Saint Patrick’s Cathedral Girls’ Choir
Saint Patrick’s Cathedral Girls’ Choir was founded (in its present form) in September 2000 with the intention of providing girls with an opportunity to benefit from the experience of singing in a cathedral choir, an opportunity available to boys for many centuries. The Cathedral Girls’ Choir currently numbers 21, whose ages range from 8 to 18. Most, though not all, are pupils at either the Choir School or at the Cathedral Grammar School.
Since the first service at which the girls sang in November 2000 they have taken an increasing role in the musical and liturgical life of the cathedral. They now sing evensong with the gentlemen of the choir on every Monday and on every second Thursday during term time, in addition to occasional Sunday evensongs. Outside events have included a live RTÉ Radio One broadcast from Saint Catherine’s Church (part of the Cathedral Group of Parishes) a collaborative recording of Christmas Carols jointly with the Boys’ Choir, a joint evensong with the Girls’ Choir of Christ Church Cathedral (December 2004) and trips away, to sing in Saint David’s Cathedral, Wales (April 2004) singing jointly with the resident choir there, and Blackburn Cathedral, Lancashire (April 2005). The music performed on this latter trip included The Truro Eucharist by David Briggs (who was a consultant for the rebuild of the Blackburn organ), the Howells Responses and Gloucester Service, and Parry’s anthem Hear my words, ye people. Their repertoire is drawn from the mainstream of the Anglican choral tradition with appropriate imports from other European traditions. Extra events this term include involvement in the cathedral’s Advent Carol Service and another joint evensong with the Girls’ Choir of Christ Church Cathedral.
