The Choir of Belfast Cathedral

30/07/2026

As Belfast welcomes Fleadh Cheoil, we’re delighted to host a number of free recitals from musicians associated with Belfast Cathedral:

🎹 Sat 1st @13:10 Transcriptions for organ with Jack Wilson
🎷Mon 3rd @12:30 Moore’s Melodies with Gillian McCutcheon, Paul Berry and Cabhan Keag
🎹 Wed 5th @12:30 Celtic Hymn Tunes
🎻 Thurs 6th @12:30 Darkness into Light with Julie Bell

Belfast Cathedral is within the Fleadh pedestrian zone. For transport options check out https://fleadhcheoil.ie/travel/

24/07/2026

Please join us tomorrow @1:10pm for an Organ Recital given by Daniel Clements. Take a look, as Daniel was in practicing this afternoon, giving us a chance to sample his programme!

18/07/2026

Join us today at 1:10 pm for an Organ Recital Given by our Assistant Master of Music, Jack McCabe. Today, Jack will be performing an programme of English composers and is looking forward demonstrating the various tones of our Harrison organ. The recital is free to attend, so do come and enjoy live music performed at the centre of Belfast!

13/07/2026

Please join us in welcoming The Choir of Selwyn College, Cambridge tomorrow, Tues 14th July, for a free concert at 3 pm!

We are having a lovely time in Ireland! We have a weekend of services in Dublin: Saturday 11/07 Evensong in St Patrick’s Cathedral at 1730; then Sunday 12/07 services in Christ Church Cathedral at 1100 and 1530. We’re then heading north for concerts in St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast on Tuesday 14/07 and St Columb’s Cathedral in Derry on 15/07. Hope to see some of you there!

Here we are after our concert today in Dublin.

10/07/2026

Join us at the Cathedral for a lunch time recital at 1:10 pm, to hear Derek Collins put our magnificent Harrison & Harrison Organ through its paces!

27/06/2026

We look forward to welcoming visitors from across the Anglican Communion as they gather in Belfast for ACC19.

Music for the opening service on Sunday afternoon includes Jonathan Dove’s Missa Brevis and a new setting of Alone with none but thee, my God, by Jack Wilson.

For next Saturday’s closing service we are delighted to be giving the first performance of a new Missa Brevis by Joanna Forbes L’Estrange, commissioned specially for this event. A wonderful way to end a busy year of singing at Belfast Cathedral!

03/06/2026

Last Friday was a day of great joy in the life of Belfast Cathedral, as we celebrated the marriage of our Organist and Master of Music, Mr Jack Wilson, to his bride, Miss Holly Aston. 💐

Surrounded by family and friends, we gathered for a beautiful Nuptial Mass filled with prayer, thanksgiving, and a feast of glorious music.

The Cathedral Choir was directed by the distinguished organist and choral conductor Mr Richard Hills, with our own Sub-Organist and Assistant Master of Music, Mr Jack McCabe, providing masterful accompaniment. 🎹

The service was led by the Dean of Belfast, the Very Rev’d Stephen Forde, assisted by the Rev’d Julie Bell, the Rev’d Janice Elsdon, and the Rev’d Dr Ros Lane.

Among the musical highlights was the world premiere of ‘These I Can Promise’, a newly commissioned work by Sir John Rutter, setting words by Mark Twain. Its first performance formed a particularly memorable part of a service marked by beauty, joy, and celebration.

Pictured here alongside members of the Cathedral Choir and clergy, Jack and Holly begin their married life together with our warmest congratulations, prayers, and every blessing for the years ahead! ❤️

24/05/2026

📯 Summer Organ Festival 📯

We are delighted to host several organists from across the province, alongside our own staff organists, for our inaugural 2026 Summer Organ Festival, held each Saturday beginning at 1.10pm!

Come and experience the thrilling sound of our Harrison & Harrison organ, currently undergoing exciting tonal changes with joint efforts by Nicholson & Co, and the Pipe Organ Preservation Company. Our newly installed camera display system will allow you to view, as well as listen to, each recitalist. 🎥

Recitals are 50 minutes each, with light refreshments provided. A retiring collection will be held in aid of the Cathedral Organ Fund.

Full details can be found below. All are most welcome, and we hope that you can join us! 🎹

22/05/2026

Please join us for our Choral services this weekend as we celebrate Pentecost and welcome Fr Martin Magill as Ecumenical Canon.

22 FRIDAY 5.30 p.m. CHORAL EVENSONG
Reading Preces and Responses
Willan Fauxbourdons Tone VIII and III
Sullivan The long day closes

4 SUNDAY: WHIT SUNDAY The Day of Pentecost
11.00 a.m. CATHEDRAL EUCHARIST
Darke Communion Service in F
Hurford Litany to the Holy Spirit
Cochereau IV. Toccata (from Symphonie Boston)

3.30 p.m. CHORAL EVENSONG with the Installation of Fr Martin Magill as
Ecumenical Canon
Reading Preces and Responses
Stanford Evening Service in B flat
Grayston Ives Listen Sweet Dove
Elgar I. Allegro maestoso (Sonata in G Major)

10/04/2026

Best wishes and thanks to Strathclyde University Chamber Choir for leading the music at our services this weekend. Do support them if you can!

This weekend we have the pleasure of welcoming Strathclyde University Chamber Choir to sing our choral services, while our own choir enjoy their Easter break.

Under the leadership of their conductor, Alan Tavener, and accompanied by David Hamilton, the Choir will offer a repertoire that will lead us further into the joy of Easter, including pieces from James MacMillan and Martin Dalby, an evening service from Kenneth Leighton, and Gorczycki's Missa Paschalis.

You are welcome to join us this weekend as we continue to celebrate Christ's resurrection, and enjoy the gift of music together.

🎵Friday 10th April:
Choral Evensong (5:30pm)

🎶Sunday 12th April:
Choral Eucharist (11am)
Choral Evensong (3:30pm)