ST Paul's Cathedral doesn't just let any old choir turn up and sing.

So it was a great honour when the Choir of St Mary's Church, in the Lace Market, was invited to London to stand in for the usual choir, regarded as one of the finest in the world.

Accompanying the choir on the cathedral's huge organ was 16-year-old Peter Harrison, son of Rev Christopher Harrison, vicar at St Mary's.

The performances went so well that the St Mary's choir has been invited back.

"St Paul's is the Cathedral of London, and therefore used to the highest standards of music," said John Keys, director of music at St Mary's.

"To sing in such surroundings, imbued with such history and expectation of excellence, is indeed a great privilege."

Choirs have to be vetted by cathedral staff to ensure that the standard is good enough for St Paul's.

One of the clergy at St Paul's heard a recording of the St Mary's choir on its website, and was so impressed that he invited them to sing.

"It was encouraging that, after hearing a short clip from the choir's website, the cathedral authorities were happy to invite us to sing without having to submit a full audition CD," said Mr Keys.

"That was certainly a vote of confidence in the level of music we enjoy at St Mary's, which was echoed by the effusive compliments paid by the cathedral clergy when we were there."

The boys in the usual choir at St Paul's all attend St Paul's Cathedral School.

When the school is on holiday, others are given the chance to fill in.

The St Mary's choir was conducted by Mr Keys, who will mark his 25th anniversary in his role at the church later this year. They performed the evensong services on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of last week; all of the music for the service on Tuesday had been composed by a choir members.

"He joined us a few years ago while studying a postgraduate course at Nottingham University," said choir member Ioan Reed-Aspley.

"He has since left but sings with us on special occasions.

"So not only was a Nottingham choir singing in one of the most famous cathedrals in the world, deputising for one of the best cathedral choirs in the world, but was singing music written especially for it by a former Nottingham student."

Mr Reed-Aspley added: "The organ was played by our vicar's son, who is only 16.

"This was a huge achievement in itself, as the organ in St Paul's is huge and not easy to play."

The Choir of St Mary's Church will return to St Paul's again; the week after Easter next year is a possibility.

Visit www.stmaryschoirnottingham.com for more information on the choir.

caroline.lowbridge@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk