Trust Invests £470,000 in Cathedral Music
The music departments of 27 cathedrals and churches in the UK will be supported to continue and expand their brilliant work, thanks to a £470,000 investment through our financial support programmes in 2025. Sitting at the heart of our commitment to championing excellence in all its forms, this vital funding will enable cathedrals and churches to keep providing opportunities for people from all walks of life to experience the life-transforming power of cathedral music.
“The invaluable work of our cathedral and church musicians enriches the lives of both participants and the communities in which they operate. At a time when the sector faces numerous financial challenges, this much-needed investment demonstrates Cathedral Music Trust’s dedication to securing the future of our world-renowned tradition.” – Jonathan Mayes, CEO, Cathedral Music Trust
CATHEDRAL MUSIC SUPPORT PROGRAMME
In the second year of our refreshed main awards scheme, the Cathedral Music Support Programme (CMSP), we are building partnerships with cathedrals and other choral foundations across the UK, developing work that shares our objectives in three areas: pathways to music; training and development; and supporting the workforce. This year, financial support provided by the Edington Festival contributes towards the award we have made to Chester Cathedral.
In addition to the 20 new awards through the CMSP, we are continuing to support 20 choral foundations which were awarded multi-year grants in 2024.
CHURCH CHOIR AWARD
Now in its fourth year, the Church Choir Award, run in partnership with the Royal School of Church Music, recognises the crucial contribution of churches to choral and organ music.
This year, Cathedral Music Trust have awarded £30,000 of funding through the programme, enabling seven church choirs to enhance their work through innovative and enriching projects. In addition to our financial support, all recipients will benefit from a year’s group membership of the RSCM and access to the RSCM’s ground-breaking Voice for Life digital resources. Recipients of the Church Choir Award will be announced in the autumn. Our work would not be possible without the extraordinary generosity of our supporters – from our dedicated friends, patrons and volunteers, to our wonderful ambassadors who do so much to raise the profile of this cherished tradition. Together, we will transform more lives through cathedral music.
DISCOVER OUR IMPACT
Hear from some of this year’s award recipients.
Chester Cathedral
Cathedral Music Support Programme and Edington Festival Award
“We are very grateful to the Cathedral Music Trust and the Edington Festival for their generous support which will allow us to expand our musical programme and continue to inspire the next generation of musicians. Their grant will support choristers’ singing lessons, continuing staff professional development and underpin the launch of our Cambiata Choir.” - Dan Mathieson, Head of Music Outreach and Assistant Organist
Southwark Cathedral
Cathedral Music Support Programme “We’re incredibly excited at this generous award, which will enable us to make some of our dreams real and help sustain the life of the music department in a context which, in the absence of cathedral admission charges or an independent feeder school, can sometimes feel fragile. Singing for joy!” - Canon Precentor Kathryn Fleming
Gloucester Cathedral
Cathedral Music Support Programme
“This generous award paves the way for choral music to reach children of all backgrounds, enabling them to build skills, confidence, and a love for singing. Our projects strengthen community ties, support Cathedral choral tradition, and inspire the next generation to engage deeply in music, worship, and lifelong artistic growth.” - Nia Llewelyn Jones, Assistant Conductor and Leader of the Gloucester Cathedral Singing Academy
St Wulfram’s Church, Grantham
Cathedral Music Support Programme
“We are thrilled and grateful to receive support from the Cathedral Music Trust towards St Wulfram’s as we build a programme to provide opportunities for early career church and cathedral musicians. The grant will also help us ensure that the choral tradition continues to thrive in our parish church.” - Fr Stuart Cradduck (Rector of Grantham)
St Mary’s Cathedral, Middlesbrough
Cathedral Music Support Programme
“We are very grateful for this award which we hope will further develop the work of the Cathedral Music team, and will inspire the singers and organists of the future as well as our existing singers and congregation.” - Steven Maxson, Diocesan Director of Music
Newport Cathedral
Cathedral Music Support Programme
“We are grateful to receive the support of the Cathedral Music Trust which will contribute to the development of our choristers and newly- established youth choir. This grant is an investment in our young people as well as our outreach and recruitment work in Newport.” - Tom Coxhead
About Cathedral Music Trust
Cathedral Music Trust is a national charity which supports the valuable work of musicians who enrich so many lives through the power of cathedral music. Since our foundation in 1956 (as the charity Friends of Cathedral Music), we have made a positive difference to the lives of many thousands of children, young people and adult musicians across the UK and Ireland. We seek innovative and sector-leading ways to support high quality musicianship in cathedrals and churches through our programmes, training, advocacy and research. Our vision is to create a vibrant choral music scene that champions excellence and provides opportunities for people from all walks of life to thrive and develop.