FOR the first time in the School’s history, Sedbergh School Chapel Choir have been named as one of the five finalists of the prestigious BBC Young Choir of the Year competition.

The competition is open to all young choirs across the country, with Sedbergh making it to the final of the senior category for the 13-18 age group, which includes youth and community as well as school choirs.

The school’s head of choral music John Seymour and director of music Chris Allinson took the decision to enter this year’s competition following a successful summer tour of the USA when the pupils performed in New York, Washington DC and Boston.

“The choir that we took out there were really quite a young choir and very inexperienced,” said Mr Seymour.

“Over the 10 days we were in America, they developed a huge amount.

“It was really that which gave us the springboard for a strong start in September and the confidence to enter the competition.”

As part of the application process, each choir must submit a recording of their chosen piece of music, and Sedbergh chose ‘I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes Unto The Hills,’ which was written especially for the USA tour by Mr Seymour.

The final will take place on Sunday, March 22 at Warwick Arts Centre.

The five finalists will perform in front of a judging panel and live audience, and it is understood the competition will be broadcast on the BBC’s Songs of Praise programme in April.