National Schools Singing Programme

04/10/2026

Join us for an unforgettable day of music-making as we bring Mozart’s famous Requiem to life, along with his Coronation Mass and beautiful Ave Verum Corpus, in the stunning setting of Sheffield Cathedral.

Prepare to be inspired by Mozart’s dramatic final work, composed on his deathbed, with the glorious sound of voices and orchestra echoing through the Cathedral’s historic architecture.

📅Saturday 21 November, 7pm
🎫Tickets from £15.00 + Booking fee

A licensed bar will be available and will close 5 minutes before the start of the performance.

Visit our website to book your ticket https://www.sheffieldcathedral.org/whats-on/2026/11/21/come-and-sing-mozart-requiem

30/09/2026

The Education Service is delighted to welcome Emma Wynne-Jones to the team as our third Choral Director. She joins Billie Robson and Claire Gale in delivering the National Schools Singing Programme in diocesan schools and will work with schools in East Sussex and Brighton & Hove.

Music was Emma’s first doorway into the life of the Church. Through the Schools Singing Programme, she hopes to create opportunities for children to encounter God, discover and develop their voices, and find their place within the life of the Church.

Find out more about the Schools Singing Programme: abdiocese.org.uk/education/schools-singing-programme

26/09/2026

23/09/2026

22/09/2026

Last week, 36 young singers from 20 schools across Knowsley, Widnes, Liverpool South and Liverpool Central came together to form a massed choir for a visit of Archbishop Miguel Maury Buendía, the Apostolic Nuncio to Great Britain.

Singing music by S. S. Wesley, Mike Stanley and the Taizé Community, the choir led the liturgy at St Mary’s Church, Leyland, and clearly made an impression – the Nuncio thanked the children personally, telling them they ‘sing so joyfully’.

Read the full story below 👇

https://www.nssp.org.uk/archdiocese-of-liverpool-ssp-sings-for-papal-nuncio/

21/09/2026

🎶 Singing in schools across Newcastle🎶

Our Choral Directors, Miss Walker and Miss Sutton, alongside Director of Music, Mr Roberts, have been back in schools across Newcastle this week, delivering the National Schools Singing Programme.

Together, they provide 17 hours of music teaching each week across 16 schools, giving children the opportunity to discover the joy of singing and develop their musical skills and confidence.

The National Schools Singing Programme aims to widen access to high-quality music education, ensuring that children from all backgrounds have the chance to experience singing as part of their school life. Through this work, we also hope to introduce more young people to the musical life of Newcastle Cathedral and the opportunities available through cathedral music.

It’s wonderful to see so many children across our city making music each week - and perhaps inspiring some of Newcastle Cathedral’s choristers of the future! 🎵

21/09/2026

https://www.nssp.org.uk/children-take-centre-stage-for-glasgow-575-celebrations/

16/09/2026

We are thrilled to welcome the Parish of Boston Music (Lincolnshire) and St Mary Redcliffe (Bristol) to the National Schools Singing Programme. They become our very first parish churches to benefit from NSSP seed funding. Both share the vision for bringing high-quality music education directly into state primary schools, and giving local children the chance to join boys and girls choirs at the churches.

A huge welcome to both teams!

16/09/2026

Join the Catholic Union on Wednesday 13 January at 6.00pm for a special online webinar exploring how sacred music is transforming youth mission and social mobility across the UK.

Chaired by journalist Catherine Pepinster, the session features Benjamin Saunders, Lead Consultant for the National Schools Singing Programme.

The webinar will look at how high-quality choral education in state primary schools is closing the funding gap in music provision while giving thousands of children a direct encounter with sacred song and Catholic heritage.

All parents, teachers, governors, clergy, and parish parishioners are warmly invited to attend.

Registration is free but essential.

Book your place online: https://catholicunion.org.uk/2026/09/evangelisation-through-music-reclaiming-the-churchs-musical-heritage-in-our-state-schools/ Or register by email: [email protected]

10/09/2026

WE'RE HIRING: Join the National Schools Singing Programme Team!
Are you an enthusiastic choral director or music educator passionate about transforming young lives through the power of song? Outstanding opportunities are now open to lead school-day curriculum singing and after-school choirs with regional Schools Singing Programmes across the UK.

We are currently recruiting for three key positions:
Salford (Greater Manchester) Role: Choral Director, Diocese of Salford Apply here: https://www.nssp.org.uk/the-diocese-of-salford-is-recruiting-a-choral-director-3/
Dunkeld (Perth, Scotland) Role: Children's Choir Director, Diocese of Dunkeld Apply here: https://www.nssp.org.uk/diocese-of-dunkeld-seeking-to-appoint-a-childrens-choir-director/
Hallam (Sheffield & South Yorkshire) Role: Choral Director, Diocese of Hallam Apply here: https://www.nssp.org.uk/the-diocese-of-hallam-is-seeking-to-appoint-a-choral-director/

Please share this post with talented choral leaders and musicians in your network.