Choral scholarships - anyone know anything about applying to be a chorister?

[34leaper35]

Hello!
My son (year 3) had a talk from the director of music from a rather famous cathedral last week. He chatted to them about becoming a chorister and my son loved the sound of it. I am aware it is a HUGE COMMITMENT! But he would like to have a go. How on earth do we know if he stands a chance? He is got a distinction in his grade one on his musical instrument and can read music but singing? Surely you have to have a good voice?? How do we know if he does? My husband and I are not musical!
Thank you so much!

Hi. You can take him to the voice trial. They will check the suitability. DS sang a song, played piano and violin and had some aural test at the trial. DS didn't have any singing experience but his ear was exceptional which they liked. They said they were looking for clear voice and weren't interested in trained voice so no experience was expected nor required.

And it was one of the most prestigious choir schools in the UK. So I assume their requirements weren't particularly low compared with others.

My friend’s DS auditioned for similar but dropped out after finding out that choristers had to board at the cathedral school. Boarding was free for choristers but boys could only be choristers for a few years and there was no way his mum could pay the fees after that. So he was looking at getting settled into a great boarding school, getting used to it and making friends, then being pulled out and sent to the local comp when he was too old to continue being a chorister. His mum decided that was too disruptive so he wasn’t allowed to go.

They look for potential and natural musicality rather than achievements. Also need to be academically able as the pressure of fitting in music as well as usual school studies means it's quite a fast-paced environment. The cathedral(s) in question should have info on their website. Many have open days and chorister experience days before you make the decision to apply. They don't chuck you out when your voice breaks - it's not that brutal. In my experience the boys get such a good musical education that many get a music scholarship to public school later. It's a big commitment and boarding isn't for everyone but for many it's s great experience. You might be surprised to learn that applications have decreased everywhere over recent years including the really famous places. Some of the smaller provincial cathedrsls are really struggling to recruit.

Some of the smaller provincial cathedrsls are really struggling to recruit
This doesn't surprise me at all as the regime is brutal. Yes, obviously there are upsides to being a chorister but it is so all-embracing that it really does impact on how much time there is for other things. I know of parents who have refused to sign the contract after realising just how all-encompassing it is. As I say, it is an amazing opportunity but don't be blinkered to the "glamour" of it and realise that your weekends, Easters and Christmasses will not be your own for years.

Not for us, for two reasons - we weren’t prepared to have such a young child board, and if it wasn’t boarding, it wouldn’t have been fair on siblings to put up with such heavy demands on our time as parents, ensuring that all the choir commitments were met. Especially for younger children, who simply wouldn’t get the opportunity to develop interests to such a high level, as we wouldn’t be available to take them to try things out, let alone get serious about.

DH was a chorister, so understands what it’s all about (both good and bad), but despite the fabulous opportunities it does bring, it wasn’t for us.

I have a chorister DS. He is at a day choir school, attached to a well known choir. He is now 10, but auditioned at 6. At the time, he had a good ear and sang in tune, and that was about it. He didn’t have a particularly special voice and was a beginner on the violin.

It is a massive family commitment, but well worth it. DS has managed the demands well and developed very well as a musician. I would say, go for a voice trial and see what happens!

PM me if you want to chat about specifics.

It has to be all-encompassing with huge commitment or they just wouldn't be able to achieve the standards required as a choir. I wish we lived near one that wasn't boarding as that is the aspect I would find hard to accept for my family. I gave the youngest the opportunity to explore the idea and he didn't want to. I was quite relieved.

I've worked in two major choral foundations and got to know many choristers and their families. I'd say that on the whole it's a good experience but probably because people do a lot of thinking and soul-searching before accepting a place.

Nothing to be lost from looking into it further! Good luck if you do.

I know of parents who have refused to sign the contract after realising just how all-encompassing it is
Yup, we didn't sign up in the end. DS was quite keen at the time but he had broader interests and enjoyed all the after school clubs of swimming, football, beavers, etc, so felt it wasn't the best education for him. I am so glad we realised it in time as he's very happy where he is now.

To be honest, we probably knew it wasn't for our DS from the very beginning but nevertheless explored as the opportunity was so appealing. I know a handful families who are very happy with their DCs attending choir school. I am sure it'll be incredible opportunity and experience for right family/child.

I can only talk about the school we considered but as long as I know they won't kick you out after voice change. They help the boys adjust their focus such as increasing instrumental practice etc while singing duties get lighter. Their ex-choristers often head for top school for 13+ with music/academic scholarship.

I think it's good to explore while you have a choice. You can think of the possibility and suitability seriously once you get an offer?

