Bjørn Moe,
Artistic manager/director

History Chorus Puerorum Cathedralis Nidrosiensis.

The Nidaros Cathedral Boys Choir has been closely linked to the Cathedral School, across the street from the cathedral, for 900 years. The choir holds its regular rehearsals there. At the end of the 11th century Norwegian and English stone carvers came to Trondheim to build the Christ Church, the predecessor to the cathedral. In one of the chapels the stonecarvers' sons were instructed by the clergymen in Gregorian songs and liturgy, and the boys sang at masses, just like today's choir. This was the beginning of Trondheim Cathedral School and the tradition of a boys' choir in the cathedral. New classrooms were soon built near the church - probably where the school is situated today. The everyday life for the boys was dependent on the cathedral's financial situation. In the years after the Black Death Plauge of 1349 conditions were so poor that the boys were allowed to beg. There could be long days; in addition to school the boys had to sing at prayers, weddings, funerals and services. After the high mass they even had to show up at school to be examined in the preaching of the day.

In 1806 the official bonds to the Cathedral School were broken. From now on the song duty was attended to by the Common Parish School, and from 1862 by the "Waisenhuset" school (Orphanage school) until 1905. For 22 years Trondheim had no boys' choir. But when planning the 900th anniversary of the death of St. Olav, chaplain Arne Fjellbu, later to become bishop, took the initiative to establish a new boys' choir in Trondheim.

In the autumn of 1927 Nidaros Cathedral Boys' Choir was re-established under leadership of Erik Saltnessand, who was engaged as conductor, and now the choir was back at Trondheim Cathedral School.