CANTERBURY CHOIR - THE NEXT GENERATION

Voices of angels - The Canterbury choir perform t

Meet one of Britain's most squeaky clean boy bands. Like other groups they perform in front of crowds of thousands, but their stage isn't a pop concert arena, it's a cathedral.

Join Inside Out as for the first time in its 1400 year history, Canterbury Cathedral allows BBC cameras to follow the auditions for 2005's choirboys.

The Canterbury Cathedral choir consists of boys aged between eight and 14 trained to perform before royalty, world leaders and congregations of thousands.

"It is an opportunity second to none," explains Master of the Choristers, David Flood.

"It is an opportunity second to none."

Master of the Choristers, David Flood

"We're in Canterbury Cathedral which has a very important role in the Church of England and also worldwide.

"The eyes of the world turn themselves on you."

As Master of the Choristers, David is in charge of selecting Canterbury's next generation of choirboys and competition is fierce.

From numerous applications, just 12 have been chosen to attend auditions to compete for five available places in the choir.

Little angels

Charlie George from Kent and Cameron Walker from East Sussex are two seven-year-olds both competing for one of a handful of places in the world famous Canterbury Cathedral choir.

Charlie's mum and dad, Alison and Andy, insist their son is a natural when it comes to performing.

"He just seems to revel in anything like this," explains Alison.

Whilst Cameron's mum, Katherine, realised her son was gifted after hearing him perform in a school play.

"He does sing like an angel really," says Katherine.

"Whether he gets in or not, he'll still be our angel."

Raw talent

Charlie and Cameron have what is known in the singing world as the "makings of a voice".

Both have the potential to become top flight choristers, but with 12 boys and only five places, will they make the grade?

To the untrained ear, the boys auditioning maybe a far cry from the melodious tones of Aled Jones, but David is searching for raw talent which has the potential to be trained.

"It's the energy, it's the personality, the spark behind the voice," explains David.

Seven-year-old Cameron has the "makings of a voice"

Rich rewards

It is not just a place in the coveted choir and expert music tuition that the boys are competing for, but a scholarship worth £9,000-a-year to attend St Edmund's School, Canterbury.

The 29 Canterbury choirboys are all boarders, living in a 16th century house at the back of the cathedral.

This poses a difficult decision for parents.

"I wouldn't be able to tuck him up at night and I've thought about that for a long time," admits Katherine.

"As a parent you have to look at what's in the best interest of your child and concentrate on that."

Charlie's mum Alison agrees.

"It's a marvellous opportunity that will really benefit him."

Under pressure

Before they can audition to become a Canterbury chorister, Cameron and Charlie have to sit an entrance exam for St Edmund's School.

"Having a good voice and the potential to learn musically is important, but they must also be able to cope with the academic curriculum we follow," insists Robert Bacon, Headmaster of St Edmund's Junior School.

Like most young children, Charlie and Cameron take the pressures of exams comfortably in their stride - it's their parents that are left pacing with nerves outside.

With the academic auditions complete, Charlie and Cameron are given their chance to shine in the musical ones.

Hitting the high notes

Charlie hopes his audition will secure him a place in the choir

The boys each have 10 minutes to perform a song, scales and play an instrument.

"I need to take time, put them at their ease and allow them to do their best," says David.

The 12 auditioning choristers sing their hearts out for just five coveted places and making a decision is no easy task.

"It would be lovely to take them all, but I can't," says David.

With exams complete and the audition over, there is nothing left for the families of Charlie and Cameron to do except wait.

And Charlie for one is determined to remain pragmatic.

"I don't mind if I get in or if I don't get in… I just hope I get in."

Decision time

The Canterbury choristers of 1923 Image courtesy: Canterbury Cathedral

After four hours of auditions, David and Robert are left with some tough decisions - 12 boys and only five places.

Taking into consideration the boys academic performance in the exam and their musical performance in the audition, they finally reach a decision.

Eighteen months of extra tuition and singing lessons have paid off for Cameron - he is in.

Mum Katherine is overjoyed and overcome with emotion.

For Charlie the news isn't as good. It is a close decision and unfortunately, he doesn't make it through to the final five.

Charlie soon bounces back from his disappointment though to take the lead role in a local play - we're sure we haven't heard the last of Charlie yet!

For Cameron however, Canterbury awaits. He has the makings of a voice and now it is up to David Flood to turn it into the voice of top flight chorister.