Choir of the Earth Announces Ambitious 2025/26 Choral Music Programme
Choir of the Earth is thrilled to reveal its 2025/26 choral music programme - a rich and varied season spanning centuries, continents and styles. This marks the Choir’s most exciting year to date, featuring iconic classics, powerful spirituals, spectacular collaborations, and world premiere recordings.
Coming up at COTE in 2025/26
Whether you're continuing your choral journey or just getting started, this new season offers unforgettable opportunities to sing for joy, to grow as a singer, and to take part in groundbreaking global recordings - all from the comfort of your own home:
The Wedding at Cana – Patrick Hawes
🗓️ October to December 2025
A world premiere recording of Patrick Hawes’ moving cantata depicting Jesus’ first miracle, turning water into wine. Originally composed in 1997, the composer is creating a revised edition in partnership with Choir of the Earth, who will be first to record this stunning work. Patrick is a well-known name among the Choir’s community, who have previously learned, recorded and treasured his beautiful pieces Quanta Qualia and Pacis et Caritas (the latter written especially for Choir of the Earth).
Byrd’s Mass for Five Voices with The Gesualdo Six
🗓️ January to February 2026
A major highlight of the year! Choir of the Earth will partner with globally-renowned vocal ensemble The Gesualdo Six to learn and create a bespoke recording of Byrd’s Renaissance masterpiece. The Gesualdo Six will provide exclusive rehearsal tracks and teaching videos, offering rare insight into performing this extraordinary work.
Bach Cantatas
🗓️ March 2026
A joyous exploration of two of Bach’s best-loved cantatas: Wachet Auf, Ruft Uns Die Stimme (BWV 140) and Herz Und Mund Und Tat Und Leben (BWV 147), which famously features Jesus Bleibet Meine Freude (Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring). Choir of the Earth’s in-depth approach is ideally suited to learning the baroque works of J.S. Bach, so this promises to be a richly rewarding course.
A stunning reimagining of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, A Season To Sing has captured imaginations worldwide. Choir of the Earth is proud and delighted to be the first online choir to learn and record the work, with exclusive coaching and guide tracks from its composer - and friend of the Choir - Joanna Forbes L’Estrange herself.
Summer School 2026
🗓️ June to August 2026
Our signature summer series returns with a vibrant mix of diverse, shorter pieces, offering singers the opportunity to expand their singing styles, skills and repertoire:
Tippett’s Spirituals from A Child of Our Time - richly textured and emotionally powerful
Elgar’s Lux Aeterna (adapted from Nimrod) - soaring and heartfelt
Ndikhokhele Bawo, arr. Barrett and other South African arrangements - joyful, rhythmic and full of life
Theresienmesse – Joseph Haydn
🗓️ September to October 2026
We conclude with Haydn’s magnificent ‘Maria-Theresa Mass’ - the next in our series of Haydn’s Six Late Masses. A lyrical and uplifting work written for the Empress, this course adds a fitting crown to a landmark year.
Listen and share
Or catch up on Ben’s full presentation of the year ahead at our recent June Summer School course launch (skip to 0:16:58):
Please enjoy and share this fantastic musical preview of what’s coming up in 2025/26:
Learn differently, sing confidently
Each course will include detailed teaching for both full choir and individual voice parts, delivered by our esteemed Musical Director, Ben England BEM.
Ben’s teaching will be supported by the highest quality resources, created especially for Choir of the the Earth by expert guide singers and instrumentalists, including Fieri Consort and Richard Gowers, plus of course The Gesualdo Six and Joanna Forbes L’Estrange, who will also offer exclusive workshops to deepen your learning further.
Soundslice living scores will also be used in the teaching for these courses and will be available for singers to purchase their own copy at a reduced rate. Soundslice is a fantastic, interactive tool that supports independent rehearsal and allows every singer to tailor their learning and rehearsal resources to their own preferences.
Throughout and after each course, singers will have a chance to record themselves singing at home, and submit their recordings to be included in the mix of the Choir’s performance. These will premiere throughout the year, giving choristers an opportunity to reflect on their achievements and share them with friends, family and their choral community.
Excited Reactions
The new programme was announced during the launch of the Choir’s June Summer School course, receiving a fantastic reception in the live text chat running throughout the livestream.
With comments from the awestruck to the emotional, the Choir’s love of music and their excitement about the choral opportunities ahead was evident.
The Choir of the Earth Team are equally thrilled. Speaking at the livestream announcement of the programme, Musical Director Ben England said:
“You're not going to find a programme like this anywhere else in the world - it’s the best in terms of the repertoire, in terms of the quality of the teaching, and in terms of the opportunities.
This year’s programme really showcases what Choir of the Earth is about – quality music education, world-class partnerships, and an inclusive community of singers from all over the world.
We’ve put together something here that I’m genuinely proud of, and I don’t say that lightly. It’s ambitious, yes – but it’s also achievable. And it’s going to be glorious.”
The Choir’s General Manager Nikki Chilton adds:
“We’re thrilled to be working with such extraordinary partners in 2025/26 - world-renowned ensembles, composers at the top of their game, and brilliant musicians who inspire us all. Add in expert choral teaching, innovative resources and a vibrant international community, and this is going to be a year to remember!
Whether you’re an existing choral singer who wants to improve your skills and repertoire, or you’ve never been in a choir before, now is the time to find out for yourself how Choir of the Earth is redefining choral singing for today’s world!”
Be part of it all
Choir of the Earth is redefining what choral singing can be - inclusive, flexible, international, and full of heart. The rehearsals are fun, the resources and teaching are world-class, and the choral opportunities offered are truly unique.
Don’t miss out - become the latest Chorister of the Earth below and be part of something extraordinary!
Use promo code WELCOME1 at checkout to get your first month absolutely free until the end of 2025!