A new Cathedral Tour
Singing in English cathedrals 2025
12-17 August 2025
This choir trip to England is something for you …
- if you love singing English choral music;
- if you love English choral evensongs and other choral traditions;
- if you would like to sing in beautiful English cathedrals and an abbey;
- if you would like to sing under the direction of an English conductor;
- if you would like to be part of The Vespere Singers: the Dutch-English ‘visiting choir’
- if you would like to wander through English towns and enjoy the English countryside.
For the second consecutive year, Koorschool Delft is organising a choir tour of English cathedrals this summer. This is the perfect opportunity to combine much-loved English choral traditions with a trip to England.
This year the Vespere Singers will once again be singing the most beautiful choral music in a number of evensong services as well as a mass under the baton of the English composer and conductor Oliver Tarney.
We will be singing this summer in the cathedrals of Worcester and Gloucester and in Pershore Abbey.
There will be daily rehearsals, but there will also be time to visit the three towns and surrounding areas.
You are free to make your own travel and accommodation arrangements in accordance with your own wishes and budget. But if you prefer, we can also assist you with booking your trip and accommodation.
Singing in the choir is for experienced and advanced choral singers: you will be expected to know every single note by the first rehearsal in England, without having to depend on your fellow singers.
Further details and entry requirements can be found below.
All photos reproduced with permission from the cathedrals of Gloucester, Worcester and Pershore Abbey.
Oliver Tarney
English composer Oliver Tarney (1984) was introduced to choral singing in his parish church at a young age. From that moment, choral singing became his greatest inspiration and remains so to this day. After studying music at the University of Manchester and earning a master’s degree in composition, he worked as Head of Composition and Singing at Winchester College. He has written a lot of music for children and adults, amateurs and professionals. Major works include his acclaimed ‘Magnificat’, recorded for Convivium Records, and his ‘St Mark Passion’, commissioned by the St Endellion Easter Festival. Oliver has worked widely to promote singing in communities, choirs and classrooms. His great passion is to inspire people to sing.
Since September 2024, Oliver has been part of the conducting team leading the Choral Evensong Series in the Delft Schuilkerk. For the first evensong last year, he composed The Schuil Service: a new Magnificat and Nunc dimittis which premiered on 3 September 2023.
Source: www.olivertarney.co.uk
Source: olivertarney.co.uk
Information and tickets
DATES AND PROGRAMME
12-17 August 2025
- Tuesday 12 August: Worcester – evening rehearsal (most probably in Worcester)
- Wednesday 13 August: Worcester Cathedral – Choral Evensong
- Thursday 14 August: Worchester Cathedral – Choral Evensong
- Friday 15 August: Pershore Abbey – Choral Evensong
- Saturday 16 August: Gloucester Cathedral – Choral Evensong
- Sunday 17 August: Gloucester Cathedral – Mass & Choral Evensong
The exact times of daily rehearsals, evensongs and mass will be announced later.
You can set your own arrival and departure dates.
REPERTOIRE
The repertoire, the specific pieces of which will be announced by the middle of May at the latest, will include:
- Introits
- Psalms (5)
- Magnificat & Nunc dimittis (3-4)
- Preces & Responses: (1-2)
- Mass (1: Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus, Agnus Dei)
- Hymns
TARGET GROUP
Singing in the choir is open to experienced and independent choral singers who have proven choral experience and preferably, who have sung evensongs before.
You must know the repertoire, which will be announced well in advance, as there will be no time for learning notes during the rehearsals in England!
You should also not have any problem with understanding an English-speaking conductor.
There is room for 28 choristers. Choristers who participated last year will be given priority when registering.
AUDITION
In order to be admitted to the choir, we require new singers to provide a singer résumé and a digital audition in the form of a sung recording of a psalm and a part of a Magnificat. After registration, you will be sent sheet music and a ‘track’ of the Magnificat to sing along to for your recording.
After your audition and résumé have been assessed, you will be notified as soon as possible whether you may sing with the choir.
PARTICIPATION COSTS
Participation fee: € 198
Included:
- rehearsals, singing evensongs and a mass under the direction of Oliver Tarney
- sheet music
- exclusive use of practice files
- 1 group dinner
Not included:
- Travel and accommodation costs.
- Breakfast, lunch and other dinners.
- Possible contributions to transport costs. We will assess once we’re there whether group transport needs to be arranged depending on who is staying where.
- Travel and cancellation insurances.
After confirming your participation, Koorschool Delft will send you a list of accommodation where you can get a discount. We are currently in discussion with various hotels in this regard.
ETA document required for travel to the UK
PLEASE NOTE: From 2 April 2025, EU passport holders travelling to the UK will need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). You will need this document in addition to a valid passport (an ID card can only be used under certain conditions). British and Irish passport holders do not need an ETA.
For all relevant information, please go to:
Reisadvies Verenigd Koninkrijk | Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken
PAYMENT AND CANCELLATION CONDITIONS
After confirmation of your participation, you will receive a payment request. On receipt of your payment, your registration will be definite.
The following terms and conditions shall apply to this English singing week:
For cancellations after 1 June 2025, 25% of the participation fee will be charged.
For cancellations after 1 July 2025, 75% will be charged; no refund is possible after 15 July 2025.
Cancellation of travel and accommodation and any other costs must be arranged by yourself.
REGISTRATION
You can register via the digital application form.
After receiving your application, we will send you confirmation of receipt and instructions for your digital audition.
The cathedrals
The cathedral of Gloucester
De geschiedenis van de kathedraal van Gloucester begint in 679. Het is een prachtige kathedraal waar vooral de kloostergangen gebruikt zijn in diverse films van Harry Potter. Voor een indruk: Gloucester Cathedral.
The cathedral of Worcester
De bouw van de kathedraal van Worcester begon één jaar later dan die van Gloucester. Het gebouw is helaas in 1113 in vlammen opgegaan bij een stadsbrand. De nieuw gebouwde kathedraal is later ook beschadigd geraakt, maar is later grondig gerestaureerd. Worcester Cathedral
Pershore Abbey
In Pershore in Worcestershire, we will be singing in Pershore Abbey, a Benedictine abbey of Anglo-Saxon origin (972) which is now an Anglican parish church.