William Byrd Festival

Editor's Pick

When

July 31–Aug. 16, 2026

Days vary, Times vary

Where

Portland, OR

The Byrd Festival celebrates the golden age of English church music. Join Cantores in Ecclesia for the 27th Annual William Byrd Festival, Pillars of the Renaissance. This year’s festival celebrates four towering figures of the Renaissance period — William Byrd, Orlando di Lasso, Giovanni da Palestrina, and Tomás Luis de Victoria — each with a distinctive voice and together representing the ‘golden age’ of European choral music.

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Schedule of Events:

• 7/31: Organ Recital and Compline: A recital given by Mark Williams will precede the singing of the Office of Compline, featuring the music of Byrd sung by Cantores in Ecclesia, Blake Applegate, Director, at Holy Rosary Church. Freewill offering.
• 8/1: Chamber Concert: Ave Maria — Music in Honor of the Virgin Mary performed by the Byrd Festival Consort, Blake Applegate, Director. 
• 8/2: Dominican Rite Mass: Mass for the Feast of St. Dominic featuring Byrd’s Mass for Three Voices sung by Cantores in Ecclesia, Blake Applegate, Director. 
• 8/8: Lecture: ‘The Tudor Singer’s Survival Kit’, given by Dr. Kerry McCarthy. 
• 8/8: Chamber Concert: Spiritual Songs of Love and Sorrow performed by the Byrd Festival Consort. 
• 8/9: Dominican Rite Mass: For the Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost featuring Byrd’s Mass for Four Voices sung by Cantores in Ecclesia, Blake Applegate, Director.
• 8/9: Choral Evensong: For the Tenth Sunday after Trinity, sung by Cantores in Ecclesia, Mark Williams, Director, at The Parish of St. Mark.
• 8/15: Dominican Rite Mass: Mass for the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, featuring music from Byrd’s Gradualia (1605), sung by the Byrd Festival Consort, Blake Applegate, Director. Freewill offering.
• 8/15: Solemn High Mass (1970 Missal): For the Vigil of the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, featuring Byrd’s Mass for Five Voices sung by Cantores in Ecclesia, Blake Applegate, Director. 
• 8/16: Final Concert: Sound the Trumpet — Music for the Church Year performed by Cantores in Ecclesia, Mark Williams, Director. Reception to follow. 

Tickets, locations and times can be found here.