Ripon Cathedral Choir comprises sixteen boy choristers, twenty-two girl choristers and six lay clerks singing eight services each week. The boys and girls normally sing separately with the lay clerks but occasionally perform together for special occasions such as concerts and major services.

The boy choristers are educated at the Cathedral Choir School and the girl choristers are recruited from a variety of schools within the local area. Choristers who attend the Choir School receive scholarships and further bursarial assistance up to 100% of the fees is available where required. In addition to their choir duties, choristers learn two musical instruments and the boys receive individual singing lessons from the Cathedral Vocal Coach.

Outwith singing services, the choir maintains a busy schedule of recordings and concerts. Recent CDs include A Thing Most Wonderful (Music for Holy Week and Easter), Christmas at Ripon Cathedral, and Dear Lord and Father (Hymns and Hymn Anthems). The choir is frequently to be heard on radio including Classic FM and features regularly in the Choral Evensong schedule on BBC Radio 3. Concerts have included Handel’s Coronation Anthems at the Foundling Museum in London, the Sedbergh Festival, various performances in churches throughout the north of England and performances of Handel’s Messiah and requiems by Faure, Durufle and Rutter in the Cathedral. In recent years, the choir has undertaken tours to Holland, Germany, Luxembourg, Wales and Scotland.    

The Choir performing at musiclearninglive!2010 will include both boy and girl choristers.