MICHAEL Burgess is a busy boy. He has all the usual commitments of a 10-year-old and then some – because as well as being a schoolboy, Michael is also a chorister at Worcester Cathedral.

It’s something of an honour because the tradition of singing at the city’s cathedral can be traced back nearly 1,000 years, although in those days it was monks rather than schoolboys who sang.

It’s also a major commitment. Michael – along with 12 other boy choristers – rehearses every morning and afternoon before and after school.

He also sings at the cathedral’s evensong services on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and every other Tuesday.

On Sundays he attends two more rehearsals and sings at two services.

On average, the choristers perform at about 280 services each year including extra events at Easter and Christmas.

They may also go on tour once or twice a year.

Only recently, for example, they sang with two other choirs at St Paul’s Cathedral in London before an audience including Mayor of London Boris Johnson.

This summer looks set to be a particularly busy time for the choristers as the Three Choirs Festival is fast approaching.

There are perks to the job though. The boys enjoy choir teas of sandwiches, crisps and cakes before afternoon rehearsals and on the Tuesdays they don’t sing they have an activities session where they play games.

The cathedral’s choristers are all pupils at King’s St Albans and so there is the added bonus of the cathedral paying 50 per cent of their school fees in return for their services.

Still, it’s a lot to fit in – so how does he manage?

Michael, of Ashton-under-Hill, near Pershore, said: “It’s tiring.

“I’d like to have a little bit more spare time to do other things but I generally like singing so I don’t mind.”

Michael has a passion for music and plays the violin and piano but decided to try out as a chorister after singing around the house.

He said: “I like singing best. I find it easier than to play on the violin and piano. I sing for the fun of it.

“When my Mum suggested it I just thought ‘Yes, let’s give it a go.’ “For the audition we had to learn a hymn and sing it on our own to the choir master.

“We also had to read – for diction – as you need to have good consonants.”

Michael has been a chorister for nearly two years and can expect to stay until he is about 14 – although that age varies, depending on when a boy’s voice breaks.

The boy choristers wear traditional red cassocks and those with more experience also wear a white surplus over the top.

The boys are not the only choristers at the cathedral.

There is also a men’s choir and a voluntary choir, which is open to anyone. And there is a girl choir made up of choristers from several schools in Worcester.

Despite their young age the boy and girl choristers sing in front of congregations of several hundred people and are often only told they are to sing a solo during rehearsals.

Michael said: “I’ve had one or two solos and knowing you are going to be singing and everybody will be looking at you if you get it wrong, it is quite nerve-wracking.”

Even so, for just 10 years old, Michael is already a self-assured character.

According to Adrian Lucas, organist and master of the choristers for Worcester Cathedral, that is part and parcel of being a good chorister.

He said: “The most important thing we look for is the spark in the eye that shows we’ve got some communication.

“It is demanding. Every day of the week we are singing two or three different pieces of music.

“Concentration levels are really important.

“It really shows with choristers if they have an unbalanced diet because they are working so intensively.

“They have to have really good hand-to-eye co-ordination because they are coming here at the end of the day when they are tired.

“They have got to be able to listen to people, watch the conductor and all these things are highly demanding.”

However, Mr Lucas believes the programme also gives the choristers valuable skills.

He said: “The boys leave at about 14 when they are about to start their GCSEs.

“They’ve learnt to manage their time, to work as professional musicians, to work as a team and they’ve learnt a lot of self-confidence. They find GCSEs easy by comparison.”

• There are vacancies for boys – aged six to eight – and girls aged 12-15 in the cathedral’s choirs. Anyone interested should visit worcestercathedral.co.uk