayeux Tapestry, the new British Normandy Memorial, the Musee d’Orsay, the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame and a river cruise on a bateau-mouche. In addition, there were some super meals, and choristers were impressively adventurous in trying new foods: moules frites Normandaise (in cider) was a firm favourite!"
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(photographs: Exeter Cathedral News, 25 July 2025)
The tour was organised by Rayburn Tours and transport was by Blakes Coaches.
All are on Thursday evenings, starting at 7.00 p.m.
You've missed some already, but there are still:
Information and Tickets via Cathedral website
The Cathedral gave heartfelt thanks and said farewell to several choristers, members of the back row and this year's Organ Scholar, during and after Valedictory Evensong on Thursday 10th July.
Choristers: Year 8 - Arabella, Beatrice, Cecily, Freddie, Henry, Maria, Rose, William. Year 6 - Noah.
Choral Scholars: Adam Warne (Decani Bass, 2023-2025); George Haymes (Cantoris Tenor, 2024-2025); Joseph Ward (Cantoris Bass, 2021-2025); Rowan Atkins (Decani Alto, 2024-2025).
Lay Vicar: Alice Risdon-Osborne (Decani Alto, 2023-2025, choral scholar 2019-2022)
Organ Scholar: Adam Field (2024-2025)
Service:
Responses: Michael Walsh
Hymn: Angel-voices ever singing
Psalms for the day: 53, 54, 55
First Lesson: read by Lay Vicar Alice Risdon-Osborne
Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis: Dyson in D.
Second Lesson: read by chorister Freddie.
Anthem: Handel - Zadok the Priest
Hymn: The day thou gavest, Lord, is ended
Hymn: How shall I sing that Majesty
Anthem: Harris - Bring us, O Lord God
Voluntary: Howells - Psalm-Prelude Set 3, No. 3
A stunning performance of Haydn's Nelson Mass was given by the Cathedral Choir, 25 members of the Exeter Cathedral Chamber Orchestra and soprano solist Julia Featherstone, at Sunday morning Eucharist on 6th July, as the near-annually held orchestral mass in the last Sunday of the singing term.
Photo: rehearsal before the service
Programme of the day:
- Practice in the Cathedral
- Choral Eucharist: OCs joined the Cathedral Choir
Mass: Schubert in G
Anthem: Locus Iste - Anton Bruckner
- Cooked Lunch at the Chantry
- Rehearsal in the Cathedral
- Evensong: OCs joined the Cathedral Choir to sing:
Introit: Give me my scallop-shell of quiet - Andrew Millington
Canticles: C. V. Stanford in C
Anthem: I Was Glad - C. H. H. Parry
- Devon cream-tea reception in the new Cloister
- ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (Chapter House)
- Dinner at Mercure Southgate Hotel, Exeter
Award of ECOCA Vice-President to: Rev. Canon Carl Turner, Precentor of Exeter, 2001-2014
Guest speaker: Katherine Dienes, Organist and Master of the Choristers at Guildford Cathedral
Photo gallery available here
(please send any photos that you have to ecoca.exeter@gmail.com)
The current choir's Exeter Cathedral Choir Association has an essential aim of raising money for enrichment activities for the choristers and to help fund choir tours. You can support this at no cost to you, by simply doing your online shopping using 'Easyfunding'
https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/exetercathedralchoirassoc/
Over £1,500 has been raised so far this way!