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Gareth Malone offers his services to The Queen for Prince George’s Christening

With the Queen looking for a Director of Music for the Chapel Royal Choir to lead the choir at Prince George’s christening, the concern is that the successful applicant may not be ready for the big day.

However, it seems Her Majesty need not worry. British broadcaster, Gareth Malone, has offered his services as the music director if the Queen is unable to appoint one in time for the christening this month.

Malone, 37, is a British choirmaster, best known for his appearances on the television programme ‘The Choir’. “I’m never too busy for the Queen,” he has been quoted as saying. “That’s a gig and a half, so I’m sure I could find a free day if such was asked of me.”

The job involves overseeing the choir which consists of six Gentlemen in Ordinary, who are professional singers, and ten children of the Chapel Royal, boy choristers who each hold choral scholarships at the City of London School. They sing the weekly service in St James’s Palace and other events at the command of the Queen. The duties of the Director of Music include keeping the choir in fine voice and playing the organ at the private chapel in Kensington Palace. It is a position that has been held since 2000 by Andrew Gant, who most famously led the choir at the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in 2011. The choir also sings at the annual Royal Maundy service and the Remembrance Day parade at the Cenotaph in Whitehall.

Applications for the position closed on Sunday, October 6th. Whether or not the Queen will take up Mr. Malone’s offer is yet to be seen.

photo credit: Carmen Rodriguez NSP via photopin cc