Minster Chorale
Southwell Minster Chorale is Southwell Minster’s auditioned adult voluntary choir, and is directed by the Minster’s Assistant Director of Music, Jonathan Allsopp. Founded in 1994, the Chorale’s purpose is to regularly sing for services, especially at times when the Cathedral Choir is not available. In particular, the Chorale sings for:
- Evening Sung Eucharists (All Souls, Epiphany, Ash Wednesday etc)
- A full Sunday during each half term
- One Sunday during Advent, and the Fifth Sunday of Lent
- Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve
In addition to its regular round of services, one of the highlights of the Chorale’s year is its annual performance of Handel’s Messiah in the run-up to Christmas; this concert is a staple of the Minster’s Christmas programme, and is always packed out.
The Chorale also regularly goes on tour; in recent years they have toured to the Channel Islands and the Scilly Isles. A 2020 tour to Schwerin, Germany was planned (together with Lincoln Cathedral Consort), but this was cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The Chorale also visits other cathedrals to sing services, and sung for a week at Hereford Cathedral during August 2023, and most recently sung at Westminster Cathedral. The Chorale plans to sing the weekend services at Durham Cathedral in the half term in the 2025 summer term.
Southwell Minster Chorale rehearses weekly during term-time on a Friday from 7.45pm-9.15pm. The Chorale also enjoys a good social life, with regular trips to the pub after rehearsals and for Sunday lunches.
Southwell Minster Chorale is always happy to hear from prospective members, particularly tenors and basses. Please contact:
Jonathan Allsopp
Assistant Director of Music
Southwell Minster
adom@southwellminster.org.uk