annual fun day

Life in the Stall…

" I joined the choir of Lincoln Cathedral in September 2005 as a girl probationer. At first, it was very difficult to settle in, but with the other choristers to help me, I soon felt more comfortable. I like singing lots of types of cathedral music, but my favourite at the moment is to sing the psalms. Not every one of the girls agrees with me about psalms!  I have to agree with them, a lot of the other music is brilliant as well. A lot of the music we sing comes from the bible, which is why I like some of it so much. When I joined the choir I was not allowed to sing everything in the services, but as I progressed I was allowed to join in more and more. Also as I sing more in the services, it becomes more enjoyable for me.

As probationers, the others and I had special singing lessons with the assistant organist, tours of the organ loft and the cathedral, as well as visits to the Precentory to learn about the services and we even had chocolate cake once!

I have wanted to join the choir ever since I first saw the girl’s choir come into the Cathedral when I was four! I told my parents that was what I wanted to do but they didn’t believe me at first. But here I am! The time I walked into my first service I felt all shaky but happier than ever. I was thinking “Here I am where I have always wanted to be and I have fulfilled a dream.” I don’t get the shakes anymore!

Some people don’t like the early morning starts, but the morning rehearsals are very good for me because I always get up about half past five anyway! We practise early, as we sing at evensong on Monday and Thursday and we sing at weekends, Saturday and Sunday too. We have also sung in other places and for the radio and the television sometimes. We are very busy at Christmas and Easter, singing a lot. On Christmas Eve we girls sang midnight mass, even I was not up at half past five on Christmas day!

The main thing is I like to praise God and this is a way for me to do it."                                                                                                    

(Sophie ~ Dominique Waddie)

My life as a girl chorister

"I've been a chorister for about two years now.

During the first few months when I was a probationer, I was only allowed to sing in rehearsals, not during services. Then I began joining in when I had learnt particular pieces.

Just before I became a full chorister the whole choir went to Prague.

It was the first time I ever went abroad, and it was such fun. We did not just sing, we went shopping, we went to restaurants and even went to a Pizza Parlour. So choir is not just sing-work, work-sing; in fact, we go on an outing about twice a term, such as ten-pin bowling, the fish and chip shop, a restaurant, a church with a buffet, and BBQs.

We always sing for half an hour at the Lincolnshire Show, and then we "shop till we drop", as Mr. Prentice says. We sing during the famous Lincoln Christmas Market - this year we performed a large carol service during the Christmas market and the nave of the cathedral was completely full.

So overall, I think choir is fun, even if I sometimes have to give up my weekends, but that doesn't matter because Mr. Prentice keeps us amused with his jokes and impressions. And you make lots of friends. And I love the music and the singing."   

                                                                                                                           (Avalon Summerfield)

A Chorister’s Christmas

It can be hard work being a chorister! I and my brother Freddie are both choristers. The Lincoln Cathedral Choir consists of roughly 20 boys, 20 girls and 10 men (lay vicars).

The boys and girls rarely sing together except for special occasions, and of course one of these is Christmas. The run up to Christmas for choristers is very busy. In addition to normal services we have several concerts to perform. Our first carol service is actually at the end of November on Advent Sunday and between then and Christmas day there is a lot of singing to fit in! The concerts include several carol services, Carols by Candlelight and Benjamin Britten's Ceremony of Carols.

When school breaks up the choristers have to wait for their holiday - we still have another week of music to rehearse and perform. Of course it's not just the girls and boys, as the lay vicars also rehearse with us. Some of the boarders don't get to go home until the end of Christmas Day, although we are lucky living near the Cathedral.

The days are counting down  and there's a general feeling of excitement and expectation. The day is just around the corner, the Christmas Eve Carol; Service is always great fun with the Cathedral full and everyone is a happy mood. Whoever is going to sing the first verse of Once in Royal will be looking nervous, but the service is suddenly over, the great West Doors are opened and we line up shaking the hands of the congregation as they leave, which I really enjoy.

On Christmas morning, Freddie and I imagine most choristers will probably get the chance to open a stocking before a hurried breakfast - green jelly and cream for us on Christmas Day!   Most children are probably still asleep in bed when we get up. We have an hour's rehearsal with our choirmasters - Mr Harrison, who will play the organ, and Mr Prentice, who will be conducting. We all get changed into our robes: probationers wear the blue cassock, Burghersh Chanters a cassock with a white surplice and the Girl Choristers wear an alb with a blue scapular. The Choristers wear a cope over their cassocks, which is like a cloak. The copes are very good for keeping warm during the winter!

After the 9.30 Eucharist with the Bishop, the girls will be free to go home and we boys go off for tea, coffee and biscuits in the Chapter House, then it's back to Mattins. Everybody then goes home for a small lunch. Some people have Christmas lunch in the school. We will have lunch at home, maybe with another chorister family. A chance for parents to have a Christmas drink and a chance for a little present opening!

At 2.30 it's back to the Cathedral for Evensong rehearsal  - our last Mag & Nunc of the year. After Evensong, around 5 o'clock, we rush back home to presents and a turkey dinner and look forward to a good lie-in on Boxing Day. A Chorister's Christmas really is a busy time but there's a great team spirit, we do have fun along the way and it's worth it!

                                                                                                                                                        (William Wright)

                                                                (photograph by David Harding-Price)