The 16 members of the new Ely Cathedral Girls Choir will make history next Wednesday when they sing their first Evensong in the cathedral at 5.30pm. The girls, aged 13-18, are all boarding pupils in King s Senior School, and will contribute significantly

The 16 members of the new Ely Cathedral Girls' Choir will make history next Wednesday when they sing their first Evensong in the cathedral at 5.30pm.

The girls, aged 13-18, are all boarding pupils in King's Senior School, and will contribute significantly to cathedral services as the months go by, but the majority of the first half of this Michaelmas term is being spent "settling in" - getting used to their rehearsal schedule and learning repertoire.

The girls' choir director Louise Reid was founder director of the Guildford Cathedral Girl Choristers.

The school is funding the girls' choral bursaries and all associated staffing costs so there is no drain on the cathedral's resources.

Head of King's Sue Freestone, and King's governor Peter Dawe, are both active members of the cathedral's Music Appeal and the founding of the choir helped to focus national attention on the cathedral's established reputation as a centre of musical excellence.

Mrs Freestone hopes a large congregation will attend the event to help write a new chapter in the history of Ely and its cathedral.

INFO: Auditions for the Girls' Choir - and for boy choristers - will be held on February 3. More information is available from the school on 01353 660700 or e-mail

admissions@kings-ely.cambs.sch.uk.