The Chapter of Truro Cathedral has announced a  partnership with Truro School which will see the introduction of girl choristers, aged 13 to 18, to sing in the Cathedral Choir from September 2015.

The cathedral has had a choir in the traditional form of boys and men since it first opened its doors in 1887. The 20 new girl choristers will sing services in parallel with the current team of boy choristers, aged 8 to 13, who will continue to be educated at Polwhele House School.

The Very Reverend Roger Bush, Dean of Truro, said: “The Cathedral’s governing Chapter has had a desire for many years now to have girl choristers as well as our highly successful boy choristers, joined by our dedicated team of professional gentlemen who sing the lower parts.

“We are convinced that Truro School will be the right place to nurture the kind of world class excellence Polwhele House has nurtured so successfully in our boy choristers.”

The new girl choristers will receive 25 per cent scholarships at Truro School, as well as additional means-tested bursaries. As with the boy choristers, the aim is that selection will be solely on musical and academic potential, not financial background.

Commenting on the partnership, Truro School’s headmaster, Andrew Gordon-Brown, said: “With our shared commitment to musical excellence, this partnership between Truro School and Truro Cathedral is wonderful news indeed. We already have one of the biggest and busiest music departments in the South West, and we are delighted with the introduction of a new chorister programme for girls that gives us new opportunities to build on this further.”

Recruitment for the new choir will begin in the Autumn. Full details are available on the Truro School website.

 

Link to Music at the Cathedral