Sing For The King with Bristol Cathedral and St George's Bristol

St George’s Bristol and Bristol Cathedral have jointly organised a special tribute to the coronation of King Charles III, and Bristol’s historic 650^th anniversary.

Sing for the King will take place at 3pm on Bank Holiday Monday 1 May. It’s a free live event and everyone is welcome to join in, either as a singer or as part of the audience. The event will be filmed, edited and presented to His Majesty as Bristol’s tribute to the new monarch with the city’s civic best wishes.

Samir Savant, CEO of music venue St George’s Bristol, said, “I am delighted to be working with our friends at Bristol Cathedral and with choirs across Bristol and the wider South West region on this massive choral tribute to the new King. Please join us.”

“We are delighted to be working with our friends from St George’s Bristol and choirs across the city to bring together singers to perform the great coronation anthem, Zadok the Priest,” says The Very Revd Dr Mandy Ford, Dean of Bristol. “I know the singers will have an extraordinary experience singing together in Bristol Cathedral and it is a real joy to know that the resulting film will convey our prayers and congratulations to His Majesty on his coronation.” 

Sing for the King follows the success of a mass participation singing event in 2022 for Her late Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee, a performance of Hallelujah! Chorus with 150 singers and musicians. Sing for the King will feature a famous piece of music Zadok the Priest, written by Handel for the Coronation of King George II in 1727. Zadok the Priest has been performed at ever British coronation since. The event will also feature the brand new coronation anthem, The Mountains Shall Bring Peace,  written especially for King Charles III by Joanna Forbes L’Estrange – part of a national Sing for the King initiative with the Royal Schools of Church Music.

Bristol’s Sing for the King will also feature performances from other local choirs including Bristol Choral Society, Bristol Cabot Choir, City Voices Bristol, Fitzhardinge Consort, and UWE Singers. There will be accompaniment by City of Bristol Brass Band. From further afield there will be involvement from Chepstow Choral Society, Thornbury Choral Society, Worle Community Choir, and Wiltshire Music Centre – with more musical partners to be confirmed. The event will also take place online with over 100 members of digital choir Homechoir joining remotely.

Singers will meet from 1:30pm-2:30pm to rehearse. For any individuals, groups or choirs who are interested in taking part, please visit: https://www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk/whats-on/sing-for-the-king/

You don’t need to be a trained singer, or part of a choir – you just need enthusiasm! St George’s Bristol will be running free online tutorials before the event for anyone who wants to learn the piece.

As well as the coronation of King Charles III, 2023 is a significant year for Bristol. It marks the city's 650^th birthday, and the 200^th birthday of St George’s Bristol, along with the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, and Bristol’s Chamber of Commerce.