ON SATURDAY, June 25, Gloucester Cathedral will host a Three Choirs Festival rehearsal day and also celebrate the installation of the latest stained glass window to grace the Cathedral’s 15th century Lady Chapel.

The Gloucester Three Choirs Festival takes place from 23 – 30 July 2016 and is the oldest non-competitive classical music festival in the world, rotating each summer between the English Cathedral cities of Gloucester, Hereford and Worcester.

Central to the festival are the daily services of Choral Evensong sung by the professional choirs of all three Cathedrals.

There is a rich programme of choral and orchestral concerts, solo and chamber music recitals, masterclasses, talks, theatre, exhibitions and walks.

This year Gloucester Cathedral is celebrating the 800th Anniversary of the Coronation of nine-year-old Henry III, which took place here in Gloucester Abbey in 1216.

As part of the celebrations the Three Choirs Festival will mark the historic occasion with music of the 13th century.

If you would like to hear what all three choirs sound like in this amazing building come along at Evensong on Saturday at 5.30pm.

Following on after Evensong there will be a Service of Dedication for a newly installed Gerald Finzi Memorial Window in Gloucester Cathedral’s 15th century Lady Chapel.

Gerald Finzi was a major English composer of the 20th Century and has strong links with Gloucester and Gloucestershire.

At the end of the Evensong service there will be a procession to the Lady Chapel where the Cathedral Choir will sing Finzi’s “My spirit sang all day”.

The stunning window was designed and created by Stained Glass Artist Thomas Denny.

  • More information about the Gloucester Three Choirs Festival can be found at 3choirs.org and full details of services and events at Gloucester Cathedral can be found at gloucestercathedral.org.uk