The Voice...in Wakefield Cathedral
Wakefield Cathedral is looking for new voices in a unique opportunity for young people to find out more about being a chorister in the city's world renowned choir.
It will hold an open afternoon of fun activities and singing on Sat May 23 when young people aged from eight to 13 can come along to see if they want to be a chorister at the iconic city centre building.
The Dean, the Very Revd Jonathan Greener said: "This is a unique opportunity for young people across the city and beyond. If they choose to come on this journey with us, we will immerse them in music, teach them a lot about the Christian faith, take up hours of their time and change their life and that of their family as well.
"But when they leave here they will be equipped in all sorts of ways to take on the world because music teaches you that whatever mistakes you make in life, the show has to go on," he added.
The choir which last year recorded two CD's and gave a live broadcast of Choral Evensong on BBC Radio 3 boasts a number of high profile choristers duing its long history including former Archbishop of York, the Rt Revd David Hope, composer musician, Noel Gay who wrote The Lambeth Walk and John Scott, former organist at St Paul's Cathedral, now at St Thomas' Fifth Avenue, New York.
And it has seen two of its choristers make it all the way to the final four in the prestigious BBC Radio 2 Young Chorister of the Year competition.
Organist and choir master, Thomas Moore said: "This is a great opportunity for children in our area to continue a tradition which stretches back centuries. There are so many opportunities for choristers to experience and be a part of with us that they couldn't get in any other walk of life.
“Being in a choir really is a team game and one where the playing field is completely level no matter what age you are. All choir members need each other to make the ensemble work! And added to all the bonuses of choir membership, the tours, the recordings, the musical training, we even pay the children to be part of the choir. Each chorister receives a termly scholarship,” he added.
SAT MAY 23, 1.00pm - Come and be a Chorister in Wakefield Cathedral - free - open to anyone boy or girl aged between 8 and 13. For further information contact tom.moore@wakefield-cathedral.org.uk