Helping in a natiional campaign to keep cathedral music alive, the 13 year old head chorister at Bradford Cathedral will be representing Bradford at St Paul's Cathedral in London this week.
Zachary Smith (pictured) will be appearing in the national concert on Wednesday April 27, alongside choristers from sixty cathedrals across the country at the concert which will be presented by singer and TV and radio presenter, Aled Jones.
The concert has been organised by the Friends of Cathedral Music (FCM), which is starting a campaign to raise £10 million for its Diamond Fund to help cathedral’s keep their musical traditions going.
Zachary joined Bradford Cathedral choir in September 2012, and became head chorister in September 2015.
Alexander Woodrow, Bradford Cathedral's director of music, said that performing at St Paul's would be a once in a lifetime opportunity for Zachary. "The Friends of Cathedral Music generously support some of our educational work with the choristers here at the Cathedral and are a real force for good in promoting choral music and musical opportunities for young people across the country.
"I know Zach will have a tremendous time at St Paul's Cathedral as our Bradford Cathedral Choir ambassador and I know he will give an excellent account of himself and our Cathedral.
"He is a very fine young musician who is incredibly talented, with a brilliant voice and musical insight in everything that he does.”
Recently, Bradford Cathedral produced a promotional video for the cathedral choir. See the video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPvpV-jJRHM&feature=youtu.be
Mr Woodrow added: "Choral education is unique to this country, and all cathedrals do a great job; here in Bradford we offer it to all children from all backgrounds.
"As well as the music it offers traditional values and life skills, like having focus and discipline to reach the musical levels we aspire to."
Zachary, with the Bradford Cathedral Choir, will also be joining concert host Aled Jones again on June 9th when he visits Bradford Cathedral as part of his cathedrals tour .