UK Cathedrals to sponsor academy schools?

Big news in the UK: Cathedrals there are in talks with the British government to sponsor up to 40 city academy schools for young choristers.

The Church of England, which already sponsors five academies, hopes the move will increase interest in choral music but says no deals are "imminent," according to a British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) report.

The academies would aim to provide free access to choral music.

The BBC says he Church believes the move could build on the popularity of the BBC Two program The Choir in which a choir is created to perform at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

"Programs like The Choir, which show an insight into the life of choristers and give a sense of the excellent musical heritage of this country, can only help the mission of cathedrals and their schools to bring choral music into a wider audience."

Full story here.