CHORISTERS from all around the county have spent hours preparing to deliver a number of Christmas shows this December.

Christmas is a busy time for any church or cathedral, but Worcester Cathedral welcomes choirs from all over Worcestershire to put on a number of shows during the festive period.

Peter Nardone, organist and director of music at Worcester Cathedral, said the choir boys and girls spent hours practising before their performances.

"Some of the choristers have found themselves singing up to three services and rehearsals a day in the cathedral. As their choirmaster, one of my jobs is to ensure the children don’t have too many demands put upon them as they enthusiastically carry out what they do best," Mr Nardone said.

"Each morning, before school, the boy choristers arrive shortly after 8am to start the musical preparations for the upcoming services, with the girl choristers meeting at weekends and occasional evenings to learn the more complex carol arrangements and concert items. The men of the Cathedral Choir are professional singers, many of whom earn their living solely through music making at a very high standard. They are the king-pin of the Cathedral Choir and always arrive thoroughly prepared and knowing all the notes of the music they need to perform. This makes my job so much easier as I have to deal with children as young as eight and, while they are performing they are also learning a great deal and picking things up as they go."

Alex Thomas, head chorister at the Cathedral, has been singing with the cathedral for six years.

The HOW OLD said: "I was in a small parish choir, before I moved to the King’s School where I became a chorister. It is very busy, but the Christmas services are really good fun, and it’s definitely worth the time in our holidays."

Mr Nardone added that its hard not to feel festive when in the Cathedral at Christmas.

"Worcester Cathedral is a wonderful place at Christmas. The cloisters are full of beautiful sparkling Christmas trees, placed by local charities and organisations, and the joy and professionalism of our cathedral choristers leaves little room for the cynicism of us grown-ups," he said.

You can see the Cathedral Choir perform on Christmas Eve at 5.30pm or at 11.30pm for midnight Eucharist, on Christmas morning at 10.30am or at 4pm on Christmas Day for Evensong with carols.