It has been a bastion of male dominance for more than 900 years – but an historic choir is now breaking with its well-worn tradition by letting a woman join its ranks for the first time.
Lincoln Cathedral’s director of music said the recruitment of 22-year-old choral scholar Helen Vincent as alto would give the group a ‘greater flexibility of sound’.
But the move has angered traditionalists who have branded it a ‘tragedy’ and a ‘betrayal’ to the song composers.
And in what is seen as a double-blow to the Campaign for the Traditional Cathedral Choir group, Claire Innes-Hopkins, 25, has also been named Lincoln’s first ever female organist.
CTCC spokesman Lynda Collins described the move as ‘a tragedy’ and said she hoped the cathedral would reconsider its decision.
She said Miss Vincent’s mere presence was a ‘betrayal’ to those who composed the parts she will sing.
Richard Childress says
Ronald Richard Duquette says