Looking for a boarding choir school for my DS with a strong academic program

[abowley]

Hello everyone,

My DS is now 6 and he loves singing and playing the cello, and what it's true is that he does it very well for his age. For this reason, he wants to join a choir school. I have to say that he is very clever and also the pedagogic team of his current school told us he was gifted. Even though he always says that his dream is to sing in a choir, and we'd like to fulfil it.
Please we'd be very glad if someone could recommend us some choir schools with a strong academic program.
An important point, we are looking for a school that offers boarding at Y4 as usually, it's when the majority of choristers start training.
We were thinking with King's College Cambridge, Westminster Abbey, St John's College Cambridge or Winchester College.

PD: We're interested in Eton for secondary so we'd like a school with an academic program suitable for it

I'd appreciate so much any advice.

Sorry, another thing, if anyone knows they teaching methods and strategies will help us very much
to have a previous orientation before we go to visit them

Does he sing in anything at the moment?

Perhaps ask Eton what they'd recommend?

Y4 boarding?
Jesus Christ, poor kid.

I'd be looking at where Eton takes their musical pupils from.

Would he not be better off having an audition and seeing if he gets into the choir and then join the associated school? That's what happens at the local cathedral. Choir is filled via open auditions and kids then start at the school.

There's the odd kid who gets into the choir at age 8 who has been in the school since reception but not many. And plenty of kids in the school who will never sing in the choir.

Agree with all these points. Plenty come from Kings Cambridge. It's a big commitment.

@Moominmammacat Thanks the truth is that it is one of our firs options

Boarding at year 4. 😢

@Butterymuffin We'll thanks for the advice

Anyone knows anything about St John's College academic success? I've found some good reviews in some talks but I don't kow if it is a good feeder for the secondary we want

I would recommend you look at good cathedral schools you can easily travel to. Choirboy parents spend a lot of time attending services and supporting their children, taking them to school and picking them up for their exeats and holidays, collecting them after services on Christmas Day etc. If he's miles away this will affect your lives massively. The cathedral chorister parent is a very special breed of parent. It's not for the faint hearted but is an amazing thing for your child.

@mumsnoangel Thanks for the comment but the problem is that where we live there's any important choir school for that reason we were looking for boarding and the grandparents and uncles live near London if he needs something.

Speaking as the mother of choristers (not boarding ones) I'd be looking most at the director of music. As my DC said, they saw more of him than their father when they were growing up.

You can get an indication if he’s suitable to audition informally from the schools, most will hear children informally before the audition season.

Not as many children are applying these days apparently. For year 4 entry next year at St Johns Cambridge I believe the ratio was not much more than two auditioning for each place.

St Johns Cambridge is considered good academically but you do need to consider that if academics are your top priority then being a chorister eats into study time - it is very full on. Most of the choir schools will share the chorister school day timetable with you

@abowley I agree with the idea you book an informal visit at one choir school like St John's Cambridge and they can give you an idea of what your son's chances are and what is involved from a child and parent point of view. Even if your child is not nearby they need to be within reasonable reach so you can see lots of them and go to services to support them.

@Moominmammacat thanks we'll do it!!!

@Onceuponatimethen thanks for the suggestion we'll try to do it as I think that it'd be a great opportunity

I tell you where is absolutely super and that’s St George’s Windsor. Their head of music is amazing and they are right on Eton’s doorstep.

@Thingaling thanks, the fact is that st George’s Windsor is amazing but we didn't consider it as it's not a big feeder to get into Eton (last year for 26 children only 2 get into it). Nevertheless, we'll take it into account.
Another thing is that as I've heard is weekly boarding for choristers and we are mainly interested in full.

But please, if you know something else about their academic program tell me, I'll be very glad.

abowley
Be careful when you look at stats! St George’s is a co-ed school so the number isn’t 2/26 going to Eton, it’s 2 out of however many boys there are in the year (probably about 16). For a small school with a non selective intake that’s pretty darn good. Let’s put it this way, if your son really is musical and academic, he’s got as good a chance at getting into Eton from St George’s as he has anywhere else, probably a bit better. There are NO schools which offer a sure-fire path to Eton these days.

Also - on the boarding issue - increasingly choir schools are moving away from full boarding. Even the ones which are now may not stay that way for long. Schools think it’s necessary to scrap full boarding in order to continue to attract applicants.

Out of curiosity, I had a look at the exam stats for Elton. No boys took music at A level (1 took music tech) and 4 boys took music at GCSE. Presumably a boy who wants to become a chorister is a boy with a huge love and ability for music - so a choir school followed be Elton doesn't really seem like a natural progression for me?

Lonny, I’m guessing they may be very high level on instruments nonetheless?

Eton College Chapel Choir as well!

School website shows enviable music facilities and a huge number of peri lessons a week plus orchestra etc

I would imagine they focus on the traditional academic A levels