Guildford Cathedral Choir
The first 40 years
The building of Guildford Cathedral is a story of success against the odds. Begun in 1936 to a design by Sir Edward Maufe, and completed in 1961, it retains its unique position as the only new Anglican Cathedral to be built in the South of England since the Reformation. The story of the foundation of the Cathedral choir - one of a very few ensembles of its type to be founded in the 20th century - is equally remarkable.
Since its inception in 1961 under Barry Rose, and under its successive directors Philip Moore, Andrew Millington and Stephen Farr, it has won an international reputation for its singing. Katherine Dienes-Williams took over the reins and became the first female Organist and Master of the Choristers in an English Anglican Cathedral in January 2008. The basis of the choir's work is the regular singing of cathedral services, but there are other exciting activities, which include recording, broadcasting and touring, as well as frequent concert appearances in the cathedral and elsewhere.
In recent years the choir has toured in Denmark, northern France and Bruges and in February 2009 will be touring the East Coast of the USA. The has released several CD recordings, further details of which can be found on the choir discography.
All Cathedral services are of course open to the public; do visit the Cathedral soon to hear the choir sing.