Swansong for male bastion as woman joins St Paul’s choir
ST PAUL’S CATHEDRAL has appointed a Cambridge graduate who sang on soundtracks for The Hobbit and the Harry Potter films as its first female chorister.
Carris Jones, 35, an alto singer from south London, was unanimously approved by a panel after several rounds of auditions.
The £24,000-a-year full-time role as a “vicar choral” – the name for an adult member of the choir – will start in September, as Ms Jones is due to give birth to a baby daughter in May.
The history graduate and former choral scholar, who has a two-year-old son, Robin, with husband Oliver Hunt, also a musician, had ambitions to work in the Foreign Office.
Instead – after working for a brief period in the Civil Service – she began singing on film soundtracks and in operas before joining the choir at the London Oratory Catholic church. Ms Jones secured the job after responding to an advertisement that made it clear both sexes would be considered for the vacancy.
She told The Daily Telegraph she feels a “responsibility” to perform the role well.
“It wasn’t just for me, it was for lots of my female colleagues as well. I feel really privileged to have been in the right place at the right time,” she said.
She says she only anticipates awkwardness when the choir goes on tour.
“I’m sure things will come up. Touring with a largely male group will be interesting. But a number of people in the choir are already colleagues of mine so it’s all very friendly,” she said.
The choir includes 26 boy treble choristers, eight probationers and 12 vicars choral.
Almost all Anglican cathedrals now include female choristers in their choirs.
Andrew Carwood, the director of music at St Paul’s, said the cathedral was “delighted” at her appointment.