Bangor Cathedral and its Choir are busily preparing for their annual festive concert – Carols by 1000 Candles – on Wednesday, December 14 at 7.30pm. 

This popular concert is held in candlelight and features sacred and secular readings and music for the Festive season. Tickets cost £8 or £5 for concessions and are available from the Cathedral Shop (open Monday to Thursday 10.30am – 3.30pm and Saturday 10.30am to 1pm).

Looking forward to the concert, the Dean of Bangor, the Very Rev’d Kathy Jones, said: “Like many other people, I am looking forward to Christmas, my first back here in Bangor.

“Many people have mentioned the annual Carols by 1000 Candles Concert as being particuarly atmospheric and a real highlight of the many Christmas events here at Bangor Cathedral. I’m really looking forward to hearing the Choir and being part of that special Festive evening.’

The concert will be particularly special for the Cathedral Choir, as they will be singing music from their new CD – A Babe is Born: Music for Advent, Christmas & Epiphany. The new CD includes some familiar and some less familiar music for the Festive Season, including the world premiere of ‘Balulalow’, a beautiful carol specially composed by Ian Higginson for the Cathedral Choir. The album was recorded in the Cathedral and has been produced by the produced by Willowhayne Records label.

Commenting on the new CD, Bangor Cathedral’s Director of Music, Paul Booth, said, ‘It was a great privilege for me to lead the Choir in the production of this CD. The Choir were on good form when we made the recording. Their good sound, along with fine accompaniment from our organist, Martin J Brown, mean that we have a recording of which we are proud, and which reflects the talents of all our Choir members. I hope that people will enjoy listening to it as much as we enjoyed producing it!’

The CD will be on sale the night of the Carols by 1000 Candles concert in Bangor Cathedral. It is also available from the Cathedral Bookshop for £10.