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Independent school girls get chance to shine in prestigious choir

Posted on 11th May 2009

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Female pupils at The Chorister School have been admitted to Durham Cathedral Choir for the first time in almost a millennium.

Until now, only men and boys have been allowed to join the prestigious group, which dates back more than 900 years.

But girls from the independent school are now participating in rehearsals for the choir for the first time.

The ten females are aged between nine and 12 and are expected to take part in weekly services at the cathedral after the October half-term break later this year.

Ian Hawksby, headteacher of the private school - which counts Tony Blair among its alumni - welcomed the change.

"This is an extremely exciting time for the cathedral, The Chorister School and most of all for the girls themselves," he stated.

The Chorister School first opened some time between 1390 and 1416 to cater for the boys who sang in the cathedral choir and did not admit its first girls until 1993.