Welcome to the Festival

It is a delight to introduce the Sound of Wells festival 2025, which this year takes place from Wednesday 14 to Sunday 18 May. Join us as we celebrate the vibrant musical life of Wells Cathedral and Wells Cathedral School through a rich and inspiring programme of events. At the heart of the festival is the Cathedral’s daily rhythm of worship, featuring Evensong, Compline, and the Eucharist, sung by our Choristers, Vicars Choral, Song Squad, Cathedral Youth Choir, and Cathedral Chamber Choir.

We’re proud to continue Wells’ legacy of new music with the premiere of a brand new choral work, Viri Galilaei by Wells alumnus Owain Park (Sunday 18 May). Owain joins us as the new President of our Cathedral Commissions scheme, and will lead a special composition masterclass that afternoon.

This year we’re shining a spotlight on the Friends of Wells Cathedral’s Grand Organ Appeal, with a heartfelt celebration of this treasured instrument before it undergoes essential restoration. Highlights include a fun, hands-on organ workshop with the amazing WOOFYT model (Thursday 15 May), and Windows: Music for Organ and Brass (Wednesday 14 May), led by Carolyn Craig and Ross Brown, with pupils from Wells Cathedral School.

You can expect more fantastic performances from the School’s talented young musicians in a concert of new works by student composers (Wednesday 14 May), a masterclass with Owain Park, and a special Evensong marking the 400th anniversary of Orlando Gibbons (Sunday 18 May), also honoured in a service of Choral Compline (Thursday 15 May) conducted by the legendary Dr Barry Rose OBE.

We’re also excited to welcome children from local schools for a sea-themed concert with our Junior Choristers (Friday 16 May), and don’t miss our own Alto Choral Scholar Phoebe Wakefield in a beautiful solo recital (Saturday 17 May). That evening, the Cathedral Choir presents Songs of Farewell — the centrepiece of this year’s festival, which features a glorious programme of English music by Parry, Stanford, Finzi, Harris, and Holst.

I do hope you will join us for some or all of these wonderful services and events, and I look forward to celebrating our lively and varied musical life here together.

Timothy Parsons, Festival Director

What’s On

Wells Cathedral School Composers

Wednesday 14 May, 13.05–14.00, Nave
Enjoy a lunchtime programme of chamber works written by up-and-coming student composers from Wells Cathedral School.
Admission: Included with entry to the Cathedral; retiring collection

Choral Evensong with Youth Choir

Wednesday 14 May, 17.15–18.00, Quire
The Vicars Choral are joined by Wells Cathedral Youth Choir for a beautiful service of Choral Evensong to start the Sound of Wells week.
Music to include a new setting of Psalm 80 by Timothy Parsons, Director of Music, composed for the occasion.
Admission: FREE (no booking required); retiring collection

Windows: Music for Organ and Brass

Wednesday 14 May, 19.00–20.30, Quire
Assistant Director of Music Carolyn Craig is joined by Ross Brown, Head of Brass at Wells Cathedral School, and student musicians to perform an eclectic programme for organ and brass, including Petr Eben’s vivacious Windows suite and the world premiere of a work written by Nicolas Chuaqui for the Friends of Wells Cathedral’s Grand Organ Appeal.
Admission: Free with retiring collection

Wells Cathedral School Lunchtime Recital

Thursday 15 May, 13.05–14.00, Quilter Hall (Wells Cathedral School)
Enjoy a lunchtime programme featuring specialist musicians from Wells Cathedral School.
Admission: FREE (no booking required); retiring collection

Wooden One-octave Organ For Young Technologists (WOOFYT) Workshop

Thursday 15 May, 15.00-15.45
Learn how the organ works in this engaging workshop featuring a purpose-built model organ. Jeremy Sampson will share the WOOFYT with schools throughout the day, before this session for all ages.
Admission: Included with entry to the Cathedral (limited spaces); retiring collection

Choral Evensong: Fifteenth Evening

Thursday 15 May, 17.15–18.00, Quire
The Senior Choristers and Vicars Choral lead Choral Evensong on the fifteenth evening of the month, with the full recitation of Psalm 78 set to an eclectic mix of Anglican chants old and new. This service will also include a new anthem for Eastertide, An Easter Flower Gift, by Wells Cathedral School composer Ernest Chui.
Admission: FREE (no booking required); retiring collection

Choral Compline

Thursday 15 May, 21.00–21.45, Quire
Join Wells Cathedral Chamber Choir for this ancient service of peace and reflection at the end of the day. Guest conductor Dr Barry Rose OBE leads contemplative psalmody and music by Gibbons and Arcadelt.
Admission: FREE (no booking required); retiring collection

Primary Musical Outreach Concert: Songs of the Sea

Friday 16 May, 13.05–14.00, Nave
Enjoy a sea-themed performance from the Cathedral’s youngest musicians, taking part in the primary musical outreach programme, directed by Alex Jenkins.
Admission: Included with entry to the Cathedral; retiring collection

Choral Evensong featuring the Junior Choristers and Song Squad

Friday 16 May, 17.15–18.00, Quire
Join the Junior Choristers of the Cathedral Choir and the Cathedral’s Song Squad in a service of Choral Evensong, with music led exclusively by children’s voices.
Admission: FREE (no booking required); retiring collection

Phoebe Wakefield, Mezzo Soprano

Saturday 17 May, 13.05–14.00, North Transept
Cathedral Alto Choral Scholar Phoebe Wakefield offers a programme of song by Strauss and Schumann, accompanied by Vicar Choral William Drakett at the piano.
Admission: Included with entry to the Cathedral; retiring collection

Wells Cathedral Choir: Songs of Farewell

Saturday 17 May, 19.00–20.30, Nave

Wells Cathedral Choir
Timothy Parsons director
Carolyn Craig organ

Wells Cathedral Choir perform Parry’s sublime Songs of Farewell, that capture the essence of human existence, alongside masterworks by Harris, Finzi, Holst, and Stanford.
Admission: £12–£28; available online via Eventbrite

Cathedral Eucharist

Sunday 18 May, 10.30–11.45, Nave
The Cathedral Choir and Chamber Choir join forces for this special Cathedral Eucharist featuring a new work, Viri Galilaei, by Wells alumnus Owain Park.
Admission: FREE (no booking required); retiring collection

Composers’ Masterclass: Owain Park

Sunday 18 May, 13.05–14.40, Cedars Hall
Cathedral Commissions hosts celebrated composer, conductor, and singer Owain Park to offers an insight into the world of composition with student composers from
Wells Cathedral School.
Admission: FREE (no booking required); retiring collection

Festival Evensong: Orlando Gibbons 400

Sunday 18 May, 15.00–16.00, Quire
The Cathedral Choir rounds off this year’s festival with a celebratory service of Choral Evensong, paying homage to the legacy of Orlando Gibbons in his 400th Anniversary year, featuring a string consort from Wells Cathedral School.
Admission: FREE (no booking required); retiring collection