An all-girl choir is making history at St Andrew’s, taking on the role of the all-male cathedral choir while it tours overseas.
Head of the St Andrew’s Cathedral School's music department, Chris Belshaw, says it's a timely turn of events.
"There's room for all sorts of things in our worship," Ms Belshaw says. "We certainly enjoy the boys' singing, but the girls have a very different sound."
This is only the second time in the cathedral's 137-year history that girls have sung in the choir.
The first involved a female performance of Evensong five years ago.
This month the St Andrew’s Cathedral School's Girl's Vocal Ensemble has stepped in to sing Matins on two occasions, preserving one of the choir's traditional roles.
Ms Belshaw says the surplices and cassocks were an unusual " but not an uncomfortable " addition to the girls' performances.
"The girls were very inspired to be involved. The boys have been able to dress up in them and look like angels for ages, but now the girls have had a chance at being angels too," she says.
Meanwhile Master of Choristers, Michael Deasey, has his hands full touring with the regular choir through some of the most revered cathedrals in Europe.
After a week at Westminster Abbey, the choir is now singing in England's Canterbury Cathedral.
Their visit has formed the basis of an unofficial school reunion with former St Andrew's students joining the choir in singing the Abbey Evensong.
"By all accounts, their music is wonderfully well received by those who hear them," Mr Deasey says.
"It is a joy and a privilege to have our students represent our nation so far away and in such magnificent settings singing praise to God."
