NEWS RELEASE

Issued 8.10.02    For immediate use


CHOIRGIRL ATTEMPTS NATIONAL AWARD FOR SECOND TIME

A choir girl from North Yorkshire has reached the final of the prestigious BBC Radio 2 Young Chorister of the Year competition for the second year running. Fourteen year old Lucy Rhodes, a member of the choir at St Peter's Church in Harrogate will be one of only four girl finalists at the recording  in All Soul's Church, Langham Place, London next Saturday 12th October.

Lucy, who is a pupil at St Aidan's Church of England High School in Harrogate has been singing with the choir at St Peter's Church for the past three years. Having enjoyed success at music festivals throughout the UK during the year, she will once again compete with three other girls and four boys in the Young Chorister of the Year final, which is scheduled to be broadcast on Sunday October 20th.

Lucy says she feels even more excited this year, having taken part in the final of the BBC Radio 2 Young Chorister of the year competition 2001. 'I had the most fantastic day in London last year, met some great fun people and to be able to do it all
over again is just brilliant'

As well as singing, Lucy also plays the flute, recorder and piano. Earlier this year she became one of the youngest members of the National Youth Training Choir of Great Britain and is also a founder member of the Yorkshire Youth Choir. She receives vocal training from soprano, Celia Darby.

St Peter's Church Choir, under its Director of Music, Richard Hunt, numbers around 50 voices and has become established as a proven training ground for young musicians. A former Choirgirl of the Year, Emily Gray is a member of the choir, and several other young choristers have moved on to hold choral and organ scholarships at Oxford and Cambridge.

ENDS

For interviews, photos and information contact Mrs Dawn Rhodes, (01423) 871771

 Issued by Ripon & Leeds Diocesan Communications Officer, John Carter
Phone: 01423 530369 ; Mobile 07798 652707 ; Email: jhgcarter@aol.com

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