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The ChristChurch Cathedral Choir

This choir is the only professional choir of boys and men in New Zealand and one of only two in the southern hemisphere. It is the oldest professional musical entity in New Zealand, being older than the cathedral itself it was founded six months before the opening of the cathedral in 1881.

The ChristChurch Cathedral Choir

Choristers: The 20 boys in the choir range in age from 8 to 13 and are all pupils of The Cathedral Grammar School. The boys audition and serve a probationary period before becoming full choristers. Each chorister spends 16 hours every week training and singing, on top of their educational, sporting and other musical commitments. They sing five services and ten rehearsals most weeks of the year, as well as many special services, performances and recitals important in the life of the Cathedral and the city. Examples include the recent funeral service for Sir Robertson Stewart and the annual Floral Festival. Yes, they're dedicated, but they're also boys, so almost all of them are active members of the school's sports teams and other cultural activities, as well as being required to keep up with their academic work.

Gentlemen: The 12 men consist of four Lay Clerks (professional singers), six Godley Scholars (tertiary students) and a few volunteers.

Together the choir sings more than 800 pieces of music a year in a repertoire ranging from 16th Century to contemporary works, with an extensive library of more than 1500 anthems and service settings.