The Chant Forum was founded five years ago by Dom Erik Varden of Mount Saint Bernard Abbey and Dame Margaret Truran of Stanbrook Abbey. It aims to promote interest in Gregorian Chant in a monastic context, with the primary focus being on practical application of the repertoire and excellence of performance.

This year the meeting took place at Pluscarden, with representatives from Ramsgate Abbey, Ealing Abbey, Ampleforth Abbey, Douai Abbey, Oulton Abbey, Chorley Down Monastery, Worth Abbey, Holy Cross Monastery Rostrevor, Stanbrook Abbey, Saint Mary's Monastery Petersham and Kristo Buase Monastery, Ghana, as well as representatives of diocesan choirs and scholas.

The keynote speaker was Jaan-Eik Tulve, an Estonian chant scholar and schola director. Jaan-Eik has had many invitations to direct monastic chant scholas from all over the world and has made several influential recordings with his own schola in Estonia. Under his direction, the Chant Forum was able to analyse in depth several important liurgical pieces, and also to perform them in the liturgy here at the Abbey.

Jaan-Eik Tulve is pictured below with Br. Michael and Fr. Benedict.