First girls choir for Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral

Today, the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King, Liverpool, is to announce the launch of a Girls Choir. The Choir which will be open to girls aged 11-16 years will offer Choristers the unique educational and cultural experience currently enjoyed by the boys' Choir and will complement the existing Junior Choir for younger girls and boys. Its formation will enable the Cathedral, for the first time, to offer music at services every day during term time. Canon Anthony O'Brien, Dean of the Metropolitan Cathedral believes the new Choir will enhance the already rich musical tradition of the Cathedral, he says: 'We are delighted to be able to announce the formation of a Girls' Choir as it will enable us to extend the range of sung services at the Cathedral. It will provide a great opportunity for the girls to become involved in the liturgical life of the Cathedral and for them to develop their musical and choral skills'. Director of Music at the Metropolitan Cathedral, Timothy Noon, says: 'I am delighted that the Cathedral is able to take this significant step in the development of its musical resources. The boys of the Cathedral Choir already contribute hugely to the musical life of Liverpool, whilst benefiting from a first class musical education. Offering the same opportunity to girls will allow us to play an even greater cultural and spiritual role in the church and the city.' The girl Choristers will attend the Cathedral Choir School, St Edward's College in Sandfield Park, Liverpool, alongside the boys of the Choir, and will receive the same high academic and musical opportunities. John Waszek, Principal of St Edward's says: 'A chorister's education is a rare and exciting challenge and I am delighted that this opportunity will now be offered to our girls, and simultaneously enable daily sung services to take place at the cathedral.' The first intake of girl choristers at the Metropolitan Cathedral will be entering a world rich in opportunity with the Choir being able to maintain daily sung services in the Cathedral, in addition to the provision of music for a growing range of Archdiocesan and regional special services during the year. There will be the opportunity for Choir tours and for future development as all the choristers learn at least one musical instrument and many learn two as well as having individual voice coaching.