Many voices, one goal. Transforming lives through singing.

Our Vision : Since its launch in 2009, Leeds Cathedral Choir School has integrated choral music into the life of inner-city Holy Rosary and St Annes Catholic Primary School (HRSA), Chapeltown. Our vision of a 21st Century choir school sees every child taught to sing as a part of the core curriculum, with school choirs contributing to the choral activities of the neighbouring Holy Rosary Church and Leeds Cathedral.

Innovation : The countrys renowned choral heritage now has a home within one of the most disadvantaged areas of West Yorkshire, with income, employment, health and crime indicators particularly challenging. For many of the pupils - with 92% from immigrant and BME families - English is an additional language. The power of song embraces the 30+ languages spoken by pupils, with the children performing in English, Latin, Congolese, French, Greek, Igbo, Mandarin, Polish, Spanish and Zulu. This project is celebrated for its ability to break down the cultural barriers surrounding choral singing; uniting and positively impacting on the local community.

"I feel like Im in a magical beautiful place; I can express myself when Im singing, if we didnt sing school would just feel like nothing...It would be like a blank piece of paper. "Year 5 student

Celebrating 10 years : Ten years into the project, under the leadership of Choral Director Sally Egan, the Choir School is thriving. Weekly singing sessions are provided throughout the school, from nursery to year six, leading to participation in the schools outstanding choral groups, which include the Senior Choir, Training Choir and Gospel Choir; all of whom perform regularly in and out of school. Children gain musical skills far beyond those required in ordinary school choirs; many continue to pursue music at secondary school and through extra-curricular opportunities.

The first state primary Cathedral Choir School: The essential progression routes from the Choir School to Leeds Cathedral Choirs continue to develop and a charity-subsidised minibus service now transports pupils to the Cathedral Childrens Choir. The growth of this service will enable our children to participate in the musical life of the Cathedral for many years to come, progressing through the Cathedrals renowned pyramid of choirs.

Community : With the recent addition of Staff and Parent Choirs, the whole school community reap the many benefits of group singing. Parents, staff and students now perform alongside one another; creating a unified purpose that is experienced by all.

Beyond music : The benefits of the weekly singing sessions are clear, with children growing in confidence and self-esteem. The impact of this reaches far beyond the musical, with proven academic benefits; children are interacting more confidently in classroom discussions and feel empowered to take on new activities and join new groups. Choir School children are now out-performing their peers nationally in some subjects. Despite the considerable language and social barriers faced by many pupils, the school is in the top 10% nationally for progress made by pupils, and the impact on progress of disadvantaged pupils is substantial (2018 SAT results / Ofsted Report).

"The school is moving towards choir school status under the inspirational work of the Choral Director." Ofsted Report February 2018

Thank you to our supporters : External funding for the Choir School Project has enabled us to positively impact on the lives of over 2500 children. The project costs £30,000 to run annually, supported by a yearly grant of £12,000 from Leeds College of Music.

We are dependent on financial support from many private individuals and charitable trusts, in particular the Holbeck Trust. Thank you to the many supporters who help us to provide these life-changing opportunities.