A Festival of Lessons and Carols for Christmas

The full Cathedral Choirs will perform favorite and familiar carols in addition to some lesser-known works from around the world.

Lessons & Carols is modeled on the service as developed at King’s College, Cambridge, UK. It traditionally begins with the carol Once in Royal David’s City sung by a solo boy or girl chorister, then joined by all. Lessons & Carols was first done in the cathedral in 1953, making this the 71st anniversary.

The Cathedral Choristers, will feature prominently at Lessons & Carols. The choristers, at their strongest in many years, will join with the adult singers in a wide variety of works. The choristers also join in singing all the descants (the high voice above a tune) and most of the other carol settings.