YOUNG choristers from Giggleswick School have joined a sacred music elite in singing in the country's greatest cathedrals.

The pupils, part of the school's Schola Cantorum group, have sung at a professional level in Liverpool, Gloucester, Durham and St Paul's Cathedrals over the last year, entering a world usually reserved for university and college choirs.

Head of music Margie Simper said: "Independent schools will often have a chapel choir, but they don't tend to tour. It is unusual, actually quite rare, for a school choir from the north to sing in the large, important tourist attractions like St Paul's Cathedral.

"They are taking the place of the professional cathedral choir on the choir's day off so it is performing at the highest standard.

"Following our positive welcome at St Paul's, I have ambitions and next year we are applying to sing at Westminster Abbey."

With its own landmark chapel and professional standard theatre - bequeathed by the late Richard Whiteley - pupils are not easily fazed by the scale of many of the cathedrals.

Margie added: "When we sang in St Paul's the pupils were not intimidated because they just saw it as a bigger version of our chapel!"

As a regularly performing professional singer, Margie is also well placed to bring on young singers when they have finished at a cathedral school.

She said: "Boy choristers' voices are breaking and it can be an unsettling time for them, but we understand that and work with them to continue to develop their singing. Of course, we welcome girl choristers too.

"As well as teaching them to play, the children learn how to perform and they get lots of opportunities to practice these skills, which are so important for building confidence.

"Our music and drama departments also enjoy a close relationship and every other year we come together to put on a major musical show."

Headteacher Mark Turnbull paid tribute to Margie and the Schola Cantorum choristers.

He said: "We are very proud of our singers and the wider music department, which is going from strength to strength. It is an honour for them to perform in some of our country's greatest cathedrals."