The Cathedral has made history with the appointment of Sarah Baldock, who also has the distinction of being the first female organist at any of the country's ancient cathedrals (modern Guildford recently appointed a woman).

But Sarah believes gender is not an issue.

"I have never felt discriminated against or favoured," says Chichester's new organist and Master of the Choristers. "I have never felt that gender issues have come into it. It's about appointing the right person for the post."

And in this case, in Sarah's view, it's a dream post - one she is thrilled to be taking on.

"I can see why it has been men for 900 years. They have been the ones singing. Most of the organists were men. In my year at Cambridge there were only three of us in total.

"I was the first female organ scholar at Pembroke College, Cambridge, but I don't feel it was very significant. It's one of those gender questions that I am not particularly interested in.

"But gender aside, just getting the job at Chichester is thrilling. Anyone would feel the same about it. I feel a huge honour at taking forward something that has been so carefully crafted."

Sarah comes to Chichester after nearly ten years at Winchester Cathedral where for the past five years she was assistant director of music.

"Winchester was an amazing experience - an incredible experience. I hadn't really had any experience at all before. They took me on as a 23-year-old pretty much straight out of university, and I have been trained by the successive organists and sub-organists.

"I think people who have been choristers when they were young got an insight into it all from an early age, but I didn't have that at all."

Effectively, she learnt the trade on the job - excellent preparation for the move to Chichester which she sees as a natural progression.

"These jobs don't come up very often, and this was really my dream job. I like the place very much and I really admire what Alan has done there.

"I think he has been very faithful in the regular run of services. He hasn't cut corners. The choir has sung every day."

Through the Southern Cathedrals Festival, which rotates between Chichester, Winchester and Salisbury, Sarah got to know Alan.

"In fact, a few years ago, it was Alan who said that I should think about applying for the job when it came up. I was bowled over because you feel so inexperienced compared to Alan. It was quite a surprise."

But it was advice well given.

As for future plans, it's too early to say: "I am a person with ideas, but they tend to formulate once I am there. I would rather move in and see what is going on and get acclimatised to the place first. It has got as much to tell me as I have to tell it.

"Cathedrals are very specific places, I think. They have their own ways of running that work very well and that might be different to what you know."

But already, Sarah is planning one little innovation, a Chorister Day on May 17, principally as a recruitment event, but one with a difference. The idea is that prospective choristers will get a chance to do some vocal workshop.

"And then I will try to get all the visiting boys to sing something at Evensong. I can't ask someone to think seriously about becoming a chorister without having had that chance."

At Winchester, there is a girls' choir as well as the boys', but it's not something Sarah intends to push for in Chichester.

"It's not on the Chapter's agenda. I don't have plans for that at all."

Predecessor Alan said he believed the area where an organist can express his or her individuality is in the area of repertoire - a view with which Sarah would agree.

Musical taste certainly comes into it: "Some people like their choirs to sing really really loud. Some people enjoy a really dynamic sound. I like a really dynamic range.

"I like choristers to make a good healthy sound - which they do! That's one of the lovely things about taking over from Alan."

Fond farewell to departing organist Alan Thurlow, see next page