For Hereford Choral Society concerts tickets can be purchased online or by phone from the Box Office (01432 751175), which is operated for us by the Three Choirs Festival. Unreserved tickets are also available from Hereford Cathedral Shop and at the venue on the day of the event.
We’re really sorry, but it isn’t possible to exchange your tickets.
All ticket purchases are finalised once payment has been received, and no refunds can be made after this time. If a concert has sold out it may be possible to return your ticket for resale on the door.
If you have lost your tickets, you should contact the Box Office (01432 751175) as soon as possible.
Yes! We are delighted to offer a 50% discount to registered students. However, these tickets are only available on the door subject to availability and proof may be required in the form of a student ID card.
We definitely like to encourage young people to experience our concerts. Up to two chilren under 16 are admitted free for every adult ticket purchased, but please book tickets for them from the Box Office.
Definitely! We offer a discount of 10% for block bookings of 10 tickets or more.
Go to top
Our printed programmes have everything you need to know about the works and the performers, and are available for a small charge at each concert.
Programmes are available for a small charge at each of our concerts. Programme sellers will be around at several points in the cathedral as you arrive.
Most Hereford Choral Society November and March concerts last for approximately two hours, including a 20-minute interval. The annual December performance of Handel’s Messiah lasts for approximately 2½ hours including the interval.
Once a performance commences the doors will be closed and latecomers will not be admitted until a suitable break in the performance. In some cases, this may not occur until the interval. The stewards will direct you at this time and will assist with locating your seat.
Contrary to what many people think, formal attire is not required at performances. Wear what makes you feel comfortable and warm, particularly as our concerts take place in the colder months of the year.
Generally, it is considered proper concert etiquette to clap only at the interval or after the work is complete. At these points it is normal for the conductor to stand with his hands raised until the last sound has died away or the atmosphere has been absorbed. The cue for applause will be when the conductor lowers his hands. This means that there may be moments of silence between movements when everything stops, but no one applauds. It is only when the full work ends that the applause starts.
You can look at the concert programme to find out how many movements a work has and, if all else fails, you can always wait for the rest of the audience to clap before applauding.
Regrettably, this is not allowed. Whilst we would be delighted that you want to keep a memento of our concert, there are rules and rights protecting the recording of professional musicians which mean that photographs and videos are not allowed. For the sake of other audience members as well as performers, flash photography and phone/camera screens create considerable distraction, which is another reason we cannot allow their use.
Hereford Cathedral has a very resonant acoustic and is designed to project even the quietest of sounds. This is perfect for unamplified music, but means that other noises can also be heard by the entire audience! Please be mindful of this when attending a performance and please make sure that you switch electronic devices off or to silent. Please also consider your fellow audience members by ensuring the screen on your device is dimmed, as the light emanating from the screen can be distracting.
There are some noises that are unavoidable though. Here are some tips to minimise noise and disruption to others: bring lozenges along if you feel like you may need to cough during the performance and try to unwrap them prior to the performance; or try to bury your cough or sneeze in a loud section of music, or muffle the sound in the best way that you can.
All Hereford Choral Society venues have seating arrangements for patrons with wheelchairs. Please state your requirements when booking tickets to ensure you obtain seats in the appropriate area. Upon arrival at the venue, please see staff for assistance.
For further information regarding accessibility, please call the Box Office on 01432 751175.
Please download a PDF copy, or join our mailing list for more information.
Please bring them along free! We offer up to two free tckets for under-16s for each ticket purchased. If you think this may be too much as an introduction, why not pop along to our orchestral rehearsal, which will be from 2.00pm in Hereford Cathedral each concert day. There is no cost and you can stay as long as you like. However, there is nothing like the buzzing atmosphere of a live concert to really give children a sense of what it’s all about.
For our concerts of music from the baroque period, such as Handel’s Messiah, we use a smaller orchestra of ‘period instruments’. These are restored or replicated versions of the instruments for which the music was originally written. String instruments have gut strings instead of steel ones and there may be constructional differences. The overall effect is for a quieter, more gentle and relaxing sound that is also a little below the ‘Concert pitch’ of modern instruments.
We are grateful to Melbourne Symphony Orchestra for providing the source for this page.
