AUDITIONS for children in school Years 3 and 4 who would like to join Salisbury Cathedral Choir will be held on Saturday, 18 January (boys), and Saturday, 1 February (girls).

David Halls, director of music, said: “Becoming a cathedral chorister is a great opportunity for a musically talented child and the auditions are always an exciting time as we look to the future of the choir.

“I am particularly keen to attract boys and girls from the local community and diocese and am very happy to meet children informally to sing to me and receive individual advice on how best to prepare for audition.

“We don’t expect to hear a fully-trained voice, but a child should have a ‘good ear’ and a desire to be part of the team.

“As we say to parents ‘give us the raw article and we will do the training’.”

The choristers rehearse and sing most days during term-time.

Between them the boy and girl choristers sing the nine regular cathedral services each week, give concerts in the diocese, record CDs, take part in radio and TV broadcasts, sing at special services and events in the cathedral and tour overseas.

All Salisbury Cathedral choristers are educated at the Cathedral School and all are automatically given Choral Scholarships worth 30 per cent of the fees by the cathedral.

Parents may apply for specialist meanstested bursaries to further assist financially.

For further information, to arrange an informal audition, or to book into the voice trials in the new year, call 07979 378926 or email: chorister.recruitment@ salcath.co.uk.