Chorister reaches final of national competition

Her stunning voice can regularly be heard throughout Norwich Cathedral, and now Brooke Elley will be taking to the national airwaves as she competes for the title of BBC Radio 2 Young Chorister of the Year.

Fifteen-year-old Brooke, who has been part of Norwich Cathedral Girls’ Choir for three years, is one of eight choristers across the country who have reached the final of the prestigious competition which will be recorded this Saturday and broadcast on BBC Radio 2 on Tuesday, October 30 at 9pm.

The coveted prize for the winning boy and girl will be the chance to perform with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and to sing at high profile events throughout the next year.

Brooke, who is a pupil at Norwich School and as well as singing plays the violin, saxophone and piano, said she was both nervous and excited to be taking part in the final which is being held at the BBC Philharmonic Studio at MediaCityUK in Salford.

“It would mean everything to win,” said Brooke, whose musical ambitions include carving a career on Broadway and performing in The Phantom of the Opera.

She has chosen to sing The Lord’s My Shepherd by Stuart Townend and Pie Jesu from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Requiem in Saturday’s final.

Explaining her song choices, Brooke said: “I started singing when I was seven and one of the first songs I ever sung was Pie Jesu.

“I chose The Lord is My Shepherd because it is a complete contrast.”

Ashley Grote, Norwich Cathedral’s Master of Music, will be joining Brooke’s family in the audience on Saturday.

He said: “We are immensely proud that Brooke is representing Norwich Cathedral in the final of the BBC Young Chorister competition.

“She has a truly remarkable voice which deserves to be heard and it is a wonderful opportunity for her to be able to perform on a national platform.

“It continues to be a great privilege for me as the Cathedral Master of Music to work each day with boys and girls who are so talented and dedicated, and whose singing brings so much joy to the many people that hear them.”

The final of BBC Radio 2’s Young Choristers of the Year 2018 competition – which will be hosted by Blue Peter presenter Radzi Chinyanganya - will be broadcast on Tuesday, October 30 at 9pm.