The Canterbury Cathedral Choir of Men and Boys of Canterbury, England will return to Fort Worth for a performance Thursday.

University Christian Church and Trinity Episcopal Church have partnered to co-host a concert performed by part of the 42-member choir in the UCC sanctuary. The 90-minute performance will include a number of traditional masterpiece choral works.

UCC has preserved a 30-year connection with the Canterbury Cathedral Choir, Carol Jane Lawrence, UCC coordinator of the concert, said. The choir last performed at UCC in 1999. In addition to this performance, the current Cathedral organist and Master of the Cathedral choristers Dr. David Flood, who oversees the musical program at Canterbury Cathedral, also performed organ recitals at UCC.

For Lawrence, the support of the arts in church is very important. Her late husband, Dr. Kenneth Lawrence, while a professor at TCU, travelled with student groups to England, where he first became acquainted with Flood.  The memorial fund in honor of her husband helped bring the choir back to Fort Worth, she said.

“It’s just a special gift that the church is offering the community to hear a really fantastic choir, Carol Jane Lawrence, coordinator of the concert, said.” “English voice choirs are well known to be exceptional choirs.”

The choir consists of boys ages 8-13 and professional singers of the cathedral. According to the Canterbury Cathedral website, the boys, called choristers, must first audition and are chosen by Flood.  They will then live in a cathedral choral house and attend the St. Edmund’s School, where they receive an academic and music education.

During the choir’s visit to Fort Worth, members will have the opportunity to experience the city. The choir is planned to visit the Stockyards, have lunch at The Star Café and tour the city’s North side, Tom Wilson, member of Trinity Episcopal Church, said.

Wilson, as well as about 20 other families of both congregations have volunteered to host the choir members in their homes, he said. As for Wilson and his family, they will host three of the young choristers.

UCC will be one of nine stops on Canterbury Choir’s April tour across the nation, she said. The choir is also scheduled to perform in Dallas and will continue its tour along the West Coast, through California, Oregon and Washington.

Tickets for the concert are available for purchase at universitychristianchurch.org or at the door the day of the event.

Canterbury Cathedral Choir of Men and Boys Concert

When: Thursday, April 12

Where: University Chrisitan Church sanctuary

When: 7 p.m.

Ticket prices:

$75 Pre-concert dinner/premier seating

$50 Premier seating

$15 General admission

$10 Seniors/students

Free for children under 12