The Sixteen Choir

The Choral Pilgrimage 2026

Lead, Kindly Light

The Sixteen Choir - The Choral Pilgrimage 2026
A programme exploring majestic music from the Spanish Renaissance alongside spellbinding works from James MacMillan and Kerensa Briggs.

Spain’s Siglo de Oro, the Age of Gold, gave rise to some of the greatest sacred choral music of the Renaissance. We devote our latest Choral Pilgrimage to pieces by two outstanding Spanish composers, exploring majestic works by Cristóbal de Morales, famed throughout Europe and in the New World, and the exquisite polyphony of Sebastián de Vivánco, whose intricately crafted counterpoint adorned services at the cathedrals of Ávila and Salamanca during the late 1500s.

Our programme also features spellbinding settings of words by Saint John Henry Newman: Sir James MacMillan’s Nothing in Vain for soloists and double choir and the world premiere of Kerensa BriggsLead, Kindly Light, specially commissioned for the Choral Pilgrimage.

Vivanco Christus factus est pro nobis
Morales Emendemus in Melius
Vivanco Assumpta est Maria
Morales Gaude et laetare Ferrariensis civitas
Kerensa Briggs Lead, Kindly Light (new commission)
Vivanco Magnificat Octavi toni
Morales Jubilate Deo omnis terra
Vivanco O quam suavis est, Domine
Morales Exaltata est sancta Dei Genitrix
Morales Lamentabatur Jacob
Vivanco Caritas Pater est
James MacMillan Nothing in Vain (2021, Genesis Foundation commission)The Sixteen
Harry Christophers conductor


  • date Thu, 16 April 2026Sat, 17 October 2026
  • 22 performances
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A programme exploring majestic music from the Spanish Renaissance alongside spellbinding works from James MacMillan and Kerensa Briggs.

Spain’s Siglo de Oro, the Age of Gold, gave rise to some of the greatest sacred choral music of the Renaissance. We devote our latest Choral Pilgrimage to pieces by two outstanding Spanish composers, exploring majestic works by Cristóbal de Morales, famed throughout Europe and in the New World, and the exquisite polyphony of Sebastián de Vivánco, whose intricately crafted counterpoint adorned services at the cathedrals of Ávila and Salamanca during the late 1500s.

Our programme also features spellbinding settings of words by Saint John Henry Newman: Sir James MacMillan’s Nothing in Vain for soloists and double choir and the world premiere of Kerensa BriggsLead, Kindly Light, specially commissioned for the Choral Pilgrimage.

Vivanco Christus factus est pro nobis
Morales Emendemus in Melius
Vivanco Assumpta est Maria
Morales Gaude et laetare Ferrariensis civitas
Kerensa Briggs Lead, Kindly Light (new commission)
Vivanco Magnificat Octavi toni
Morales Jubilate Deo omnis terra
Vivanco O quam suavis est, Domine
Morales Exaltata est sancta Dei Genitrix
Morales Lamentabatur Jacob
Vivanco Caritas Pater est
James MacMillan Nothing in Vain (2021, Genesis Foundation commission)The Sixteen
Harry Christophers conductor

Performances

Upcoming
The Choral Pilgrimage 2026: Southwell
  • dateThu, 16 April 2026
  • locationSouthwell Minster
  • time7:30pm
  • ticket£15 - £35
The Choral Pilgrimage 2026: Derby
  • dateFri, 17 April 2026
  • locationDerby Cathedral
  • time7:30pm
  • ticket£15 - £30
The Choral Pilgrimage 2026: Peterborough
  • dateSat, 18 April 2026
  • locationPeterborough Cathedral
  • time7:30pm
  • ticket£15 - £35
The Choral Pilgrimage 2026: Liverpool
  • dateFri, 24 April 2026
  • locationLiverpool Metropolitan Cathedral
  • time7:30pm
  • ticket£17
The Choral Pilgrimage 2026: Blackburn
  • dateSat, 25 April 2026
  • locationBlackburn Cathedral
  • time3:00pm
  • ticket£10 - £30
The Choral Pilgrimage 2026: Cambridge
  • dateFri, 8 May 2026
  • locationTrinity College Chapel, Cambridge
  • time7:30pm
  • ticket£15 - £35
The Choral Pilgrimage 2026: London
  • dateTue, 12 May 2026
  • locationOld Royal Naval College Chapel, Greenwich
  • time7:30pm
  • ticket£18 - £40
The Choral Pilgrimage 2026: Newbury
  • dateFri, 15 May 2026
  • locationDouai Abbey, Reading
  • time7:30pm
  • ticket£30 - £35
The Choral Pilgrimage 2026: Rochester
  • dateSat, 6 June 2026
  • locationRochester Cathedral
  • time7:30pm
  • ticket£15 - £35
The Choral Pilgrimage 2026: Exeter
  • dateThu, 11 June 2026
  • locationExeter Cathedral
  • time7:30pm
  • ticket£15 - £35
The Choral Pilgrimage 2026: Truro
  • dateFri, 12 June 2026
  • locationTruro Cathedral
  • time7:30pm
  • ticket£15 - £35
The Choral Pilgrimage 2026: Croydon
  • dateMon, 15 June 2026
  • locationCroydon Minster
  • time7:30pm
  • ticket£10 - £25
The Choral Pilgrimage 2026: Oxford
  • dateFri, 3 July 2026
  • locationUniversity Church of St Mary The Virgin, Oxford
  • time7:30pm
  • ticket£15 - £35
The Choral Pilgrimage 2026: York
  • dateSat, 4 July 2026
  • locationYork Minster
  • time7:30pm
  • ticket£15 - £35
The Choral Pilgrimage 2026: London
  • dateThu, 3 September 2026
  • locationSt Martin-in-the-Fields, London
  • time7:30pm
  • ticket£15 - £36
The Choral Pilgrimage 2026: Hereford
  • dateThu, 10 September 2026
  • locationHereford Cathedral
  • time7:30pm
  • ticket£15 - £35
The Choral Pilgrimage 2026: Wells
  • dateFri, 11 September 2026
  • locationWells Cathedral
  • time7:30pm
  • ticket£15 - £35
The Choral Pilgrimage 2026: Tewkesbury
  • dateSat, 12 September 2026
  • locationTewkesbury Abbey
  • time3:00pm
  • ticket£15 - £35
The Choral Pilgrimage 2026: Chichester
  • dateSat, 19 September 2026
  • locationChichester Cathedral
  • time7:30pm
  • ticket£10 - £35
The Choral Pilgrimage 2026: Middlesbrough
  • dateThu, 15 October 2026
  • locationSt. Mary's Cathedral, Middlesbrough
  • time7:30pm
  • ticket£15 - £25
The Choral Pilgrimage 2026: Hexham
  • dateFri, 16 October 2026
  • locationHexham Abbey
  • time7:30pm
  • ticket£10 - £30
The Choral Pilgrimage 2026: Edinburgh
  • dateSat, 17 October 2026
  • locationGreyfriars Kirk, Edinburgh
  • time3:00pm
  • ticket£15 - £35

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