The choir

History
Roskilde Cathedral Boys Choir was founded in the spring of 1987. Auditions were held for all Third Grade boys in Roskilde, from which 30 were accepted. The alto, tenor and bass voices were selected from among high school students and a number of the boys’ fathers. That first choir numbered about 50 members and held its debut performance on Good Friday 1987, performing Heinrich Schültz’s St. Matthew Passion. Click here to read more.

Every year since 1987, new voices have been recruited from city schools, the choir consistently being comprised of 50 boys and 25 men.

When a boy is accepted into the choir, he receives voice lessons for a period, and basic instruction in music theory and aural skills. Should he show special talent, he is offered additional private voice lessons. The boys are also encouraged, if at all possible, to learn a musical instrument in order to further develop their musical abilities and knowledge of music theory. The goal is to give each boy the best possible musical education.

From 1991 it became possible to recruit men’s voices from those boys whose voices had changed; this practice is ongoing. This is very advantageous since these members understand the choir’s timbre and repertoire; they have a solid grasp of music theory and are familiar with the choir’s structure and way of functioning. This also means they have an active interest in classical music. Several have been so influenced by their choir experiences that they have chosen a classical music career.

It has been natural for the choir to perform mainly in connection with Roskilde Cathedral. We have sung for church services and concerts, have performed oratorios, and have made several recordings in the cathedral. In recent years we have been active mainly in liturgical services--also called evensong--which the church holds the first Friday in each month. In connection with evensong, the choir has performed a varied repertoire consisting of biblical psalms, Gregorian responses, Magnificat arrangements and motets.

Over the years the choir has given concerts in many other churches in Denmark, and enjoyed exciting overseas concert tours. We are in close contact with the Ely Cathedral Boys Choir and the Portsmouth Cathedral Choir in England. These English and Danish choirs have visited one other and performed together.

In addition we have travelled within Scandinavia, and to France, the USA, Canada and New Zealand and twice to Greenland.

The choir’s most important functions are supporting congregational hymn-singing at services and producing a beautiful choir sound, to augment the congregational worship experience in Roskilde Cathedral and surrounding churches.