Cathedral Choir

King Henry VIII established the Collegiate Foundation in 1546, including one Organist and eight Lay Clerks, plus provision for a schoolmaster to educate the choristers. In the last five hundred years, the choir has always been a central part of Christ Church; and many significant church musicians have been associated with it, from the first director of music John Taverner, to twentieth-century choristers and composers William Walton, Simon Preston and Howard Goodall.

Now the choral foundation consists of approximately sixteen Choristers (boys), educated at the Cathedral School; plus six Lay Clerks (professional adult singers) and six Academical Clerks (undergraduate choral scholars), in addition to the Director of Music (who bears the official historic title of ‘Organist’), the Sub-Organist, and one or two Organ Scholars. 

Music at the Cathedral is led by our Organist, Peter Holder. Peter directs and conducts the choir, and oversees the musical development of our choristers, organ scholars, and academical clerks. In his previous role as Sub-Organist of Westminster Abbey, Peter played for millions around the world as the accompanist at the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II and the coronation of King Charles III.