Funeral and wedding choirs in Manchester
Manchester has the musical history to match its scale, from the old Free Trade Hall to the parish churches in the suburbs. Our conservatoire-trained singers perform at weddings, funerals, and memorials across Greater Manchester — usually in a church, occasionally in a venue, always on time and rehearsed.
Funeral music in Manchester
Losing someone you love is overwhelming, and choosing music for a funeral can feel like one more impossible decision at an already difficult time. We are here to help. Our singers perform at funerals and memorial services in churches, crematoriums, and secular venues right across Greater Manchester. From a lone soprano voice singing Pie Jesu in a quiet chapel to a four-part choir leading the congregation through Dear Lord and Father of Mankind, we shape every performance around what the family wants.
We regularly sing at Manchester Cathedral, at churches across Salford, Stockport, Trafford, Bolton, and Bury, and at the city’s principal crematoriums — Manchester Crematorium, Agecroft Crematorium, and Blackley Crematorium. If you are unsure which pieces would suit the service, our funeral music guide offers suggestions for hymns, solos, and choral works that families often find comforting. We are always happy to talk things through by telephone as well — there is never any obligation.
Venues we know well
Manchester Cathedral on Victoria Street has a generous Gothic acoustic that suits a full choir of eight or twelve voices. The reverberation lifts choral pieces like Fauré’s Pie Jesu and gives congregational hymns the weight they deserve. We coordinate with the cathedral’s own director of music for services held there.
Manchester Crematorium on Barlow Moor Road has two chapels of differing sizes. The larger chapel works well with a quartet or sextet; the smaller suits a solo voice or duet. Both run on tight 30- to 45-minute time slots, which we plan around so families never feel rushed.
Agecroft Crematorium in Salford and Blackley Crematorium in north Manchester have similar pragmatic acoustics. A solo singer with a portable keyboard is often the right choice for these venues, especially for shorter services. For more on planning music at a crematorium, see our crematorium music guide.
The historic parish churches across Greater Manchester — from Stockport Parish Church and Bolton Parish Church to St Mary the Virgin in Prestwich — have their own characters. We send singers who know the building, or who research it in advance.
Logistics across Greater Manchester
Our singers travel to Manchester from a base in the city itself or from London depending on the date and the ensemble required. We arrive at least 45 minutes before the service to warm up, rehearse in the venue, and coordinate with the officiant. Travel costs across Greater Manchester are usually included in the published price; for services in outlying areas like Wigan or Macclesfield, we quote the supplement upfront.
Most central Manchester venues are accessible by Metrolink or short walks from Piccadilly and Victoria stations. We arrange parking for any equipment we bring (typically just a portable keyboard for venues without an organ). For services in suburban Greater Manchester, we drive and add a modest travel supplement, which is always agreed before booking.
Memorial services and celebrations of life
Memorial services held weeks or months after a funeral often allow a more ambitious musical programme than the funeral itself. Manchester Cathedral and the city’s larger parish churches suit full choirs of eight to twelve voices, and we can include orchestral players for performances of Fauré’s Requiem or Stainer’s Crucifixion. For a more intimate celebration of life at a hotel, restaurant, or family home, a quartet or solo voice is often the right scale. Our memorial service planning guide walks through the practical decisions involved.
Wedding choirs and singers
Manchester and Greater Manchester have a wide variety of wedding venues, from grand Victorian churches to converted mills and contemporary spaces along the waterfront. A live choir does what a recording cannot: lead a congregation through a hymn most of them only half-remember, and follow it with a solo during the signing of the register that holds the room still. Our choirs and soloists perform at weddings across the region, and we will learn new repertoire if there is a piece that holds particular meaning for you. If you are still deciding on your music, our guide to choosing wedding hymns is a good place to start.
For couples in Greater Manchester also considering musicians from further afield, we equally cover services in Liverpool and Chester.
Ensembles and pricing
We offer everything from a single soloist to a full choir of twelve voices, and can pair singers with an organist, harpist, or string quartet. Each musician is personally selected from our handpicked roster of professional singers and instrumentalists. Because the right ensemble depends on the venue and the format, we encourage you to tell us a little about what you have in mind so we can suggest the right ensemble and provide an accurate quote. Full details of our standard packages are available on our pricing page.
“I rang up not really knowing what I wanted and she couldn’t have been kinder. The quartet were outstanding — several people have asked me for the details since.”
Frequently asked questions
How much does a funeral singer cost in Manchester?
A solo funeral singer in Manchester starts from £215. A small choir of four voices starts from £1,150, a quintet from £1,400, a sextet from £1,600, and a full choir of eight from £2,000. A modest travel supplement may apply for services in parts of Greater Manchester outside the city centre.
Can you provide a choir for a wedding in Manchester?
Absolutely. Our wedding choirs sing at Manchester Cathedral, at parish churches across Salford, Stockport, and Trafford, and at licensed venues including converted mills and waterfront spaces. We offer anything from a solo vocalist to a twelve-voice chorus and take care of all the musical planning.
What types of music can you perform at a funeral in Manchester?
Our repertoire covers traditional hymns, classical sacred works such as Pie Jesu and Ave Maria, and contemporary songs or personal favourites. For services at Manchester Cathedral we can draw on the full Anglican choral tradition, and bespoke arrangements are always available.
Do you cover crematorium services in Manchester?
Yes, we regularly sing at Manchester Crematorium, Agecroft Crematorium, and Blackley Crematorium, as well as other chapels across Greater Manchester. Our musicians know these venues well and are experienced in working within their specific timings and acoustics.
For more guidance, explore our funeral music guide, popular funeral hymns, wedding hymns guide, or funeral music costs guide.