The Choir

The Choir

The Choir of Westminster Abbey is renowned worldwide as one of the finest choirs of its type. Comprising up to thirty boys (all of whom attend the Abbey’s unique Choir School) and twelve professional adult singers, known as Lay Vicars, its wide-ranging performing activities are rooted in centuries-old tradition and its repertoire ranges from plainsong and Tudor polyphony to twentieth-century masterpieces and new commissions.

Since its foundation in the late fourteenth century, when the Abbey was a Benedictine monastery, the choir’s primary purpose has been the singing of the daily services. In addition, it also plays a central role in the many royal, state and national occasions which take place in the Abbey, many of which are broadcast live across the world. In recent years these have included the wedding of The Prince and Princess of Wales; the state funeral for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II; the Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla; and memorial services for notable public figures including Sir Peter Hall, Stephen Hawking, Nelson Mandela and Sir Terry Wogan.

In parallel with its liturgical work, the choir pursues a varied programme of recordings, concerts and tours, travelling most recently to the East coast of the USA to present a programme of British choral music. In the United Kingdom, the choir presents an annual concert programme in the Abbey and has performed at many leading venues and festivals including the BBC Proms and the London Festival of Baroque Music.

The Abbey choir currently records with Signum Classics, and previously enjoyed a successful recording partnership with the Hyperion label. Its critically acclaimed catalogue explores repertoire spanning six centuries and includes collections of music for the great feasts of the church year; programmes of Tudor music by Byrd, Ludford, Taverner and Tye; Parry ceremonial music with Onyx Brass; Duruflé Requiem with Britten Sinfonia; and several discs celebrating masterpieces of the Anglican choral tradition from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

News of the Choir’s activities is regularly posted on social media:
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