Chorister awarded place in prestigious national choir

Schoolboy Alfred Mitchell, 13, from Helperby, near Ripon, has won a place in the National Youth Choir of Great Britain (NYCGB), becoming only the seventh member from Yorkshire to make up the 147-strong choir of boys aged between nine and 16.

Alfred, a pupil at Cundall Manor School, near Boroughbridge, where he is head chorister, was accepted ahead of hundreds of other youngsters by the NYCGB, which is regarded as one of the most prestigious youth choirs in the world.

He said: “I am thrilled to have been selected for the choir. I love singing and it will be a wonderful experience and a great way to meet new people who share the same interests as me.”

The talented youngster will take part in his first National Youth Choir event this summer and will receive individual voice coaching, lessons in musicianship and choral training as well as vocal workshops by specialist teachers to improve his singing.

Meanwhile, more than 550 choristers from independent schools across the York area are to perform at York Minster next week for a fundraising concert in aid of HomeStart, a charity providing support to vulnerable families with pre-school children across the country.

The event, on Thursday, February 10, will feature singing by youngsters from Bootham, The Mount, Lyndhurst, Pocklington, Queen Margaret’s, St Olave’s, St Peter’s, Terrington Hall and the Minster School.

Richard Baldwin, the chairman of Home Start, said: “We’re thrilled with the hard work and professionalism shown by the schools’ music staff and pupils, all of whom have so generously and enthusiastically given their time to plan and rehearse, and who are now looking forward to performing in York Minster.

“We are incredibly grateful to the Minster staff and to Alison Forster and Robert Sharpe, who will be conducting the combined choirs on the day.”

Tickets are available from the Minster box office at www.boxoffice.yorkminster.org, or by phone on 0844 939 0015.