A Choral Tradition Spanning Over Four Decades
The Abbey Gate College Chapel Choir was founded in 1984, marking its debut with a memorable Evensong at Tewkesbury Abbey. From those early beginnings, a proud tradition was established: an annual week-long tour, initially to English cathedrals and later extending further afield. Over the years, the choir has travelled internationally, singing in the USA and across Europe, including Belgium, Holland, France, Germany and Austria.
Across the past 40+ years, the Chapel Choir has sung in most English cathedrals, with a particularly notable milestone being its annual Evensong at St Paul’s Cathedral, London – a tradition upheld continuously since 1987.
Closer to home, the College holds two services each year at Chester Cathedral, both led by the Chapel Choir and firmly embedded in the musical life of the school.
In recent years, the choir has performed in Hereford, St David’s, Llandaff, and Edinburgh, singing formal services of professional standard repertoire in each location. Looking ahead, an exciting Northern France tour is planned for the Summer, with performances in several beautiful venues and also including a visit to Mont Saint Michel.
Throughout its history, the Chapel Choir has developed an extensive repertoire of sacred choral music, ranging from smaller Renaissance motets to substantial works such as Ireland’s ‘Greater Love’ and Stanford’s ‘For Lo I Raise up’, both performed today, a fitting reflection of the choir’s musical breadth and heritage.
If you would like to listen to or purchase recordings of the Abbey Gate College Chapel Choir performances over the decades, please follow this link.
