The only professional choir that is recognised as a National Portfolio Organisation by Arts Council England, Ex Cathedra engages over 90,000 people across the UK every year in a programme of world-class performances and participatory projects.

Singing together is powerful. It stimulates every area of the brain, releases feel-good hormones, reduces stress; it can excite and can calm. It touches our deepest emotions. It transforms individuals into a community, connecting us, regardless of age, ethnicity, faith, gender or any other definition. Singing builds confidence, shared understanding and empathy. It teaches us to listen with care and express ourselves with confidence. Singing together is inspiring.

Ex Cathedra is a charity about singing. We believe that everyone should be able to experience the remarkable physical, mental and emotional health benefits of singing together, and have opportunities to be inspired by extraordinary choral music.

We are committed to developing the choral repertoire to engage with the widest possible audience. We aim to offer innovative and attractive programming that celebrates the best, rediscovers the neglected, commissions and premieres new music.

We care about our musicians and the development of their skills, including the singers of the future. Our choral training pathway starts with very young children and moves on to include school children, young people, students, Scholars, amateur and professional singers, and singing leaders.

We believe communal singing is needed now more than ever in an often isolating world, where many social interactions take place online, where people are living longer and lonelier lives with increasing health needs, and where many communities are fragmented and facing great challenges.

Our participation projects bring people together through singing, from whole schools singing in their playgrounds to local communities, work colleagues, parents bonding with their newborn babies, and families coping with dementia and recovery from stroke.

As we approach a milestone moment – the retirement of founder Jeffrey Skidmore – we are as ambitious as ever to deliver outstanding performances and participatory opportunities that can transform lives.

To do this, in a challenging funding landscape, we need your help more than ever. Please consider supporting, and inspire singing with us. Thank you.