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Original poster

Wells Cathedral school - is being a chorister fun?

39 replies

PickledCoelacanth · 05/07/2022 15:59

My Dd (8) loves singing (and all things performance-based) and we've been considering putting her forward to audition for Wells Cathedral School as a chorister. Super early days atm as we obviously don't know if she would even get in and would need a bursary to afford it. However, before we start the process I wondered if anyone has children who have been choristers there and whether they enjoyed it? I'm really keen that she continues to love music, rather than starts seeing it as a chore. How did your DCs find it?

OP posts:
PlaidBlanket · 07/07/2022 14:28

Newgirls · 07/07/2022 13:37

If it is your family’s religious beliefs then yes why not?

otherwise it is a lot of time singing and listening to music that might not hold any meaning for her and you

if she loves music and singing there are so many ways to explore that in the uk

I don’t think your religious beliefs make the slightest difference. I’m an atheist and spent years at Oxford singing Anglican liturgical music.

I no more needed to believe in any flavour of Christian deity than I need to believe I’m a consumptive French courtesan when singing opera.

ChairOfInvisibleStudies · 07/07/2022 13:48

Alexander Armstrong writes evocatively about his time as a chorister www.choralevensong.org/uk/alexander-armstrong-privilege-of-choristership.php

Newgirls · 07/07/2022 13:37

If it is your family’s religious beliefs then yes why not?

otherwise it is a lot of time singing and listening to music that might not hold any meaning for her and you

if she loves music and singing there are so many ways to explore that in the uk

AvocadoHeaven · 07/07/2022 13:34

@PickledCoelacanth
I have sent you a PM

Pythonesque · 05/07/2022 23:35

One boarding cathedral chorister, one day chapel chorister. Both ended up on scholarship/bursary combos at boarding senior schools, and have continued to sing and make music. A wonderful opportunity for the right child. Definitely try to expose them to the environment before making any commitments to the path!

Good luck to her, and you, finding out if this is the path for her.

We thought about Wells for our eldest, but didn't go to visit in the end as it is a couple of hours from home, and got into a closer option on the second attempt. If boarding then 1-1.5 hours (2-3 hours return trip for you!) seems to be an optimal limit though I know families who travelled further. From your comments I'm guessing you are more local to Wells though. Do ask them if they can prep choristers for entry to other schools at 13+.

SwayingInTime · 05/07/2022 21:09

My daughter was - she loved it and is always finding ways to do extremely traditional Anglican choral singing as a hobby and she’s a very cool teen now Grin. I think 5 years is the absolutely max that I would want to do all the holidays there though (she did 4). To sing for royalty, on the radio and tv live, go on tours, work with incredible adult musicians and perform almost daily from the age of 9 is absolutely character building and the camaraderie between the kids is wonderful.

Leafyjeans · 05/07/2022 21:04

Potentially a stupid question but is your dd interested in choral music/hymns/spending a lot of time in cathedral Inc Christmas day? Not sure about Wells but the choristers I knew had a pretty strict regime and not sure there would be room for other, less religious, singing/performing.

Original poster
PickledCoelacanth · 05/07/2022 20:26

Moominmamacat that's good to know. I appreciate it's a lot of commitment -fine for us but possibly a big ask for her!

OP posts:
Original poster
PickledCoelacanth · 05/07/2022 20:24

NightmareLoon some discount continues based on the number of years in the choir. And hopefully our careers will have progressed but you can never be sure. The aim would be to keep her there. If not, she would join her friends from the village in the local secondary school.

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Moominmammacat · 05/07/2022 19:57

Mine did it, although didn't go to a cathedral school, and in spite of having done many amazing things 20 years on, they still say it was the best thing they did. Big commitment.

NightmareLoon · 05/07/2022 17:29

I have an adult family member who is a chorister, and also was as a child. He would ask what happens if/when the child ages out of the chorister programme - do they get to stay in private/are the fees still reduced/is there a good secondary to move to at all. (Assuming you can't otherwise afford private.)

Original poster
PickledCoelacanth · 05/07/2022 17:26

Aw thank you for replying! So glad to hear you had such a wonderful time!

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Playmethechoralmusic · 05/07/2022 16:13

Forgot to add, in my 5 years I sang for the royal family, high profile weddings, recorded a CD with NAXOS and did lots of radio/tv broadcasts. It gave me a deep rooted sense of confidence which has stayed with me into adulthood.

Playmethechoralmusic · 05/07/2022 16:10

I was a chorister for 5 years, also went to the music school attached to the cathedral school and boarded. I can honestly say it was the best thing I have ever done and I would give anything to do it all over again even though I’m 26!! I still sing in choirs and love it and my very best friend is one I made whilst a chorister. It truly is a bloody amazing opportunity so please strongly consider it xxx