Bognor's Maddie sings in special concert at St Paul's Cathedral

Maddie Hallam, 12, represented Arundel Cathedral in the special concert

The talented 12-year-old from Bognor was specially chosen to represent the cathedral on Wednesday evening, April 27.

An Evening with the Cathedral Choristers of Britain launched the Friends of Cathedral Music’s Diamond Fund for choristers, established to support choristers in the UK.

Maddie, who is deputy head chorister at Arundel Cathedral and a pupil at St Philip Howard school in Barnham, travelled to London to rehearse with the other choristers the day before the concert, having worked on the music at home in advance.

Choristers from over 60 cathedrals performing at St Paul's Cathedral on Wednesday, April 27

After performing, Maddie said: “I felt so lucky to be chosen to sing and I’d never been inside St Paul’s Cathedral.

“I had to learn quite a lot of music but I liked most of it, especially ‘Justorum animae’ by Stanford and ‘I was glad’ which we’ve sung at Arundel, where I’ve been a chorister for four years.

The commission (by Philip Stopford, written for the occasion) was really good.

“I’ve made loads of friends and the whole experience was really amazing.”

Classic FM presenters Aled Jones and Alexander Armstrong spoke passionately about their experiences as choristers.

“It’s the best leg up a child can have,” Armstrong said, explaining his chorister training had equipped him for his career.

Composer John Rutter and HRH The Duchess of Gloucester were among the audience of over 1,500 people.

Maurice Kenwrick-Piercy, one of the main organizers and driving forces behind the Diamond Fund, said afterwards: “What a fantastic evening. I will never forget the sound those wonderful children made – just unbelievable.”

The Diamond Fund aims to raise £10m by 2020.

Donations can be made online at https://www.justgiving.com/focathedral-music? or by cheque payable to Friends of Cathedral Music (DFC) to FCM Diamond Fund for Choristers, The Cottage, 2-3 The Street, Chilmark, SALISBURY, SP3 5AR.

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