THE head chorister at Bradford Cathedral will be representing the city at a national concert at St Paul's Cathedral in London to help preserve cathedral music.

Zachary Smith, 13, will be appearing alongside choristers from about 60 cathedrals across the country at the concert next week which will be presented by classical singer and radio presenter Aled Jones.

The choristers, accompanied by the resident choir at St Paul's, will perform renditions of some well-known choral music, and also a world premiere of an original piece by composer Philip Stopford.

The concert has been organised by the Friends of Cathedral Music (FCM), which is starting a campaign to raise £10 million for its Diamond Fund to help keep cathedral music alive in the face of growing financial pressures.

Zachary, of Halifax, joined Bradford Cathedral choir in September 2012, and was appointed head chorister in September 2015.

Alexander Woodrow, Bradford Cathedral's director of music, said that performing at St Paul's would be a once in a lifetime opportunity for Zachary, which he should be very proud of.

He said: "The Friends of Cathedral Music generously support some of our educational work with the choristers here at the Cathedral and are a real force for good in promoting choral music and musical opportunities for young people across the country.

"I know Zach will have a tremendous time at St Paul's Cathedral as our Bradford Cathedral Choir ambassador and I know he will give an excellent account of himself and our Cathedral.

"He is a very fine young musician who is incredibly talented, with a brilliant voice and musical insight in everything that he does.

"He's had to learn a full length programme of quite challenging music, but he is feeling quite upbeat about it."

One of the main emphases of the FCM is providing training young choristers to provide them with skills that will benefit them later in life.

Patrons of FCM include former choristers actor Simon Russell Beale, news anchor Jon Snow, and actor, comedian and television and radio presenter Alexander Armstrong, who will be giving a speech at the concert about the value of choral education.

Professor Peter Toyne, chairman of FCM, said that helping cathedrals fund their choirs and boost recruitment is vital to protect one of Britain's greatest traditions.

He said: "Unless something is done very soon the situation will threaten the very existence of this unique heritage.

"If this living heritage is not sustained, the nation stands to lose a lot more than just sung cathedral services."

Mr Woodrow added: "Choral education is unique to this country, and all cathedrals do a great job; here in Bradford we offer it to all children from all backgrounds.

"As well as the music it offers traditional values and life skills, like having focus and discipline to reach the musical levels we aspire to."

Following his performance at the FCM concert, Zachary will also be joining concert host Aled Jones when he visits Bradford Cathedral as part of his tour on June 9, when they will perform together with support from the Cathedral choir.

The St Paul's concert takes place on Wednesday, April 27, starting at 7.30pm. Tickets, which range in price from £16.50 to £75, can be bought at ticketmaster.co.uk/choristersconcert.