A new chapter in the history of the King's School began in September 2006 with the arrival of the 16 members of the new Ely Cathedral Girls' Choir.

The Cathedral Girls' Choir

Ely Cathedral Girls' Choir was founded in September 2006, under the direction of Louise Reid, former director of the Girls' Choirs in both Wakefield and Guildford Cathedrals. For the calendar year 2008, the Ely Girls worked under the direction of Sarah MacDonald, who covered for Louise during maternity leave.

The 18 girls are members of King's School, Ely, in years 9 to 13. They board in Etheldreda House, rehearsing five mornings a week before school. The Girls sing Choral Evensong in the Cathedral on their own every Wednesday during term time, and with the layclerks every second Monday. As well, they sing about one Sunday per month in the cathedral, with the Layclerks. As the choir has grown, it has also increased its share of the many extra feast days in the cathedral, singing for bigger cathedral services such as Maundy Thursday, Palm Sunday, Ascension Day, and Corpus Christi. As well as cathedral services, the Girls have sung concerts and services outside of Ely, including a live broadcast to troops in Iraq of a concert in the Guards' Chapel in London.

The Girls' have recently released their first CD, Sing reign of fair maid, a recording of Christmas music for upper voices under Sarah MacDonald's direction, which is on the Regent label and is available for sale in the Cathedral shop or online.

Louise Reid

The Director of the Girls' Choir

The Director of the Girls' Choir is Louise Reid (on maternity leave in 2008) who was the founder Director of the Guildford Cathedral Girl Choristers and before that the Assistant Organist and Director of the Girls' Choir of Wakefield Cathedral. She was trained at Lincoln College, Oxford, and at the Royal Academy of Music, and held the post of organ scholar at Westminster Abbey. Her broader musical experience includes directing the Northern Cathedral Singers (girls and men), leading residential courses for girls both in this country and in the USA, and working for BBC Radio 4's Daily Service.

Oliver Hancock

The Director of the Girls' Choir is assisted by the Organ Scholar, Oliver Hancock. He studied and was Organ Scholar at Jesus College, Oxford. Under Oliver's direction, Jesus College Chapel Choir has toured widely - most recently to Rome, including performances at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City, and to Paris, where they sang at Saint Sulpice, Saint Eustache and Notre Dame - and has broadcast live on BBC Radio Four's Sunday Worship programme.
In 2008, Oliver was awarded Associateship of the Royal College of Organists.

The Head of King's School, Sue Freestone, was delighted that the Dean and Chapter and the cathedral's Director of Music, Paul Trepte, embraced the idea of a girls choir for the cathedral with such warm enthusiasm. Mrs Freestone is an active member of the cathedral's Music Appeal and the founding of the Girls Choir helped focus national attention on the cathedral's established reputation as a centre of musical excellence.

Girl choristers receive bursaries of one-third of boarding fees. Additional bursaries may be available. The school is funding the girls choral bursaries and all associated staffing costs so there is no drain on the cathedral's resources.

The girls, all boarding pupils in King's Senior School aged 13-18, sing Evensong on their own every Wednesday, and with the Gentlemen of the Choir on alternate Mondays during school term. They also contribute fully to the many Feast Days celebrated at the Cathedral, including Epiphany, Palm Sunday, and Maundy Thursday, in 2008. The Girls rehearse five mornings a week at 8:00am, as well as before each service they sing.

Auditions for the Girls' Choir this year will be held on Saturday 6 February 2010 at 1pm in the King's School Recital Hall. Previous experience of choral singing is an advantage but not essential. Tests will include simple vocal exercises to explore vocal range and candidates will need to bring a piece of music of their choice which can be any style their like - or just a hymn - but something they feel confident to sing.

• DETAILED LEAFLET

FURTHER INFORMATION about the King's School Choral Awards

Any enquiries about choristerships for girls should be addressed to
THE KING'S SCHOOL ELY (Senior School)
Barton Square,
Ely,
Cambs.
CB7 4DB

www.kingsschoolely.co.uk

To arrange a visit, or for any other queries concerning admission to The King's School,
please email admissions@kings-ely.cambs.sch.uk
or contact
THE KING'S SCHOOL ELY (Senior School)
Mrs Dawn Burton Admissions Secretary
Tel 01353 660702

(2008) Acting Director of the Girls' Choir

Sarah MacDonald

Sarah MacDonald is Director of Music in Chapel at Selwyn College, Cambridge. She studied organ, piano, and conducting in her native Canada, and as Organ Scholar of Robinson College, Cambridge, before taking up the position at Selwyn in 1999; she was the first woman to hold such a post in an Oxbridge Chapel.

Sarah has recorded over 25 CDs, variously in the guises of condutor, organist, pianist, and producer; she has played recitals and conducted concerts throughout Europe, North America, the Middle East, and New Zealand, and has broadcast live on BBC Radio and on Canadian television. Sarah is a Fellow and a Trustee of the Royal College of Organists.