Cathedral on lookout for new boy choristers

It’s not that there is a shortage of choir members, far from it according to the Dean of Derry, Very Rev Dr William Morton, but simply to bring in new young voices to augment the choir now that some of the younger choristers’ voices have broken, meaning they have to move into the more senior ranks.

“To maximise the potential of the recruitment drive, notices, containing lots of interesting information about the Choir, have been placed in the city’s weekly newspapers, while it is also planned to visit local schools in the search for new boy choristers aged between seven and 11 years of age,” said the Dean.

“As senior boys’ voices ‘break’ they usually move into the Gentlemen’s section of the Choir and continue their musical development by learning to sing alto, tenor or bass, thus providing opportunity for new choristers to fill the front rows.

“Becoming a Cathedral chorister carries many benefits,” Dr Morton said.

“Not only will members receive a free, first-class musical education, they will gain the experience of being a valued member of a team; they will have the chance to sing at special opportunities, including television and radio broadcasts; improved confidence and performance skills as well as improved reading and writing skills and the opportunity to learn to play the piano or organ.

“St Columb’s Cathedral is widely recognised for its musical and choral tradition in worship, but as well as this, is sought after as a venue for organ and choir recitals, together with lectures, exhibitions, guided tours and seminars.

“Over the summer of 2015, St Columb’s hosted a range of visiting choirs many of whom were from the United States. We have actually been taking bookings right through to the autumn of 2016 and it is the choirs who are contacting the Cathedral to arrange the performances, not the other way around,” he said.

“The Cathedral’s main purpose, of course, is for the worship of Almighty God and it is of immense importance that the training of choristers continues to meet the interest and growing demand for worship of that nature,” he said.

Further information about the Choir is available from the Assistant Organist, Nicky Morton, on 07858097290, or, by e-mail, on [email protected] or by telephoning the Cathedral directly on 02871 267313.