A singer from Dorchester Abbey has been named as a finalist in the BBC Young Chorister of the Year competition.
Fifteen-year-old Al Mucklow wowed the judges with his rendition of Light of the World by John Dankworth at the semi-final at Hallé St Peter’s in Manchester. Following his performance, judge and Gospel singer Michelle John described Al’s singing as ‘joyful’ and ‘light’.
His mother Lisa said: “The best thing is just seeing him do what he finds so easy. When he is singing you can just really tell this is his thing and he really loves it. From singing Poisoning Pigeons in the Park at a school concert to Mozart at the Abbey!”
Al began singing at Dorchester Abbey, taking part in a weekly singing club for small children and became a chorister at Magdalen College in Oxford aged seven. Now he sings regularly at Dorchester, taking part in evensong services and other special occasions.
Rector at the Abbey, the Revd Jane Willis said: “We are really excited. Music is a really important part of worship here at the Abbey and we are blessed with choristers from a wide range of ages. It is just fantastic to see young choristers excelling. Music is a gift from God, which reaches the deepest parts of all of us, whether you are singing or listening. ‘He who sings, prays twice!’”
Al will be joined in the final by two other singers who will all compete for the Senior Young Chorister of the Year title. The final will be broadcast on the BBC on 12 October.
Al is not the first Dorchester Abbey singer to find success in the competition. In 2023, Belinda Gifford-Guy won the junior title.