Choristers

The Choristers maintain an 800 year tradition of choral services in Exeter Cathedral. Between them the boy and girl choristers sing nearly 300 choral services each year as well as at concerts in England and overseas. Chorister Scholarships and Bursaries worth up to 50% of the school fees are awarded by the Cathedral Chapter each year to a number of boys and girls selected to be Choristers. Supplementary bursaries from trusts and organisations beyond the Cathedral may be available in cases of need. If a supplementary bursary is likely to be required, this should be notified to the Bursar as far in advance as possible so that every effort can be made to help.

New entrants attend and occasionally sing at Cathedral services and receive specialist musical and voice training. The length of this probationary period varies according to the age of the Probationer and how quickly he or she assimilates the repertoire. When they are ready, Probationers are installed as full Choristers and then remain in the Choir until the end of Year 8

Although it is not a requirement, many Choristers are boarders or occasional boarders, as parents frequently find this is the easiest way for all concerned for Chorister commitments to be fulfilled. Probationers however are not expected to stay in School at weekends.

All Choristers practice daily. The Boy Choristers normally sing Evensong on three days each week and at either two or three of the four weekend services. The Girl Choristers normally sing Evensong on one day each week and at two or three of the four weekend services. Choristers stay at school until Christmas at the end of the Michaelmas Term and until Easter Monday at the end of the Lent Term. There are no lessons after the end of School Term. Instead excursions and activities are arranged during leisure time between choral duties.

Broadcasts, recordings and overseas tours, such as the one to France pictured here, make up an important part of the yearly round for the Cathedral Choir

There are approximately two weeks holiday for Choristers after Christmas, two weeks after Easter, and at least six weeks in the summer. The Michaelmas half-term holiday is almost two weeks long, and in other terms approximately one week.

The optimum age for children selected to join the Cathedral Choir is in Year 4 at the age of 8 although there can be some flexibility in this. The main Voice Trial days are held in November but can be at other times by appointment. Full details of what is expected of candidates at a Voice Trial will be sent to all applicant

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