2026 Annual Reunion
Easter Monday 6th April
Evensong rehearsal - some of the singers, and later joined by the adults of the Cathedral Choir
One of the highest-ever attended Annual Reunions was celebrated on Easter Monday 2026. The Dean, Jonathan Greener, summed it all up so well in the Cathedral Newsletter of 10th April:
"...we welcomed back to the Cathedral our Old Choristers – as we do every year on Easter Monday. This year we reached a new record, at least in my time here [ECOCA web editor - and also in my time since 1976, with the possible exception of the 25 year anniversary in 1989], of 164 singers. [...] the sound was enormous, and inspiring. One of the things our Old Choristers’ festival shows is the impact of singing in the Cathedral Choir, where people learn not just musical skills, but an enthusiasm for music and an attention to detail, all of which last a lifetime.
It is also a real boost for our Choristers to welcome the returnees. Not only had they sung a full service on Palm Sunday followed by the St John Passion, but they had delivered no fewer than five choral services during the Triduum. They were understandably verging on the weary by the time Easter Monday morning arrived. [...] So not only are the choral reinforcements welcome, but the choristers want to prove that they are at least as talented and enthusiastic as their forebears. It was wondrous to watch them giving their all, and focusing intently on Timothy Noon, our Director of Music, who is second to none in drawing energy and life and beautiful music from the youngsters before him.
Although I’m not sure this is based on statistical evidence, we always claim this is the largest Old Choristers’ festival in the country – and it’s certainly hard to imagine anywhere with a greater, more enthusiastic crowd. We are as a Cathedral truly blessed to have this support from our Old Choristers and are very grateful both to the Committee for their immaculate organisation and to all those who give up their Bank Holiday Monday to travel to Exeter for a rip-roaring sing. Next year, do make a note to come along to the Cathedral on Easter Monday, and I imagine this year’s timings will continue: 11:30am for the Choral Eucharist and 3pm for Choral Evensong. But do arrive early for a decent seat at Evensong – on Monday we just managed to squeeze 390 people into the Quire (another record?), with a further 60 sitting in the nave. [editor - there were even congregation sitting on the altar and pulpit steps in the Quire!]
Programme:
10.30 Practice in the Cathedral
11.30 Choral Eucharist: OCs joined the Cathedral Choir for:
Mass: Missa Sancti Nicolai – Haydn
Anthem: Ave verum – Mawby
12.55 Cooked Lunch at the Chantry
14.00 Rehearsal in the Cathedral
15.00 Evensong: OCs joined the Cathedral Choir for:
Introit: Hail, gladdening light – Wood
Canticles: The Gloucester Service – Howells
Anthem: Blessed city, heavenly salem – Bairstow
16.00 Reception in the South Transept
17.00 Annual General Meeting (Chapter House)
19.30 Dinner at Mercure Southgate Hotel, Southernhay East
Guest Speaker: The Dean of Exeter, Jonathan Greener
Tea after evensong