The Girls have had another busy year, with 80 possible attendances including
37 services. Most girls were present (or excused for a good reason) on 95% of
occasions or more, seven girls achieving 100%. We have expanded again as there
were a number of girls who had been on the waiting list for some time. Our total
compliment now stands at 31 (Jan 2003), which includes 8 probationers.
A number of girls took award examinations: Alice King, Katie Street and Elisheba Stevens all gained the Bishops Chorister Award; Sarah Sygrove, Lindsey Raikes, Jenny Bojczuk, Diane White and Emma Street gained their Dean's Chorister Award. These girls and a number who had previously passed were presented with certificates by the Bishop and the Dean of St Albans at a special service in the Cathedral. We were told that we have the highest number of awards of any choir in the Diocese!
In the summer we sang for a weekend at St Albans Abbey, joining forces with Hendon St Mary, although we provided all of the 'top line'. Also in the summer we recorded some of our rehearsals on to a CD for private use.
In the autumn we lost Genevieve Haughey to university, but three new girls were ready to take her place. Four girls attended the ever popular RSCM residential course at Harwich in the autumn. The autumn term again proved very full of commitments which kept us busy, especially in the approach to Christmas. One high point was the first performance of evening canticles written especially for us by Richard Morrison.
All the girls are growing, of course, and some of them grow very fast! Our robes are wearing out and being grown out of. We have been very fortunate to receive donations towards the choir fund and hope eventually to be able to replace the robes.
Marie Price