How old is the choirgirl

Isabel Suckling, who is managed by former child star Aled Jones and was tipped to be the next Charlotte Church, was given a five-year album deal by Decca Records 13 months ago after the label conducted a nationwide search for talent.

Isabel, a choirgirl at York Minster since , was the first female chorister to land a major record deal. Her debut album The Choirgirl reached number three in the classical chart in December and she is the youngest solo artist to be nominated for a Classical Brit. But Isabel, who has performed for the Queen, has now been dropped by the label and her father, wine critic James Suckling, revealed that she has been "in tears" and is devastated not to have a seat at the Decca table during the awards ceremony with dinner next month.

Her father said: "It is ridiculous. How can you nominate someone and then expect them to sit with the public? Decca have tables at the event and they simply haven't invited Isabel. She made The Choirgirl when she was only 12 and she performed in front of the Queen and the Prime Minister at the Festival of Remembrance. A spokesman for Decca said: "This is the first we have heard of this and we will take it up with the family today.

The spokesman declined to comment on Isabel's contract with the label. Aled Jones was not available for comment. ES Money. He said: "I've always been interested in soprano voices and I heard that there was a pretty special girl in York so I went and investigated it further.

Record company Decca said she was the first choirgirl to sign a major deal. Celebrating the record deal, Isabel said: "It's really exciting, it hasn't quite sunk in but it is an amazing opportunity. Label bosses are now styling her as The Choirgirl, ahead of the release of her debut album later this year. For hundreds of years female choristers were not admitted to cathedral choirs and their acceptance has been a relatively recent development.

A Decca spokesman said signing her was "an important turning point in recorded music". Isabel won her deal after a nationwide search by the label. Today marks the start of girl power for choristers.