Tours play an important part in the life of All Saints’ Choir, both on a small scale, such as in short visits to sing in cathedrals around the UK, or on a larger scale in the form of ambitious foreign tours. Most of the latter have been organised following invitations from churches abroad.
2008
During August the choirs of Boys, Girls & Men undertook their most substantial tour ever : a two-week visit to Canada and the United States, singing at eight venues in New York, Bethlehem & Albany Cathedrals, Rochester, the Niagara Falls and St James' Cathedral, Toronto. The tour party numbered one hundred, with 68 singing members. In 2009 the Choir will sing in residence at Gloucester Cathedral and in 2010 a visit to Rome via France and Switzerland is planned.
2007
The Boys and Men travelled to Köln, Siershahn, the Westerwald and Northampton's twin-town of Marburg immediately after Easter. Additionally they visited Lichfield, Peterborough and Southwark Cathedrals and held a residency at Westminster Abbey. As the majority of the girls choir were sitting public examinations they didn't tour abroad this year, but visited St Edmundsbury Cathedral and Westminster Abbey.
2006
The Boys and Men travelled to Cornwall and sang a residency at Truro Cathedral, and gave concerts in Lanteglos-by-Fowey, St Michael’s Mount, Porthleven and Gunwalloe.
The Girls and Men toured Guernsey, Brittany and Paris, perfoming motets by Jean Langlais accompanied by Marie-Louise Langlais at the Langlais Festival, and receiving a standing ovation at Sunday Mass at the Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris.
2005
Switzerland: 29th March to 4th April
Using the city of Basel as our base, we were able to explore an area of Europe which was new to many of us. Not only did we perform in several churches in Basel including the Munster (for a special Jubilee service for the Anglican Chaplaincy), but we ventured to France and to Germany to sing in Strasbourg and Freiburg respectively.
The weather was perfect for the entire week, which together with the stunning scenery made for a very enjoyable tour. Staying together in a Youth Hostel proved entertaining, and there were several memorable games of football in which choristers proved they could more than hold their own against much bigger and heavier Choral Scholars!
The Choir also sang in Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford, New College, Oxford and in St Paul’s and Peterborough Cathedrals.
2004
Nice and Monaco, France: 21st to 28th July
A tour which the Girls and Men are unlikely to forget – stunning scenery, magnificent churches, fine accommodation (palm trees and a perfect view of the Mediterranean for breakfast!) and ample time for shopping and sunbathing.
The choir gave concerts in Beaulieau-sur-Mer and in the vast church of St Pierre d’Arène, Nice, as well as singing services at the Anglican Church in Nice and most extraordinarily for Saturday Evening Mass at Monaco Cathedral. To sing Gombert’s 8-part masterpiece Lugebat David Absalon with the West doors of the cathedral open and showing the famous harbour in the midst of a thunderstorm was truly something special.
The Choir also sang in St Alban’s, Birmingham and Norwich Cathedrals.
2003
Rhode Island and New York, USA: 21st to 29th July
It was an honour for the Boys and Men to be invited back to Newport, Rhode Island where a Festival of British Cathedral Music has been running since All Saints first visited in 1995. A typically warm welcome from our American hosts was coupled with a gruelling schedule in the shape of nine services within four days, and in extreme heat!
We also spent two days in New York – saw the sights, and gave recitals in the cathedrals of St. Patrick and St. John the Divine, and at Ground Zero which was a very moving experience.
The Choir also spent four days singing the services in Durham Cathedral between 24th and 27th April.