are available for Girls of High School age and are normally tenable between 11 and 18 years, or until such time as girls enter tertiary education or employment.
The ability to read music is essential, and most girls play at least one instrument.
Founded in 1997 under the inspiring leadership of Jonathan Lilley, now at Ely Cathedral and now the recipient of charismatic direction from David Houlder MA [Cantab], FRCO, the Girls' Choir meets once each week on Saturday morning from 10.30 until 12.00 noon.
A short choral service of Morning Worship takes place on most Saturdays during Choir Term between 11.45 and 11.55 am. Music sung covers a wide range and includes such classics of the upper voice repertoire as Fauré's Messe Basse and famous arias and anthems by Bach, Handel and others. But the Girls sing much other music too during the Choir ‘season’ including lighter repertoire and popular concert pieces.
The choral tradition at the Parish Church is maintained without extensive endowments and survives due to the unfashionable level of commitment sustained by choristers themselves, by chorister parents and families and with the whole-hearted supported of schools within the state and private sectors.
In recent years, the Girl Choristers have been a significant group within the fellowship of Yorkshire Cathedral Girls' Choirs. With the Parish Church's Lay Clerks and Choral Scholars, the Girls remain firmly focused on and committed to the annual Yorkshire Cathedral Girls' Choirs' Festival established by Louise Marsh at Wakefield in 1997.
The next Festival is at Ripon on Saturday 11th March 2006
Although only in existence for a comparatively short period of time, the Girl Choristers of Leeds Parish Church have achieved much high octane cultural exposure including:
· 1997 award-winning CD recording, with the Boy Choristers. of highlights from Mussorgsky's Boris Godunov [Opera North, Paul Daniel] on the Chandos label
· Première performance[s] and eponymous CD recording of Philip Moore's From earth to heaven, a work specially commissioned for the dedication of the Parish Church’s Angel Screen in 1998
· St Peter's Singers Silver Jubilee Concert – 2002 – works by Moore, Rutter &c
· Walton centenary concert – 2003 – with the Hallé under Mark Elder
· A CD recording [with the Boy Choristers, Choral Scholars & Lay Clerks] of Greatly-loved Hymns in aid of the Parish Church Choral Foundation Appeal, October 2004
Current Girl Chorister Feeder Schools
*Abbey Grange Church of England Grant Maintained High School
[Anglican Diocese of Ripon and Leeds]
*Leeds Girls' High School
*Gateways School, Harewood
*Primrose High School, Leeds
· Choristers can be prepared for Confirmation in conjunction with normal school or choir attendance
FOR FURTHER DETAILS OF GIRL CHORISTER MEMBERSHIP OF THE FAMOUS CHOIR OF LEEDS PARISH CHURCH
please contact Mr David Houlder, Director, Leeds Parish Church Girls’ Choir
12a Cavendish Mews, Harrogate Road, Alwoodley, LS17 7AA – 0113 269 1038