Requiem in a Day

FREE EVENT! Come and sing one of the UK's favourite new choral works in Gloucester Cathedral.

Hailed as "a modern choral classic" by Classic FM, Matthew Coleridge's Requiem is a wonderful piece to sing, and where better to sing it than here, as part of a 200-strong choir!

This event will be in aid of Gloucester Cathedral's In Tune organ restoration project, with singers and audience encouraged to donate to help secure the future of the cathedral's historic organ.

We'll spend the day rehearsing the Requiem and other music in the Cathedral Quire, before giving an early evening performance of this glorious music.

Directed by Matthew Coleridge, with Jonathan Hope (organ), Maxim Calver (cello) and Amy Carson (soprano).



 Matthew Coleridge is a great force for good in the choral world  Alexander Armstrong, Classic FM

supported using public funding by Arts Council England
Gloucester Cathedral

Photo by Jack Pease

Gloucester Cathedral
Gloucester Cathedral

Photo by David Iliff

 As uplifting and glorious as anything I've ever sung  Elizabeth, Selby Abbey workshop April 2023

 Just overwhelming, and blew my heart right open  Nicola, Arundel Cathedral workshop February 2023

 He creates joy and sublime moments. Book now before word gets out!  Come And Sing Somewhere review, Exeter 2021

Details and timings

Timings on the day (provisional)

  • 09:15 - 10:00

    singer registration

  • 10:00 - 12:20

    morning rehearsal

  • 12:20 - 13:20

    lunch break

  • 13:20 - 15:30

    afternoon rehearsal

  • 15:30 - 17:15

    break (Choral Evensong is at 16:30)

  • 17:30 - 18:00

    top-and-tail

  • 18:30 - 19:30

    concert performance - dress code for singers: all black

 Reaches into the soul and lifts it skyward  - BBC Music Magazine

Musicians
Matthew Coleridge

Matthew Coleridge

One of the UK's most exciting compositional voices, Matthew's music leapt into the spotlight in 2023, when his Requiem was voted into the Classic FM Hall of Fame's top 100 - making him the second youngest composer on the list, and 10th highest living composer overall.

His beautifully melodic and deeply moving choral music is performed around the world, and is regularly broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and Classic FM. Matthew has written music for acclaimed ensembles including Portsmouth Cathedral Choir, The Queen's Six, Papagena, and the Choirs of Christchurch Priory.

An engaging and charismatic conductor, Matthew is in increasing demand as a choral workshop leader, with regular events around the UK.

Jonathan Hope

Jonathan Hope - organ

Jonathan Hope has built a reputation, both at home and abroad, as one of the most exciting organists of his generation.

In his hometown of Guildford, Jonathan studied initially with Stephen Lacey, John Belcher and David Sanger, and then at the Royal College of Music, London with Margaret Phillips and Sophie-Véronique Cauchefer-Choplin (improvisation).

Jonathan became Assistant Director of Music at Gloucester Cathedral in 2014, where he is the principal organist for cathedral services, director of the Cathedral Youth Choir, Accompanist to the Gloucester Choral Society, Artistic Director of the Saint Cecilia Singers, and Festival Organist for the Gloucester Three Choirs Festivals.

Maxim Calver

Maxim Calver - cello

Praised for the “elegance of his technique, overall sound and natural poeticism” (Strad Magazine), Maxim Calver first gained public recognition as a BBC Young Musician 2018 Grand Finalist and Strings Category winner where he made his concerto debut with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra in Symphony Hall, Birmingham. Since the competition he has been in high demand as a soloist across the UK and Europe and in October 2021, he made his European Concerto Debut in the Grosse Saal of the Hamburg Elbphilharmonie, where he performed Schumann’s Cello Concerto.

Maxim has appeared as a soloist in many of Europe’s leading venues including Tonhalle Zurich, Cadogan Hall, St. Johns Smith Square and Kulturcasino Bern. He has also appeared as concerto soloist with the Bath, Stockport, Ipswich, Maidstone and Young Musician Symphony Orchestras, the Orpheus Sinfonia and Suffolk Philharmonic Orchestra. As a recitalist he has appeared at Bridgewater Hall, Wigmore Hall, Kings Lynn Festival, Menuhin Hall, Norwich Chapel Concert Series, 1901 Arts Club and St. James’ Guernsey amongst others.

Throughout the 23/24 season Maxim performs a wide variety of solo and chamber concerts. Upcoming highlights include a solo recital at Cambridge Summer Music Festival, performances at Kronberg Academy’s bi-annual ‘Chamber Music Connects the World’ Festival, and Schönberg’s Verklärte Nacht at Wigmore Hall amongst others. Maxim will also make a debut recital at this years Oranjewoud Festival in the Netherlands after winning the ‘Oranjewoud Award’ at the 2024 Schiermonnikoog Festival.

