Cathedral Choir and Frideswide Voices to feature on BBC Radio Worship Programmes

The Cathedral Choir will feature on BBC Radio’s flagship worship programmes for the first time in over 6 years this month, following the recording of two services last week.

A special service of Solemn Vespers to commemorate the 500th Anniversary of the Foundation will go out to listeners across the UK at 3pm on both Wednesday 9th and Sunday 13th July as part of BBC Radio 3’s Choral Evensong programme. The service includes the radio premiere of a new setting of the Latin Magnificat by The Master of the King’s Music Errollyn Wallen, commissioned especially for Christ Church’s milestone year, alongside music by other House composers such as William Harris and John Taverner.

Later on 20th July, BBC Radio 4’s Sunday Worship will broadcast a service from Christ Church sung by the Cathedral Choir and Frideswide Voices and accompanied by an orchestra of House and wider Oxford University alumni. The ensemble is will be led by Charlie Lovell-Jones, who recently recorded the Walton Violin Concerto with the Sinfonia of London to critical acclaim. Walton features in the service alongside music by another former Christ Church member, Basil Harwood, and Cheryl Frances-Hoad’s Nisi Dominus, a work commissioned for the installation of The Very Reverend Professor Sarah Foot as Dean in 2023. The Dean will also give an address during the service.

These broadcasts represent a return to the airwaves for our Cathedral Choir and a national radio debut for Frideswide Voices. We’re very excited to share these services with you - don’t forget to tune in next month!

Broadcast Links

Vespers on Radio 3: 3pm on Wednesday 9th July and Sunday 13th July

A link to our Sunday Worship episode will be added when available.