Members of Cantate – a children’s choir run by Carlisle Cathedral – are gearing up for their Showcase concert later this month.

On Thursday, October 19, Cantate Children’s Choir perform a selection of songs from the shows and other classics in their latest Showcase concert.

Cantate concerts are suitable for all the family, and besides old favourites such as ‘Tomorrow’ (from Annie) and ‘You raise me up’, audience members can look forward to the childrens’ performance of an Abba medley and a Lion King medley – specially arranged by Edward Taylor, the choir’s musical director.

Edward has held the post of Assistant Organist at Carlisle Cathedral since 2008, and in this capacity has led the cathedral’s outreach programme.

Dubbed ‘Sing Out’, the aim of this initiative is to give children the opportunity to learn to sing – and also to perform in the cathedral.

To make that happen, Edward visits schools in the Carlisle-area on a regular basis delivering music sessions to children.

Those who decide they want to sing on a more frequent basis are encouraged to join Cantate, which is open to all children with no auditions.

Thanks to the success of the ‘Sing Out’ programme, Cantate now has over 30 members aged 8–15, many of whom have taken part in the outreach programme.

Their repertoire is very varied, encompassing genres such as jazz, classical children’s songs, folk and musical theatre.

The Showcase concert on October 19 will be the first time the choir has performed at full strength since before Covid, having steadily built up since 2020.

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The choir will be directed and accompanied by Edward Taylor, with additional organ accompaniment from David T Shingler who is the Cathedral Organ Scholar.

Tickets for the concert are £8 (or £2 for under-16s) and can be booked online.

The concert will comprise two halves of 35 minutes each, with a 20 minute intermission during which refreshments included in the ticket pricewill be served.

Cantate rehearses on Thursday evenings during term time from 6.30–7.30pm in Carlisle Cathedral. Parents of children interested in joining the choir can contact musicadmin@carlislecathedral.org.uk for more information.