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Rhyl Journal

St Asaph Cathedral choir to perform in Helsinki Cathedral

Nearly 30 young choristers will travel to Finland for the concert tour and cultural exchange. The trip, scheduled for later this month, celebrates the link between the Diocese of St Asaph and Helsinki. The choir, composed of young people from across North East Wales, will also participate in a workshop with Finnish youngsters, perform in local churches, and visit various sites of interest in Helsinki, including the city's zoo. The trip has been made possible thanks to more than £20,000 in local sponsorship, which has helped make the trip more affordable for the young singers. St Asaph Cathedral's Director of Music, Paul Booth, expressed his gratitude, stating: "For many of these children, this will be their first time travelling abroad, offering them the chance to immerse themselves in a new culture, share their musical talents on an international stage, and forge lifelong memories. "Our choir is composed of 27 talented young singers, some of whom come from areas of deprivation where financial constraints make it difficult to afford such a trip. "I'm very grateful to everyone, including many local businesses, who have made donations to ensure our talented youngsters have this invaluable experience, enhancing their musical education and cultural understanding." The choir will be accompanied on their trip by the Archdeacon of Wrexham, the St Asaph Diocesan Children and Youth Officer, and the Diocesan Secretary. The two churches are connected through the Porvoo Common Statement, which establishes full communion between the British Anglican churches and the Evangelical Lutheran churches of Northern Europe. Last year, more than 20 representatives from the Diocese of Helsinki visited St Asaph Cathedral and churches in Wrexham, as part of the ongoing link between the Church in Wales and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland. St Asaph Cathedral has had a choir for almost 800 years and recruits young people from schools across North East Wales.