There are opportunities throughout the year for choirs to come and sing services at Southwark Cathedral
We are very pleased to welcome a wide range of external choirs to the Cathedral as part of our wider music programme, including many overseas choirs who enjoy visiting Southwark for one or more days as part of their trip to the UK. School choirs, choral societies, scratch singing groups and chamber choirs are all very welcome to enquire about singing as a visiting choir in the Cathedral and contributing to our communal life.
During term-time, when the Cathedral Choir is in residence, we are usually only able to offer visiting choirs the chance to sing Choral Evensong on Wednesdays at 5.30pm or on Saturdays at 4.00pm.
During choir holidays (from mid-July to early September; late October; early January; the middle week of February; two weeks after Easter Sunday; the last week of May) we welcome visiting choirs on any day and especially on Sunday to sing at the Choral Eucharist at 11am, Choral Evensong at 3pm and to provide an organist and/or choir for the service at 6pm (on the 4th Sunday of each month only). Choirs are also welcome to apply to sing a 'residency' of more than one day. Though we are unable to offer to pay fees or expenses we are able to offer a choir the opportunity to sing in a beautiful building with a wonderful acoustic in central London, and may also be able to help your choir arrange a recital in the Cathedral during your visit.
We provide rehearsal time on the day in the Cathedral and the exact timing of this is arranged when a choir makes a booking with us. Choirs are also free to suggest their own choice of music in consultation with the Cathedral's Director of Music.
If you are interested in bringing a choir to the Cathedral please contact the Music Administrator by email or telephone 020 7367 6723.
You can also download further information here.