In June 2024, the Choristers of Wells Cathedral recorded an audio-visual performance of Britten’s ‘A Ceremony of Carols’. Thanks to the generosity of the CSA grant, the school have been able to make the recording freely accessible to all through YouTube. This has had a significant impact on its reach so far. As a result of an unsteady time at the Cathedral, the choir had not released a recording since 2018. Making this recording was therefore a new and formative learning experience for all the choristers.
With chorister recruitment, particularly of boys, becoming increasingly challenging, the school wanted to create a high-quality product, which, together with other recruitment initiatives, would inspire prospective choristers and parents to consider choristership at Wells Cathedral School.
The school also hoped that the recording would take on a broader ambassadorial role for choristership nationwide, demonstrating on a global digital platform what choristers can achieve through dedication and expert training.
Since its release the video has been viewed by more than 108,000 people in over 50 countries around the world. The video also was embedded into the online version of an article by Richard Morrison, Chief Culture Writer for The Times, as an example of why cathedral music generally must be treasured and valued.