Highlight of the Week

Girl choristers joined by 450 primary school pupils at Llandaff Cathedral

On Tuesday 30th November, the Girl Choristers waited expectantly for the arrival of over 650 primary school pupils from across the Rhondda Cynon Taff Valleys. For most of these pupils, it would be their first time to Llandaff Cathedral, where they were going to give a Festival of Carols and Christmas Music together with the Girl Choristers from the Cathedral School.

Thanks to the snow, only 150 pupils made it to the morning session - but what they lacked in numbers was more than made up for by their enthusiasm. In the afternoon, coordinator Rachel Kilby of the RCT Music Service introduced over 300 pupils from across the Valleys.

Mr Simon Lovell-Jones, Assistant Director of Music at the Cathedral School said: "The sound was amazing as they launched into traditional carols, with the Girl Choristers providing the descants.

"To see the children's faces as they made their way through the small wooden door and saw the inside of the Cathedral for the first time, to see their expressions as they heard the amazing new organ, and then in the last verses of the carols, their reactions as they heard the descants above them was rewarding enough. Even more touching however was that this was the first chance for most of them to sing music of worship in the Cathedral, their first chance to meet the Cathedral clergy and we pray that it will be the first of many visits for all of them.

"All credit goes to the girls for their hard work and wonderful singing that day, and our thanks to the Headmaster, Ms Kilby, the Dean and the Cathedral Administration for allowing it to happen."