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Girls' Section
Araminta Perkins-Ray
being made up as a full member of the Choir
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The Girls rehearsing in the
Song School |
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Sophie-Dominique with the
Precentor
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Aric Prentice
BA (hons) MA directs the Girls' Section of the Choir and is Director of Music, both
at the Cathedral and at Lincoln Minster School.
Lincoln Cathedral was one of the first to
establish a Girls' Section. Under the guidance of the Precentor, Revd Canon Andrew Stokes,
it joined the cathedral foundation in September 1995. The first auditions for Girls were
held in April and then in June of that year.
The Girls now contribute equally with the Boys
and Men, to make up an overall Cathedral Choir of some 50 voices. Most services are sung
either by the Girls and Men, or by the Boys and Men, although the entire choir comes
together for major festivals and concerts.
The Girls released their first CD in 1999, which
included a new work composed by the counter-tenor Nicholas Snookes; - Spanish Agnes
Dei for trebles and alto solo.
The Girls after singing at St Hilary's
Church, Spridlington, in honour of the newly-restored church organ.
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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) |
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Cope Girls
More about Aric Prentice, (Director of the
Girls' Section):
Aric Prentice has been Director of Music in Lincoln
Cathedral and Lincoln Minster School since January 2003, having worked in the School since
September 2001. He began his musical training as a chorister in Durham Cathedral, moving
to Trent College as a music scholar in 1985. He became an instrumental exhibitioner at
Jesus College, Cambridge, in 1990 where he read Music and Theology, and in his final year
Aric sang as a choral scholar in St John's College Choir, recording and broadcasting
extensively. Aric is now regularly in demand as an accompanist, conductor and soloist.
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Christmas Day - Girl Choristers and their
families share lunch at a house near the Cathedral.
Christmas Day fun and games between Services
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The Girls' Section singing at
Mattersey Church |
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The Girls' Section singing at
Stow Church |
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