St Paul's searches for Diamond Jubilee choir

Young singers are being given a once-in-a-lifetime chance to perform in front of the Queen as part of St Paul's Cathedral's Diamond Choir.

The cathedral has launched a nationwide search to find 40 children to form the choir as part of celebrations to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

The competition is open to all boys and girls aged 10 to 13 who sing regularly in a church, school or other choir.

They will be given the chance to audition at regional cathedrals. Those selected for the final choir will be invited to St Paul's Cathedral, where they will sing before the Queen during a thanksgiving service on 5 June.

The choir will perform a new work, The Call of Wisdom, which has been written specially for the occasion by young British composer Will Todd, with words by Rev Canon Michael Hampel, Precentor of St Paul's.

The piece will be performed alongside the Choristers of St Paul's Cathedral and the Chapel Royal, with St Paul's Director of Music Andrew Carwood conducting.

Rev Hampel said: “This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to sing in front of The Queen at St Paul’s Cathedral in Diamond Jubilee year. It’s the first Diamond Jubilee service at St Paul’s since Queen Victoria’s in 1897 and we want to share it with young people from every region and nation of the United Kingdom.

“Auditions will be taking place all over the country and we are grateful to our friends in other cathedrals who are hosting them. As long as children regularly sing in any local choir, they can apply to take part in this exciting project.

“We’re really looking forward to hosting this unique occasion; having young singers from all over the country will make it even more special.”

Auditions will be held in the following cathedrals: Aberdeen, Belfast, Birmingham, Blackburn, Brecon, Bury Saint Edmunds, Canterbury, Durham, Edinburgh, Exeter, Gloucester, Manchester, Peterborough, Southwell, St Asaph, St Paul’s, Winchester and York.

To find out more, go to www.diamondchoir.co.uk