The concert will be mounted by Friends of Cathedral Music’s Diamond Fund for Choristers, in conjunction with Liverpool’s Anglican and Catholic cathedrals, to showcase Britain’s 1,000 year old choral tradition which is under pressure from rising costs. The Diamond Fund for Choristers, launched in 2016 at a concert at St Paul’s Cathedral featuring The Cathedral Choristers of Britain, raises funds to support choristers and cathedral music departments in need, and has since provided £140,000 worth of grants to 24 choral foundations. These provide voice and instrument tuition, outreach and recruitment opportunities, and help for choristers whose families are least able to cope with the costs of their education.
Dr John Rutter CBE, the acclaimed composer, will speak at the concert. HRH The Duchess of Gloucester, Royal Patron of the Diamond Fund for Choristers will also attend. Much-loved favourites like Handel’s Zadok the Priest, Allegri’s Miserere, Howard Goodall’s Psalm 23 (The Vicar of Dibley theme tune) and Parry’s I Was Glad will be performed as well as works by Fauré, Vaughan Williams, Tavener and The Beatles, along with a new work by Richard Shephard specially commissioned for the concert. All proceeds will go to the Diamond Fund for Choristers.