AN ANGELIC chorister from York has sung her way to the final of a national competition.

Charity Mapletoft, the head girl chorister of York Minster, is one of four finalists in the BBC Radio 2 Young Chorister Of The Year 2004 contest.

Charity, 12, is a pupil at the Minster School, and has sung with the Minster Choir for five years. She is also a talented violin and piano player.

She was selected from hundreds of entries from cathedrals and churches across the country to compete for the top prize of £500.

Charity will now perform in front of a panel of judges on Saturday at All Souls Church in London, where she and three other girls will compete for the title.

Hosting the competition will be composer Howard Goodall, best known as the man responsible for the theme music for Blackadder, Red Dwarf and The Vicar Of Dibley.

The winner will get the chance to appear on Radio 2's Good Morning Sunday and Sunday Half Hour, Radio 4's Daily Service and BBC One's Songs Of Praise.

Charity said: "When I found out I was one of the four finalists I was so excited I jumped for joy. I'm definitely looking forward to it, although I am nervous. I just saw the list and I am going to be singing first - at least that means I get it over with."

Her father Richard, a former chorister himself, is now lead vocalist in a Sixties-style rock band called the Soul Singers.

He said: "Charity has got a beautiful, very mature voice, although I am terribly biased, so I would say that. But people talk about a voice that will break your heart - well, this is it."

John Scott Whiteley, Minster organist and director of the girl choristers, said: "Charity obtaining a place in the final is an outstanding triumph. She is the youngest of the four girl finalists by several years, and we are delighted by her achievement."

Updated: 09:56 Wednesday, October 27, 2004