News from the Choir

On 27th September, the Choir of St John's Redhill travelled down to Salisbury Cathedral, where they sang a special joint Choral Evensong with the Lay Vicars and Girl Choristers of Salisbury Cathedral.

This event was several years in the making. Initially scheduled for Autumn 2020, it had to be postponed due to the pandemic. Then in 2024, the project was revived and the date was set for 27 September 2025.

Salisbury Cathedral was where our Director of Music, Clement Hetherington, began his musical life as a chorister.

With its awe-inspiring gothic architecture and superb acoustic, Salisbury Cathedral, which is over 800 years old, is a truly special place in which to make music. The two choirs joined forces for the service in the magnificent Quire, surrounded on each side by the big Father Willis organ (the same organ maker as St John's own). The combined choir comprised over 50 people, making the most tremendous sound as they sang music by Rose, Dyson and Wood.

The service itself was a wonderful event, and the day was completed by a choir trip out to dinner afterwards. This was the first tour date for the choir in a long time. However, plans are currently being discussed for St John's Choir to go and sing in Southwark Cathedral in 2026.

Clement Hetherington