London’s St. Paul’s Cathedral to admit girls to its choir

“St. Paul’s Cathedral is to admit girls to its internationally renowned choir, breaking a tradition stretching back 900 years,” writes Harriet Sherwood in Thursday’s (5/5) Guardian (U.K.). “The move comes 31 years after Salisbury became the first Anglican cathedral in England to offer girls places in its choir. Many others, including York Minster, Durham and Exeter, have followed suit. St. Paul’s choir performs at services and events of national importance as well as daily liturgies and three times on Sundays…. The choir currently comprises 22 choristers alongside professional singers known as vicars choral. The first girls will join in 2025 after boarding school facilities have been expanded and funds raised for scholarships.… Andrew Carwood, director of music at St. Paul’s, said … the ‘long-held ambition’ to introduce girls had been put on hold by the Covid pandemic and resulting loss of income. ‘Now we’re getting our mojo back, and one of the first things is to get girls into the choir.’… ‘I accept the idea of a boys’ choir as culturally iconic, and I’d like to keep that. And I’d like girls to be able to experience exactly the same thing,’ Carwood said.”