Music at St Columb's Cathedral

06/09/2026

It was a day of mixed emotions at Saint Columb's Cathedral this morning.

Congratulations to Daniel McMackin, who sang his first service as a Boy Chorister! Daniel joins his brother, James, and cousin, Rowan, in the Choir Stalls. We wish you a long and successful tenure with us, Daniel.

The day was tinged with sadness as we said goodbye to our much-cherished Boys' Choir Supervisor, Janelle McClintock. Janelle, we cannot thank you enough for your magnificent service to the Cathedral Choir over the past twelve years. We will truly miss you! However, it is comforting to know that you will always be in the background should we ever need you. Thank you!

As Janelle prepares to leave the Boys' Choir, we warmly welcome Barbara, who has joined us as a Supervisor for the Cathedral Boys' Choir. We look forward to working with you, Barbara. We wish Barbara and Lucy well as they begin to work together.

Boy Choristers missing from today's photograph: Kevin Fleming and Joshua Johnston.

04/09/2026

This Sunday marks the return of our Cathedral Choirs following their summer break, as we begin a new season of music at St Columb’s Cathedral.

At 11.30am, our Boy Choristers and Lay Clerks return to sing at the Family Service, with music including Parry’s much-loved Dear Lord and Father of Mankind.

Then at 4pm, a Cathedral Ensemble sings Compline, bringing the first Sunday of the new choir term to a reflective close with Morley’s Nunc Dimittis and Psalm 134.

We are delighted to welcome our Choristers and Lay Clerks back to the Cathedral and look forward to another busy year of services, concerts and special events.

Recruitment for our Cathedral Choirs also continues for the new season. If you know anyone who loves to sing and might enjoy becoming part of the musical life of St Columb’s, we would be delighted to hear from you.

All are welcome to join us this Sunday.

28/08/2026

SEPTEMBER MUSIC AT ST COLUMB’S CATHEDRAL

We are delighted to share our Cathedral Service & Music List for September 2026, as a new season of music begins at St Columb’s Cathedral.

Our choristers return to rehearsals on Wednesday 2nd September, and throughout the month our Cathedral Choirs will be singing at services including Choral Eucharist, Choral Matins, Choral Evensong and Compline.

September also sees our annual 'Be a Cathedral Chorister Day' on Saturday 19th September, giving prospective choristers the opportunity to experience life as part of the Cathedral Choir.

Recruitment for our Cathedral choirs is ongoing. We are always pleased to hear from boys and girls interested in becoming choristers, as well as adults interested in joining our wider Cathedral choral programme. No previous choral experience is necessarily required, and we would be delighted to hear from anyone interested in finding out more. Please get in touch with us if you, your child, or someone you know might be interested in becoming part of the musical life of St Columb’s Cathedral.

We look forward to another busy and exciting season of music at the Cathedral.

23/08/2026

Congratulations to four of our Girl Choristers - Ellen, Alice, Riley, and Caoimhe - for completing a fantastic week in Armagh as part of the Charles Wood Girls' Choir.

This was a wonderful and enriching experience for the girls, and we hope they enjoyed every moment of it.

We also extend our congratulations to Lukas Lynch, our tenor in the Cathedral Choir, who performed with the Charles Wood Singers, and to Louis for another hugely successful festival.

19/08/2026

Have you got what it takes to become a Cathedral Chorister?

We are excited to announce that a very limited number of enrollment spaces for new Boy or Girl Choristers are now available for September 2026. Fastly becoming one of the most prestigious musical ensembles in the region, our ever-popular Boy and Girl Choristers often feature on TV, Radio, Concert settings and in the Cathedral itself!

To give your son (aged 7-15) or daughter (aged 7-18) an idea of what it's like to be a Cathedral Chorister, we are hosting a ‘Be a Cathedral Chorister for the Day’ event at St Columb’s Cathedral on Saturday, 19th September, from 10:00am to 12:30pm.

Please note that this event is open to all young singers - parents/guardians must accompany their child on the day. The event is designed to give young singers an idea of what life as a Cathedral Chorister is like. Actual membership in the choir will depend on the outcome of an informal audition process, which is required for final selection.

Due to high demand and limited availability, spaces for this event are expected to fill quickly. While there will be an audition process for final selection, this event is designed to be informal, fun, and an incredible opportunity for young singers to experience the life of a cathedral chorister. We would love to see you there!

More information: www.stcolumbsschoolofmusic.com/stcolumbs-cathedral-choir

Message Nicky (Organist and Director of Music) to register a place: 07858097290, [email protected]

Religious organization

15/08/2026

Would you like to join us as a Lay Clerk at Saint Columb's Cathedral?

We're looking for Alto (male or female), Tenor, or Bass singers to become part of our vibrant music department!

Our dedicated team of volunteer Lay Clerks take immense pride in their singing and contribution to the Cathedral’s music. Rehearsals are held most Friday evenings from 5:30 to 6:30pm, and our Sunday services typically feature four mornings and two afternoons each month.

By joining us, you'll have the opportunity to perform in live broadcasts, concerts, and sing some of the most captivating choral masterpieces - from Handel and Rachmaninoff to Haydn and Fauré. There is also the chance to go on tour and visit Cathedrals in the UK, Ireland and even beyond!

Interested? Please get in touch with Nicky at 07858097290 for more information. We look forward to welcoming you!

25/07/2026

Join us for the final recital in this year's Summer Organ Concert Series at St Columb's Cathedral.

We are delighted to welcome David Leigh, Organist and Assistant Master of Music at St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, for what promises to be a thrilling lunchtime recital.

David enjoys an international reputation as an organ recitalist, conductor and Artistic Director of the Pipeworks Festival. Alongside his work at St Patrick's Cathedral, he conducts the Gaudete Singers and the University of Dublin Choral Society, and has appeared in many of the finest concert venues across Ireland, Britain, Europe and the USA. His acclaimed recordings and performances have established him as one of Ireland's leading organists.

Thursday 30th July 2026
1.10pm – 1.50pm
St Columb's Cathedral

Admission is free, with a retiring collection and includes music from Bach, Vierne, Franck and Healey Willan.

18/07/2026

Our Summer Organ Recital Series continues on Thursday 23rd July at 1.10pm with a recital by Peter Thompson, Assistant Organist of St Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh.

Peter combines a unique career as priest, musician and teacher. A former organ scholar at both Queen's University Belfast and St Anne's Cathedral, he has served as Assistant Organist at St Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh, since 2010. His work as a performer, composer and liturgical scholar has made him one of Ireland's leading church musicians.

Join us for an inspiring lunchtime recital on the magnificent Wells-Kennedy organ.

Thursday 23rd July
1.10pm–1.50pm
St. Columb's Cathedral

Free admission | All welcome

17/07/2026

We are delighted to see our former Boy Head Chorister, and now one of our Lay Clerks, Ben, singing for the NYCNI Training Choir in preparation for tonight's concert. Good luck to Ben and all at the NYCNI!

11/07/2026

Our Summer Organ Recital Series continues on Thursday 16th July at 1.10pm with a recital by Matthew Owens, Music Director of the Ulster Consort.

Matthew is one of Britain's leading conductors, composers and organists. Formerly Director of Music at Wells Cathedral and Belfast Cathedral, he has conducted over 250 world premieres and worked with ensembles and orchestras across the UK and internationally. His recital will include music by J.S. Bach, Pachelbel and César Franck, alongside one of his own compositions.

Join us for an inspiring lunchtime recital on the magnificent Wells-Kennedy organ.

Thursday 16th July
1.10pm–1.50pm
St. Columb's Cathedral

Free admission | All welcome