Music, News
Climbing the Three Peaks for the Choir Tour
Five fearless ladies with close links to the cathedral music department will be tackling the Yorkshire Three Peaks to raise money for the upcoming choir tour to Bavaria.
April 9, 2024
The Ripon Cathedral choristers are a truly dedicated and talented group of young individuals who work hard to create beautiful music for the cathedral. They learn music theory, rehearse before and after school most days, showing resilience and talent throughout.
The choristers and our choral scholars have been given an amazing opportunity to travel to Germany for five days to perform at various historic venues, including Munich Cathedral and Waldsassen Basilica, one of Germany’s biggest baroque churches. The opportunity will celebrate their talent, acknowledge their hard work, and provide a memorable cultural experience.
Elaine Gisbourne, one of the walkers, says: “When an opportunity like this arises, for the choristers to take a once in a lifetime trip, we believe nothing should stand in their way. They work hard every week and the opportunity to share their skill with the world should be celebrated and supported. We have decided to come together to ensure that each child gets the chance to take part.”
Elaine and her team are stepping up to the plate to help fund the choristers’ tour. They are taking on the Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge this Saturday April 13 – a gruelling 26-mile trek conquering Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside, and Ingleborough within 12 hours.
The choir will be visiting Bavaria, from where Director of Music Dr Ronny Krippner hails. When he arrived at Ripon Cathedral post pandemic the girls’ choir was dwindling in number and the boys’ choir had folded, with boys and girls singing services together. Following two large scale recruitment campaigns at schools in the region there are now more than 60 choristers, with separate boys’ and girls’ choirs. The choir recently recorded a CD for this coming Christmas and is looking forward to its first trip abroad for several years.
Ronny Krippner adds: “The boys and girls of the Cathedral Choir will be wonderful cultural ambassadors, taking the very best of English Cathedral Music to the most stunning German cathedrals and churches.”
Chorister families are meeting some of the cost, but the cathedral is a registered charity and various events are taking place to help raise funds for the tour, with choristers running chocolate tombolas, getting sponsored haircuts and holding bake sales.
The Three Peaks team would be grateful for any sponsorship you can donate in support of the young choristers.