The world-renowned St. Paul’s Cathedral Choir in London recently announced its decision to admit girls to its choir for the first time in its nine hundred years of existence. The decision was reportedly delayed by the pandemic as well as funding issues; however, the first girls are set to join in 2025.
Robbie Hua ’24, a member of Deerfield’s acapella groups as well as the Advanced Vocal Ensemble, shared his thoughts on the recent decision, saying, “It will bring something new to the sound.” Hua expressed that, considering the prestige of the iconic St. Paul’s Cathedral, it will be interesting to see the impacts of this change.
Hannah McKie ’22, also a member of Deerfield’s acapella groups and Advanced Vocal Ensemble, expressed her thoughts on gender divisions in music, specifically within Deerfield’s music programs. McKie said, “At Deerfield, clubs like acapella have not been gendered, but there is definitely a greater appreciation for guys who sing on campus.” McKie noted that it is generally easier for male artists to find success as a vocalist, particularly since so many more girls participate in the arts. Commenting on the St. Paul’s Choir’s decision, McKie shared her initial reaction, saying, “I didn’t believe it at first and kind of just laughed, because it didn’t even sound real. In a way, it’s just a reminder of how difficult [it] is and how much more limited the opportunities in music women have.”
While historically, the arts along with many other aspects of society have been much more limited in terms of opportunities for women and girls, the decision of the St. Paul’s Choir reflects a growing push towards expanding inclusivity. Many other traditionally male English church choirs have also begun accepting girls; the Salisbury Choir paved the way when it began accepting girls around thirty years ago for many other choirs to soon follow suit.