Chelmsford Cathedral receives £22,500 grant to strengthen choir and support young musicians

Chelmsford Cathedral has been awarded £22,500 to strengthen its choir, nurture young musicians and support the musical tradition at the heart of its worship.

The funding has been awarded by the Cathedral Music Trust, a national charity which supports cathedral and church music across the UK.

Chelmsford Cathedral said the grant would help it continue building and developing the Cathedral Choir while opening up access to high-quality musical training.

Supporting young musicians and the Cathedral Choir

The £22,500 award will be used to strengthen the choir, support young musicians and maintain high standards of music and worship at the cathedral.

Emma Gibbins, Director of Music at Chelmsford Cathedral, said the cathedral was delighted and deeply grateful for the grant.

She said the funding would help the choir grow and develop, provide first-rate musical training and support Chelmsford Cathedral’s reputation for musical excellence.

The cathedral’s music programme includes its choirs, visiting choirs, regular services and a programme of concerts and performances.

Part of £438,955 national investment

The Chelmsford award forms part of a wider investment of £438,955 announced by the Cathedral Music Trust.

The funding is being shared among 27 cathedrals and churches through the charity’s Cathedral Music Support Programme and Church Choir Award.

The Cathedral Music Trust was founded in 1956 as the Friends of Cathedral Music by the Revd Ronald Sibthorp, who was then Precentor of Truro Cathedral.

It was established in response to the decline of cathedral music following the Second World War and has since awarded grants totalling more than £8 million.

Special Choral Evensong in October

The award will be marked at a special Choral Evensong at Chelmsford Cathedral at 3.30pm on Sunday 18 October.

The cathedral has said that everybody is welcome to attend the service.

Located on New Street in the city centre, Chelmsford Cathedral describes music as a central part of its worship and community life.

Further information about music at the cathedral is available through the Chelmsford Cathedral website.