It is the busiest time of year for choristers, and one teenage singer from Norwich Cathedral is looking to make it an extra special Christmas.
Alice Platten will appear on television this weekend as she vies to become the BBC Young Chorister of the Year, which is run by Radio 2 and Songs of Praise.
The 16-year-old won her place in Sunday's final after impressing judges in the semi-final, broadcast last week, with her stunning rendition of Rutter’s A Gaelic Blessing.
Mezzo Soprano Katherine Jenkins, one of the competition’s three judges, described it as a “really, really beautiful performance”.
On the show, she told Alice: “I felt like you were enjoying the words, enjoying the music and I could see that in your face and that was really lovely, and then, gosh, that top note was just amazing. I love that.
“Congratulations. It was a really, really beautiful performance.”
During the semi-final, Alice also spoke with one of the show’s presenters, the Revd Canon Kate Bottley, about her love of singing.
She said: “It’s like a different feeling from anything else. It’s otherworldly really, just really special.”
She added that she had “so much fun” performing in the semi-final.
The Norwich School pupil, who is the daughter of Norwich Cathedral’s Canon Precentor, the Revd Canon Aidan Platten, has been a chorister there for the last five years after previously singing in the choir of St Mark’s Hamilton Terrace, London.
She also plays the violin and piano and is currently studying A-levels in music, English and history.
Alice is one of six finalists who will each be performing a Christmas carol or song of their choice, as well as singing together with competition host Aled Jones.
The semi-final was broadcast Sunday, December 4 and people will be able to watch Alice compete in the final this Sunday, December 11 at 1.15pm on BBC Two. Both stages were filmed in Manchester in October.
It is the second time that she has impressed the BBC judges as she previously reached the BBC Young Chorister of the Year semi-finals in 2020.
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