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Young chorister shines at Durham Cathedral

Oct 24 2009 by Neil McKay, The Journal

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Liam Jones, 12, the Durham chorister who duetted with Catherine Jenkins at the memorial service for Sir Bobby Robson

HISTORY will be made next week when girls join the 900-year-old choir at Durham Cathedral for the first time.

A group of girl choristers will sing at Evensong in Durham Cathedral at 3.30pm on Sunday, November 1 – their first public appearance.

The cathedral first announced its intention to let girls sing in the choir a year ago and they will alternate with the boys who currently sing the choir’s soprano line.

Services were mainly sung by monks before a choir comprising men and boys started after the Reformation in the 16th century.

The 20 boys in the choir all attend the Chorister School in the cathedral’s precincts, where Tony Blair, the former Prime Minister, was a pupil.

And last month one of the boy choristers was thrust into the limelight when he accompanied Catherine Jenkins at the thanksgiving service for the life of Sir Bobby Robson, in the cathedral.