Biography

Although of lesser antiquity than some of the other cathedral choirs active in central British regions, the Truro Cathedral Choir has a growing reputation in choral circles. The group not only performs at cathedral services but makes concert appearances and enjoys a vigorous recording career. The Truro Cathedral Choir predates the construction of the present cathedral in Truro, in the Cornwall region. The choir sang at services that were held in a wooden shed while the cathedral was being built in the 1880s. The choir is complemented at Truro Cathedral by a volunteer group, the St. Mary's Singers, and by a program of bell-ringing. In turn, the Truro Cathedral Choir encompasses partly independent subgroups. There are groups of Boy Choristers (ages eight to 13) and Girl Choristers (ages 13 to 18) who perform with the adult choir, separately, and occasionally together. Included in the cathedral choir as well, is a group of Choral Scholars, young singers engaged in university studies, or just having completed them, who are paid a stipend, and Lay Vicars, professional adult singers who perform alto, tenor, and bass parts in choral music. The Lay Vicars and Choral Scholars comprise a group of 12, and there are 18 Boy Choristers and 18 Girl Choristers who sing with the adult choir in various numbers. The choir generally sings at daily services at 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, as well as at two Sunday services. In 2006, the choir made its recording debut on the Priory label with the album 20 Favourite Hymns. The Truro Cathedral Choir has appeared at various venues beyond Truro, performing in the late 2010s with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and the BBC Concert Orchestra. The choir has recorded mostly for the Regent label, issuing albums of music by contemporary British composers, holiday recordings, and more. In 2019, the group issued an album devoted to the music of composer Dobrinka Tabakova. Christopher Gray, the choir's longtime director, conducted those performances; as of late 2022, the position of director of music at Truro Cathedral was vacant. The Truro Cathedral Choir returned in 2021 with All the World Tonight Rejoices, an album of contemporary Christmas music, and the following year, it was heard with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales on the album Russell Pascoe: Secular Requiem. ~ James Manheim, Rovi