By Katie Strick

ARCHIE Inns is no ordinary 12-year-old. As this year’s head boy chorister at Durham Cathedral, Archie will be spending his Christmas season “at work”, rehearsing for three hours each day in preparation for the month’s festive services.

The schoolboy moved to Durham from his home in St Andrews three years ago, after persuading his parents to let him pursue his dream of being a chorister. He recalls the inspirational moment he heard the Easter at King’s Cambridge service on the radio at the age of six.

“My parents said if I was dedicated to it, they would let me have a go,” he says with a wide grin.

And his enthusiasm is clear. “It’s the best thing I’ve ever done, and probably ever will do”, the 12-year-old tells cameras at a cathedral media call, seemingly unphased by the Press. The young chorister moves through a series of interviews and photo-shoots confidently and patiently, and appears thrilled at the chance to talk about his excitement for the Advent and Christmas period.

Archie explains how he had never heard of Durham before his arrival in 2011: “When I first came I was gobsmacked. I came over the road and saw the river, and beyond it was this amazing place. And I just thought ‘wow – I might be singing there’.”

The Chorister School, which dates back to 1416, holds former Prime Minister Tony Blair and comedian Rowan Atkinson amongst its notable alumni. Pupils receive a first class musical education and experience performing to the highest of standards in Durham Cathedral, recently voted Britain's favourite building.

Archie and 27 of his peers are busy gearing up for the festive season, preparing around 100 pieces of music for the Advent and Christmas services.

But despite the intense rehearsal schedule, Archie says it is the highlight of his year: “I literally can’t wait for Christmas. I love music, so practice is fun for me. We have a lot of hours of rehearsals but it’s worth it. It’s the best music of the year, and on Christmas Day all the energy is let out.”

The chorister says his favourite part of the Christmas repertoire is the Ceremony of Carols, a choral piece with eleven movements, accompanied by a harp.

This year will be Archie’s third Christmas singing at the Cathedral. He describes the excitement of waking up with his friends on Christmas morning: “It’s very different to home, but in a good way. We still get a stocking from the boarding house and Father Christmas comes and presents us with one gift from our family, which is like a taster of what we will get once we get home later that day.”

The pupils are also treated to pantomime visits and parties at the school on Christmas Eve. “Our parents are usually here in Durham and so they come back for mulled wine and mince pies and we sing for them,” says Archie. “Then it’s our turn to have a party and we have proper party games and dancing and there are prizes to be won – it’s a really fun night!"

The boy and girl choristers rotate Christmas Day Evensong and this year it is the turn of the girls, giving Archie an early ticket home. He says: “It’s nice to go home early in the day, but the plus side of singing at Evensong is that you and your family get to have Christmas Lunch at the school and they do a beautiful meal and put crackers on the tables and everything!”

Ask most 12-year-olds what’s top of their Christmas list and most of the time it will be the latest gadget or video game, but for Archie it’s just being with his family. The 12-year-old admits that it’s not always easy being so far from home. “I miss my family sometimes, but that’s why being so busy singing is good, it keeps your mind off things and singing is brilliant fun.”

At home Archie enjoys spending time with his family, old friends, and even does a bit of horse-riding. But despite his love of the sport, Archie says music is still his main hobby: “That’s what I really enjoy spending most of my time doing. I love the way you can put across a story without boring people to pieces. It’s a way to express yourself in a very unique way.”

The young chorister says that his and his younger brother’s musical talent came from his mother’s side of the family. “My dad can play the tambourine, that’s it,” he joked.

With the school taking pupils from ages three to 13, this will be Archie’s final year in Durham. He explains how he and his fellow choristers are busy aiming for the common entrance exams at the end of the academic year, and his hopes to attend the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland based in Glasgow.

“I do my prep in the evening to make sure I’m not falling behind,” says the 12-year-old.

The cathedral will also host Midnight Mass beginning at 11pm on Christmas Eve and, on Christmas Day, Holy Communion at 8am, Matins at 10am, Sung Eucharist at 11.15am and Evensong at 3.30pm.