Durham Cathedral Consort of Singers is our adult volunteer choir. Although the main purpose of the Consort is to sing liturgy, it also performs at concerts and appears on recordings and broadcasts.
We are thrilled to be receiving a high volume of applications and enquiries about volunteering at present, although this does mean our processing times are a little longer than usual. We will do our best to reply to your enquiry via County Durham Volunteering within a week, or within two weeks of you making an application through our online application form. Thank you so much for your patience.
Durham Cathedral Consort of Singers is the Cathedral’s auditioned voluntary choir and sings at times when the Cathedral Choir is not available, around four services per University term. This includes services for major feast days such as the Requiem Eucharist on All Souls’ Day.
In addition to their services, the Consort has also taken part in broadcasts, recorded a CD and appears regularly as part of the Cathedral’s concert calendar, both on its own and with the Cathedral Choir.
Past performances have included a concert with James Bowman in 2008, at Sage Gateshead in 2009, at Alwinton Church, Northumberland in 2014, and with the Cathedral Choir and musicians from Durham University in a concert marking the centenary of the death of the composer Hubert Parry in 2018.
The repertoire the Consort sings ranges from the early music of Praetorius to recently composed works by living composers such as Judith Bingham.
We currently have vacancies for tenors and basses, and are especially keen to hear from tenors. Enquiries from sopranos and altos (countertenors or contraltos) are also warmly received, although there are waiting lists for places in these parts due to high demand.
We are looking for new members who have experience singing in choirs, with strong sight-reading skills and a good range and tone.
If you believe your experience and skills are a match with the above, you are welcome to apply for an audition. Please make sure you state clearly in your application whether you are a tenor or bass, or soprano or alto (countertenor or contralto). Please also articulate fully your previous experience of singing in choirs and your sight-reading skills.
The Consort rehearses on Friday evenings from 6.30-7.30pm, as well as immediately before services they sing. The Consort is able to sing services at times when the Cathedral Choir is not available, for example evening Eucharists on major feast-days such as Candlemas and All Saints’ Day. Singing only during the University terms, and four at least four services in the cathedral during each term.
The Consort is lead by Daniel Cook who is Master of the Choristers and Organist of Durham Cathedral, Joseph Beech Sub-Organist and Benjamin Mills Assistant Organist and St John’s College Director of Music.
Unfortunately we are not able to pay any expenses.
- Opportunity to sing and be involved with the life of Durham's landmark place of worship.
- Be part of our thriving volunteer community.
- References available on request.
- Northern Museums Volunteer Pass – free entry/discounts in other participating museums.
- Opportunity to join the Cathedral’s Community Roll
- Cloister Card which offers 10% discount in the Cathedral Shop and Undercroft Restaurant (conditions apply).