I wouldn't advise joining a choir school unless you have the funds to keep your child in private school after they leave the choir. And they have to be pretty bright as mentioned above as the schedule is super tough. I didn't have my first pieces of advice and didn't realise what a wrench it would be at the end but looking back, the experiences they have and discipline they learn is pretty unique and I think probably has been worth it.

My two said they loved it but would not do it for their own children. Give it a go but go into it with your eyes open. So depends if you have a decent director of music. Mine pointed out they saw more of him growing up, than of their own father.

One thing I can't see anyone has mentioned yet, is that a lot of places will see you for an informal assessment ahead of doing a more formal voice trial. You would be given a much better indication of your child's potential, and how (if at all) they would suggest you prepare him. It is your opportunity to ask more questions about how it all works, what the commitment is, how you fit your family around a chorister. Assuming it is a choirschool you are looking at, have a proper tour of the school; you should be able to arrange this separately to open days if necessary.

Personally I think it is fantastic when the interest comes from the child spontaneously like this. But you will need to do lots of finding out to work out whether it might be right for you. Year 3 is the right age for boys, typically they can start as a probationer in year 4 and then, with luck, get 4 years in the choir before voice change (sadly lots, like my son, have to stop singing before or during year 8).

For the right child it is a fantastic experience and I love that they finish their time at a stage when they can then knuckle down at senior school and pursue academic interests with music taking a back seat if need be. Not that my two aren't doing loads of music still! My youngest can't join the chapel choir at his senior school till his 3rd year and it already keen.

Please ignore the people saying, don't do it if you can't afford to remain in private schooling. A lot of top schools - especially boys' schools - have very good bursary arrangements, and ex-choristers are attractive to them. You are quite likely to be able to follow a good choirschool education with a good senior school paying only what you can realistically afford. And most means test with regards to your other children, not just one.

I've experienced one day and one boarding chorister, feel free to message me if you want.

Why everyone is assuming that being a chorister=boarding? My DC never boarded, but yes, it is a huge commitment. DC auditioned for several choirs, some were very relaxed, but the one we went for had a very complicated aural test with some theory thrown in, so it was not that easy, and was very competitive with lots of candidates for a few places. If you want to join a choir you should apply ASAP, most choirs recruit boys between ages 6-8, though some can accommodate an older candidate with an exceptional voice/talent.

I think the audition is actually easy if they are the right fit ... good ear, on the ball, confident ... mine did no preparation for either choir auditions or junior conservatoires, just carried on with what they were doing anyway.

For the right child it is a fantastic experience

I'd echo this. Although we also decided that level of commitment wouldn't suit the boy in question - after a day spent at the school and Cathedral. Including trying out choristership. (Boarding prep attached to cathedral and major public school.) He liked singing well enough but it wasn't an overriding interest - and he would have found the required degree of organisation irksome and taxing.

I'd agree it may be becoming more and more difficult for schools to attract choristers in sufficient numbers. It's not an easy life for child or family - though no doubt rewarding.

In the end ours went to a different boarding prep and didn't even try out for the choir!

Mine did not prepare either, you either can sing or can’t. But one of the choirs he auditioned for only accepted children that we already doing some sort of musical training, could read music, etc. DC was asked about transposing music, favourite composers, general questions about musicality amongst other things. We were also interviewed. Probably depends how competitive the choir is. One of the auditions he was stopped after singing just a few lines and offered a place on the spot, so it all depends on the choir.

I'm torn about it. I'm a choir mum and it is the most incredible ride but it is hard going. It impacts the whole family.
But as PP said for the right child it is incredible. Tours, singing for the queen etc etc

the voice trial is relaxed, no worries there, the choir master is looking for ttalented children, obviously, but most kids are so young that they are jsut the clay at this point. the child needs a musical ear and a voice that doesnt grate too much!! must be bright to keep up and robust enough to cope with the commitment. (the stereotype of a choir boy being weak is so wrong, it is a tough life you need to be very strong!) Feel free to PM me

if your child wants it it is quite hard to say no to it...

Please ignore the people saying, don't do it if you can't afford to remain in private schooling. A lot of top schools - especially boys' schools - have very good bursary arrangements, and ex-choristers are attractive to them

^^This.

If you are looking at any of the leading choir schools they all have excellent links to senior schools and ex choristers are first in line for big bursary pots.

But that's still an expense above a standard school. My daughter may get a ~90% bursary but it's not free and there's associated expenses we hadn't anticipated (mainly instrumental lessons to keep up with her peers in choir school environment so that she can be as involved as she'd like with the musical life of the school as well as the cathedral). Also would be difficult for us to revise for entrance exams with the heavy singing and playing schedule but I do understand that most do that very successfully.