Boy Choristers
About the Choir
The Cathedral’s 25 boy choristers are aged between 8 and 13.
Resident at Choir House, an ancient and beautiful building next to the Cathedral, and attending St Edmund’s School, they enjoy a fulfilling all-round education, supported by scholarships provided by the Cathedral. All boy choristers study two musical instruments and receive weekly theory lessons.
Boy Choristers
Join the Choir
To become a boy chorister is to share a common identity with other musicians in the choir, and to enjoy the pastoral and emotional support that such an experience affords. The Cathedral’s music staff undertake to train and inspire young people, of all backgrounds, so that they get the best out of their time in the choir.
Ideal candidates should love to sing and possess a good natural ear; from that point, Cathedral music staff undertake to develop boys’ confidence so that they are able to flourish musically, as well as enjoying the challenge and reward of being part of a high-performing team.
For further information about joining the choir, please contact Director of Music David Newsholme.
Why become a chorister?
Being a chorister arguably gives boys between the ages of 8-13 access to the best possible musical education. As well as enriching their musical knowledge, the experience teaches valuable skills of independence, organisation and dedication; it also boosts confidence and the capacity to work as part of a team: these are skills that will serve them in good stead, no matter what path they choose to pursue in later life.
In the more immediate term, the experience will allow these young people to
- Make new friends
- Sing regularly in front of large audiences
- Tour and to make recordings
- Sing on TV and Radio
The experience will also provide them with:
- Weekly singing lessons
- Instrumental lessons
- Music theory lessons
- Transport to and from school
- A world-class musical education and choral training
- Excellent pastoral care and support
Typical Weekly Singing Schedule
Boy choristers generally sing at five services each week, usually alongside the Lay Clerks and Choral Scholars (adult singers) of the Choir. Additionally, there are frequent opportunities to take part in a wide range of additional activities, including tours, broadcasts, and recordings.
| Monday |
|
|
| Tuesday |
|
|
| Wednesday |
|
|
|
Thursday |
|
|
|
Friday |
|
|
|
Saturday |
|
|
|
Sunday |
|
Probationers
New choristers spend their first year ‘learning the ropes’ as probationers. This year is designed to be a carefully graded introduction to the life of a chorister, with a view to laying secure musical foundations and ensuring the wellbeing of new members of the choir.
During their first year, probationers generally rehearse in a small group, beginning to develop vocal technique and being introduced gradually to some of the core repertoire that they will encounter in the subsequent years.
On Thursdays, the probationers sing with the choristers at the morning practice, and join them again at Evensong which, on this day of the week, is sung by boys alone (i.e. without adult singers). On these occasions, a younger boy will be mentored by an older chorister, sometimes even sharing a copy until they become more familiar with the pattern of the services.
The modelling from and support of the older boys is a huge part of this training, and helps to engender that sense of a team ethos, and a professional respect for one another’s efforts and abilities. It is the fine balance of individual study, of practising in small groups, and of observing and sharing in the learning of their older peers that creates the atmosphere of supportive industry that we seek to foster.
Probationers do not generally have choir commitments at the weekends or during the school holidays, and are free to go home at these times.
As the year progresses, probationers will take an increasing part in the singing of services, depending on the particular development and needs of that year’s cohort, thus allowing us to provide them with the most appropriate training for their needs.
A typical weekly singing schedule for probationer choristers at the beginning of their first year is as follows:
| Monday |
|
|
| Tuesday |
|
|
| Wednesday |
|
|
|
Thursday |
|
|
|
Friday |
|
Stay in the loop
Sign up to our newsletter and stay up to date with all the latest events, news and offers
By adding my email I confirm my subscription to the newsletter and understand that the email address provided will be held by the Cathedral and the email service company (dotdigital) to use for distributing this newsletter only. For more information please see the Cathedral Privacy Notice.
