ELY Cathedral and the King s School have been praised for their work to get children singing. The singing workshops and visits to local schools by the cathedral s boy choristers, all pupils at King s Junior School, and the flourishing new children s choir

ELY Cathedral and the King's School have been praised for their work to get children singing.

The singing workshops and visits to local schools by the cathedral's boy choristers, all pupils at King's Junior School, and the flourishing new children's choir, the Ely Imps, have impressed Government ministers who want to encourage more choir schools and cathedrals to get involved in such projects.

Last year, Ely's boy choristers, with Paul Trepte, the cathedral's director of music, gave singing workshops at St Mary's Primary School in Ely and at Methwold, Northwold and Shouldham Primary Schools.

About 90 boys and girls, aged eight to 13, regularly rehearse with the Ely Imps and the choir appeared in public for the first time last May when they sang John Rutter's Mass for Children, conducted by the composer himself. They have also sung at harvest and Christmas celebrations and are rehearsing for another major performance alongside the cathedral choir in May this year.

"The emphasis is always on fun and the joy of singing and the feedback from the kids who are already in the choir has been extremely positive," said Mr Trepte.

Tony Duncan, head of King's Junior School, said: "The Government funding that is being channelled through the Choir Schools' Association is a major boost which will help sustain and develop our outreach programme so that even more children will have the opportunity to appreciate the joy of singing and making music.