Cathedral to have its first Girls Choir

Southwark Cathedral is recruiting for its first Girls Choir. Training will start early next year - with its 'debut' after Easter.

The Girls Choir will have its own distinct identity but it will offer opportunities for musical, spiritual and social education and development which only boys have enjoyed so far. By running a separate choir, a growing number of cathedrals have opened the doors to girls, while avoiding the arguments about mixing voices.

Girls will be admitted from age 9 to 14 and can stay in the choir until around their 16th birthday. Initially the Girls Choir will sing a weekday Evensong, and share in special services and concert engagements, enabling them to continue singing in their home church and to benefit from the Cathedral training and experience.

For an application form - and further details - contact Stephen Disley, Director of the Girls Choir, Southwark Cathedral, Montague Close, SE1 9DA (Tel: 020-7367 6703 Fax: 020-7367 6725 E-mail: cathedral@southwark.anglican.org).