The Girls and Men of Sheffield Cathedral Choir

The Cathedral Choir sings evensong on each weekday except Monday during term-time at 5.45pm. Sunday services are the Sung Eucharist at 10.30am and Evensong at 6.30pm. Currently there are some 60 young people are involved in the Cathedral Choir. These children attend schools all over the city of Sheffield, and come in to rehearsals and services up to five times each week to be joined by the Cathedral Songmen and Student Songmen. The boy and girl choristers all receive individual singing tuition from a specialist vocal tutor during their time in the choir, and, in addition to their regular services, the Cathedral Choir often gives concerts in the Cathedral and beyond, broadcasts on radio and television, and tours at home and abroad.

In recent years the choir has visited South Africa, Germany, Holland, the South Coast of England, the West Country, East Anglia, and the USA in October 2001. Future plans Malta and the South West of England. In the past five years, the choir has made 7 CD recordings, with more planned for the future.

The Cathedral is often a centre for workshops/singing days given by distinguished visiting musicians, including Sir David Willcocks, John Rutter, Scott Stroman, Ralph Allwood, Michael Brewer and Vivien Pike.

Neil Taylor

A native of Bradford and former chorister of Bradford Cathedral, Neil Taylor won a Scholarship to the Royal College of Music in 1986. Whilst a student, he was organ scholar at St Albans Cathedral, and on graduating was appointed Assistant Organist at Norwich Cathedral. As well as premiering many new works in his time at Norwich, he made numerous broadcasts and recordings with the Cathedral Choir, which received high critical acclaim, and toured with them on the continent and in the USA. As well as directing the Cathedral Consort, he formed the Cathedral Girls Choir in 1995, which completed its first CD recording and made a highly successful tour of Germany in 1997.

In 1997 he took up the post of Organist and Master of the Music at Sheffield Cathedral, where he is responsible for the Cathedral Choirs of boys, girls and men. Since his appointment, the Cathedral Choir has toured both at home and abroad (including Germany, Holland, Paris and the USA). CD Recordings include Music for a Millennium, a Classic FM Magazine CD of the Year Award Winner, and seven CD recordings with the Cathedral Choir.

Neil has directed choral courses as far afield as Aldeburgh and Mexico City, and is an Assistant Director on the Eton Choral Courses. As an organist, he has played at most of the major venues in the UK. In his spare time he enjoys reading, swimming and walking. A keen cook, he is also an enthusiast of real ales and good wines.

Peter Heginbotham

Peter Heginbotham was born in 1976, and was educated at Solihull School, where he was a Music Scholar. In 1994, he was appointed to the Organ Scholarship of Truro Cathedral, also acting as an Assistant Housemaster at Polwhele House School, and a visiting bassoon teacher at Truro School.

In September 1995, he moved north to become the Sir Henry Coward Organ Scholar at Sheffield Cathedral and University, where he gained the degree of B.Mus.

Whilst in Sheffield, he ran the Student Orchestra, played continuo for the 'Operaworks' production of 'Dido and Aeneas' at the 1997 Edinburgh International Festival, was Chairman of the University Summer Music Festival in 1998, and was Secretary of the Cathedral Arts Festival. He also accompanied the Sheffield choirs on tour, both in the UK and in Germany.

Following a year at Chester Cathedral, he moved back to Sheffield as Assistant Master of the Music at Sheffield Cathedral in November 1999. He directed the Songmen of the Cathedral Choir for their trip to Paris in 2000, and played for the Choirs visits to Washington DC, Philadelphia and Boston in 2001, as well as a return visit to Paris in October 2002. This is his sixth recording with the Cathedral Choir. He also gives several concerts each year with the Sheffield Oratorio Chorus.

In his spare time, he enjoys motoring and travel, as well as testing the results of other peoples cooking.