Cathedral Choir Festival

February 14 & 15, 2026

St. James Cathedral is delighted to welcome singers from across the region to join us for the Cathedral Choir Festival, President’s Day weekend 2026. Youth and adult singers alike are invited to join our choristers and adult choir in a special Festival Evensong at 4pm on Sunday, February 15. At this service, we will install the Very Rev. Joy Rogers as Dean Emerita of St. James Cathedral.

Youth participants gather for rehearsals, workshops, and fellowship with our choristers on Saturday, Feb. 14 with lunch provided.

All participants come together for full rehearsal and Choral Evensong on Sunday, Feb. 15.

If you are interested in joining us, please register using the link below by Sunday, February 1.

Information

Youth participant schedule:

Youth participants (grades 3-12) will join the Cathedral Choristers for rehearsals, workshops, and fellowship on Saturday, February 14. Youth participants with unchanged treble voices and changed voices are invited to participate. Singers return on Sunday, February 15 for a full rehearsal and evensong.

Saturday, Feb. 14

10 a.m. – Rehearsal, workshops, and tour of the Cathedral
Noon – Lunch (provided)
12:45 p.m. – Rehearsal
1:30 p.m. – Dismissal

Sunday, Feb. 15

2:00 p.m. – Warm-up and vesting
2:30 p.m. – Full rehearsal
3:30 p.m. – Snack Break
4 p.m. – Choral Evensong
5:15 p.m. – Dismissal

 Adult participant schedule:

Adult singers will join the Cathedral Choir on Sunday, February 15, followed by a festive reception in Kyle’s Place.

Sunday, Feb. 15

2:30 p.m. – Full rehearsal
3:30 p.m. – Break
4 p.m. – Choral Evensong
5:15 p.m. – Festive reception celebrating the Very Rev. Joy Rogers, Dean Emerita

Repertoire:

Participants are responsible for acquiring copies of the music and preparing it in advance of the festival with their choir director. Psalm and hymns will be provided. Choral scores may be purchased from Lois Fyfe Music.

  • Joanna Forbes L’Estrange – The Chorister’s Prayer (youth trebles only)
  • William Byrd – Preces & Responses (Watkins Shaw edition, from Four Tudor Responses OUP/RSCM)
  • Psalm 114 – (Anglican Chant)
  • Herbert Howells – Magnificat & Nunc Dimittis Collegium Regale
  • Henry Balfour Gardiner – Evening Hymn (in Latin)
  • Hymns – to be provided

What to bring:

  • Copies of the music
  • A pencil
  • A black choir folder
  • Vestments of your home choir (academic hoods encouraged) or concert black if vesting is not your tradition
  • Black dress shoes

Registration

Each participant must submit this registration form by February 1.

Any further questions? E-mail Stephen Buzard, Canon Director of Music.

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