Considering choir schools for DD

[singingismypassion]

DD (6yrs) enjoys music and singing. I guess we are a fairly musical family, DH has a music degree, I run a local adult and children's choir (low key). We are thinking about looking down the route of choir schools for DD. However, we have no experience of chorister life.
Any parents out there who can give us advice? Ideally we would like a school/ choir in the South.

Hi OP. There's another thread on this board talking about this at the mo but from a boy chorister perspective. Are you looking for day or boarding or are you open? I believe there are more day places available for girl choristers than there are for boys in the South. The main (really good) one for girls that springs to mind is Salisbury and then there's Wells and Southwark to name a few. How South are you thinking?

Guildford, Canterbury and Winchester too. Usually the first step is either a chorister experience day and/ or an informal voice trial with the Director of Music. Obviously it gets more complicated if the place in the choir is dependent on a place in the choir school but other than Salisbury (and maybe Wells?), I don't believe the others I mentioned have choir schools attached so choristers are drawn from all over.

Choirschools give a significantly different experience to those that are not linked to a school; they can devote more time and may be less demanding on parental ferrying, depending on your location and logistics. The options for girls are increasing but still far less than for boys. Oxford now has two girls' choirs that are attempting to emulate the choirschool training as far as is practical (Frideswide Voices, and Merton College girls' choir).

A lot will depend on where you are based, how happy you are with boarding, whether you are willing and able to move for an opportunity. I have had one boarder and one day chorister and would be happy to talk if you message me.

Does it have to be a school? We stumbled upon a local church with a robed choir, excellent Director of Music, good training (many leave at 18 and go on to be Choral or Organ Scholars). It’s a relatively low level of commitment, compared to the more serious and well known choirs, and that works for us.

My girls are choristers but it's not attached to a school so they get the benefit of a normal school life too - you have to decide if a life cloistered in a cathedral school is right for her. I like the fact their choir has kids from many different backgrounds and they have non choir friends too. Dd was head chorister for three years until she became a choral scholar. Look at all the options, and whether you really want your child to board

Similar to a couple of PP's, my daughter is a chorister in an excellent local church, with a very committed Director of Music. We have no choir schools nearby, and I absolutely would not consider boarding school, especially at primary age. This way, she's getting a 'normal' school life and enjoying choir ( and when she stops enjoying it, she can stop, there is no pressure, it's a hobby) to a high standard. She also gets to join in with one of the Guildhall music hubs all day on Saturdays, which gives her a different musical experience (and an amazing singing teacher) and which would not be an option if she was in a more formal chorister arrangement. Your daughter is very, very young. I'd let her explore her interests and the whole range of musical opportunities out there for a while.