Ex Cathedra

Who we are

Hailed by the New York Times as “one of Britain’s very best choirs”, Ex Cathedra is a world-class vocal ensemble which leads the choral sector in the fields of performance, learning and wellbeing.

For 55 years we have been delighting audiences with our concerts, have pioneered education projects that inspire and train future generations, and have delivered projects that enable people of all ages to access the many wellbeing benefits of singing from hospitals to communities.

“Concerts given by Ex Cathedra are never just concerts” (Bachtrack). Whether in our home region of the West Midlands or on the road, we aim to share memorable experiences with you as Jeffrey Skidmore’s innovative programming brings the music you know and love together with new commissions, ground-breaking research, and a sprinkling of the unexpected. Our forthcoming season crosses musical boundaries – from the Renaissance Rome of Allegri and Palestrina to Bach, Bruckner, and modern Icelandic repertoire, via the Latin American Baroque.

A charity all about singing, we believe everyone should have access to the remarkable physical, mental and emotional health benefits of singing together, and have opportunities to be inspired by extraordinary choral music. Our team of awarding-winning Vocal Tutors work extensively in local and national music education and community engagement, building transformative projects that boost wellbeing, confidence, and empathy through music, including our weekly Singing Medicine visits to Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

Having worked in over 1,000 schools across the UK, we lead the singing strategy for Birmingham’s local authority schools, and have created an immersive online Singing Schools programme of accessible music education resources available to pupils and teachers worldwide. Alongside this, our Academy of Vocal Music youth training choirs (toddlers to aged 18) and choral Scholar schemes offers a unique development pathway for the young singers of the future.

We invite you to join us – share remarkable concerts with us and become part of a vibrant community where music transcends boundaries, connects hearts, and inspires.

Our culture and values

As an organisation, we care about:

- the inspirational impact of artistic excellence

- a vibrant choral repertoire that is accessible and relevant to all

- giving everyone access to outstanding vocal experiences

- sharing the social and well-being benefits of choral singing

- an inclusive approach to nurturing talent

- our musicians and their development

And as a core staff, we are committed to working collaborative within the team, supporting one another with kindness and compassion, ensuring we share the joy of what we do, and bringing a can-do attitude.

Equality, diversity and inclusion policy

Ex Cathedra wants everyone to feel welcome and included, whether as audiences at our performances, participants in our education and participation activities, musicians, trustees, staff or volunteers. We recognise the value of diversity and are working to ensure all that we do is inclusive and relevant for our region and the communities with whom we work.