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Girl Choristers’ Trip to St Davids

Following school last Friday, the Girl Choristers travelled to West Wales to join their colleagues at St Davids Cathedral. 2026 marks the 30th anniversary of Girl Choristers at Llandaff and an amazing 60 years of Girl Choristers at St Davids, so it was wonderful to celebrate these milestones together. 

After a hearty breakfast on Saturday, a quick visit to the very wet and windy beach next to our accommodation in Broadhaven certainly cleared away the cobwebs! We then headed to St Davids Escape Rooms, where the girls, split into two groups, were highly commended for their teamwork. St Davids is the smallest city in the UK, and the girls also had plenty of time to explore during an hour of free time. 

On Saturday evening, we were welcomed into St Davids Cathedral to sing Evensong. A large congregation gathered around the choir stalls to hear Llandaff Cathedral Choir perform music by Paul Spicer, Joanna Forbes L’Estrange and Martin How. 

On Sunday morning, the girls met their counterparts in St Davids for the first time. The St Davids choristers are generally a little older than the Llandaff choristers, and it was wonderful to see the two choirs mix so brilliantly and strike up immediate friendships despite the age difference. The morning Eucharist featured Vierne’s monumental Messe Solennelle, which, with more than 50 singers, filled the cathedral with sound. 

After lunch together with the community in St Davids, it was back to the Cathedral to rehearse for the afternoon service celebrating the feast of St Michael and All Angels (Michaelmas). The girls sang music by Howells, as well as Neil Cox’s War in Heaven. It was especially lovely to hear from the composer, who was present at the service and described the singing as “absolutely terrific”. 

It was a privilege to experience a chorister tradition in St Davids that dates back to 1171, when Henry II visited the city on pilgrimage as penance for his part in the murder of Thomas Becket in Canterbury. The two youngest St Davids choristers were presented with ‘Michaelmas Caps’ in recognition of their work in the choir. 

It was soon time to travel home, and the girls bade farewell to their new friends in St Davids. Trips like this are a special part of chorister life - a chance to visit amazing places, make wonderful music and build lasting friendships. 

Now, attention turns to two forthcoming National Services in Llandaff, prestigious events which bring further excitement to the choristers’ busy schedule. 

There are still places available for Girl Choristers in Years 4–6. Anyone interested is encouraged to get in touch with Llandaff Cathedral’s Director of Music, Stephen Moore, at stephenmoore@llandaffcathedral.org.uk.