In 2023, Maxim was invited by composer Matthew Coleridge to appear on his new album ‘Requiem’ alongside the Southern Sinfonia and Choir of Royal Holloway directed by Rupert Gough which was released on Convivium Records and received glowing reviews including a 5-star review by BBC Music Magazine.

A passionate chamber musician, Maxim has appeared at many festivals across Europe including the Gstaad-Menuhin, Schiermonnikoog, Lewes, Stamford and International Pau Casals Chamber Music Festivals. Other highlights have included live radio broadcasts from Konzerthaus Berlin and Amsterdam Concertgebouw, frequent appearances alongside the LGT Young Soloists and a CD recording of Arnold Schoenberg’s Quartet no.1. Maxim has also been working with conductor John Wilson as a part of his renowned ‘Sinfonia of London’ Orchestra.

Originally from Gorleston-on-Sea in Norfolk, Maxim started the cello at the age of 4 with Maja Passchier before moving to the Yehudi Menuhin School to study with Thomas Carroll aged just 8 years old. He currently studies at the Royal College of Music with Professor Melissa Phelps, where he is proud to be an ABRSM Scholar for his postgraduate studies. Maxim has received guidance and inspiration from many of the worlds leading cellists including Heinrich Schiff, Frans Helmerson, Steven Doane, Colin Carr, Paul Katz and Gary Hoffman. Maxim has also recieved masterclasses at the Kronberg Academy Cello Master-course, Tibor Varga Academy and International-Musicians-Seminar at Prussia Cove amongst others.

Maxim is very grateful to have received support from the Amaryllis Fleming Foundation, Geoff and Val Richards, Countess of Munster Musical Trust, Drake Calleja Trust and the Hattori Foundation. He is also grateful to the Young Classical Artists Trust for their generous support in their aftercare scheme for BBC Young Musician Finalists.

Maxim plays an Alberto Aloyisius Blanchi cello, dated 1906.

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Q.  Do I need to be able to read music?

A.  This event is suitable to all choral singers with a basic grasp of music reading. If you can't read music, it would be very wise to learn your part beforehand (see below for details of rehearsal tracks). If you've not sung in a choir before that's ok! Come along and see what you've been missing.

Q.  Where can I listen to Requiem?

A.  You can find a full recording on YouTube, Spotify or Apple Music. A physical CD can be found here.

Q.  Are rehearsal tracks available?

A.  Yes. Head over to koor.app - you'll need to register for a free account, then you can listen to the individual voice parts, recorded by professional singers.

Q.  Can friends and family come and hear us perform?

A.  Yes - please do encourage people to come and hear our evening performance! Audience tickets are available through the links above.

Q.  Is there a dress code?

A.  For the evening concert performance, please dress all in black. There are changing facilities available at the venue.

Q.  What do I need to bring?

A.  Music will be provided for you on the day. It would be helpful to bring a pencil and a packed lunch (or there are plenty of places nearby to buy something during the lunch break). You'll also need a change of clothes(all black) for the evening performance.

Q.  Will refreshments be provided?

A.  No, but the Cathedral has its own café (The Monk's Kitchen) which will be open from 10am - 4pm. There are several shops, cafés, bars and restaurant within a stone's throw.

Q.  Where can I park?

A.  All day parking £7-8 at several nearby carparks. Visit Parkopedia for more information.

Q.  Will music scores be provided?

A.  You can borrow a vocal score on the day. If you'd like to buy one in advance (please do!), you can add it when you book your ticket.

Q.  Can I buy a vocal score? And will Matthew sign it?!

A.  You can buy a vocal score in advance, which is a great way to learn your part ahead of the day. It'll be posted to you when you make your booking. Matthew's always happy to sign scores during rehearsal breaks.

Q.  Do I need to book? Can I just turn up on the day?

A.  We can't guarantee you a place if you don't book in advance - venues are limited in space, and we may not have enough music. It's free to book so what are you waiting for?!

Q.  Will there be lots of singers? I don't want to find I'm singing a part on my own!

A.  Numbers vary between events, but we're expecting over 200 singers for this Requiem in a Day event. There are always a handful of strong singers to lead each section!

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Choral workshops

Requiem in a Day workshops

Come and sing Matthew Coleridge's Requiem in some of the country's most inspiring cathedrals, abbeys and churches. All events are directed by the composer.

 Matthew Coleridge is a great force for good in the choral world  - Alexander Armstrong, Classic FM

St Giles Edinburgh

Edinburgh
Saturday 20th & Sunday 21st September 2025

Requiem Weekend, with concert performance at St Giles' Cathedral



Sherborne Abbey

Sherborne Abbey
Saturday 4th October 2025

Requiem 10th Anniversary concert



Southwell Minster

Southwell Minster
Saturday 18th October 2025

Requiem in a Day with Southwell Minster Choirs Association



Selby Abbey

Selby Abbey
Saturday 15th November 2025

Requiem in a Day with The Tallis Consort and professional orchestra