High note for Cathedral’s girl choristers
History will be made at a Welsh cathedral this year as for the first time it offers equal opportunities to girls and boys who wish to be choristers
From September, the Girls’ Choir at Llandaff Cathedral will sing at the same number of services as the Boys’ Choir. The two choirs, which both have 18 choristers, will split duties equally between them, each singing two choral evensong services a week and two services on alternate Sundays. All the choristers will be educated at the Cathedral School and will receive a Scholarship for their commitment.
The change is part of a national trend happening in other Cathedrals in the UK, including Gloucester, Worcester and Ely.
Stephen Moore, Director of Music at Llandaff Cathedral, will be responsible for both the choirs. He says, “Llandaff Cathedral has long been a place where choral music of the highest standard has thrived. I am thrilled that from September 2022 we will be able to offer the same opportunities to girls and boys who wish to be choristers here. Since they were established by the Cathedral School in 1996, the girls have played an important role in cathedral worship, singing Evensong each week and contributing to other services. This historic step, where both choirs will have an equal share of singing, marks an exciting new chapter in the musical life of the cathedral.”
Clare Sherwood, Head of The Cathedral School Llandaff, says, “Singing in a cathedral choir is a life-enhancing opportunity for children and we have been delighted to have been able to support Llandaff Cathedral Choir for generations. Creating equal opportunity for girls and boys to sing enriches our worship and I know that both choirs will go from strength to strength under the new arrangements.”
Canon Mark Preece, the Precentor of Llandaff Cathedral, “Choral music is at the heart of our worship all the year round and our choirs are a lively and joyful part of our cathedral community. This has been starkly illustrated during the Covid pandemic when restrictions on singing have made us all realise just how much we rely on music to express and enhance our worship. We are richly blessed at Llandaff in having an excellent and long-standing choral tradition. We are delighted, that our talented and committed young choristers will soon be sharing their Cathedral duties equally.”
Prospective parents are welcome to contact the Director of Music, Stephen Moore, for an informal discussion about their child’s potential for a choristership at Llandaff Cathedral.