Bradford Cathedral

Choir

Voice Trials

4th April 2020

To book your place, contact:

luke.johnson@bradfordcathedral.org

01274 777725 / 07507 456741

What is a Cathedral Chorister?

There are 42 Church of England cathedrals in the UK, and all of them maintain

children’s choirs. A chorister is a young boy or girl who sings as part of the choir.

It is a unique musical education simply not offered in schools anymore. The children

are trained by professional musicians, and as well as receiving an amazing musical

education, we find that choristers do better at school, grow in confidence as people

and become incredibly well-motivated.

It is no surprise that former choristers have become famous comedians (Alexander

Armstrong and Ken Dodd), England cricket captains (Alastair Cook), TV presenters

(Jon Snow), MPs (Rt Hon David Lammy) and pop singers (Gareth Gates, Chris Martin,

Ed Sheeran and Britney Spears)!

The Commitment

Boy Choristers

Tuesday 1600 Theory and Toast

1640 Rehearsal

1745 Evensong

1830 Finish

Thursday 1600 Theory and Toast OR 1600 Theory and Toast

1640 Rehearsal 1630 Rehearsal

1745 Evensong 1730 Finish

1830 Finish

Girl Choristers

Monday 1600 Theory and Toast

1640 Rehearsal

1745 Evensong

1830 Finish

Thursday 1600 Theory and Toast OR 1600 Theory and Toast

1640 Rehearsal 1630 Rehearsal

1745 Evensong 1730 Finish

1830 Finish

Weekends alternate between boys and girls, so that every second weekend is completely free.

Saturday 0930 Rehearsal, Singing lessons and theory

1215 Finish

Sunday 0900 Rehearsal

1015 Eucharist

1145 Break

1415 Rehearsal

1600 Evensong

1700 Finish

The Chorister Journey

Probationers Probationer choristers are the junior members of the cathedral

choir.

They receive special tuition in music theory and singing with Claire

McGinn and they learn about singing in the cathedral.

They participate in services, being supported by more experienced

choristers. They also receive occasional singing lessons.

Probationer choristers sing every Monday or Tuesday and every

Thursday, and receive choir pay. They also attend alternate

Saturday morning chorister rehearsals.

Full Choristers When they are ready, normally after 2-3 terms, probationers are invited to become full

choristers. They will be able to demonstrate their progress and commitment to the choir,

and show how excited they are to take on the full chorister schedule.

We meet the chorister and their family, they agree to the rules in the Chorister Handbook,

and sign the Chorister Agreement. They are then installed as a full chorister during a Sunday

service.

Being a full chorister is a fantastic opportunity. It requires hard work and full commitment

from both the chorister and their family. Choristers sing six times a fortnight, as well as for

occasional special events.

We expect our choristers to stay until the end of Year 8 (or for boys until their voices

change), and they follow a specialised chorister curriculum. This includes progression in not

only singing and theory tuition but also development of performance skills and broadening

their understanding of the Christian faith. It is wonderful to see how confident and mature

our choristers become during their time in the choir.

Choristers’ families become part of our cathedral community and are warmly encouraged

to become choir chaperones, volunteers and readers. We greatly value the support of all

our chorister parents.

The benefits of being a chorister at Bradford Cathedral are amazing:

Full choristers receive free singing lessons every fortnight, regular tuition in music theory and work towards ABRSM music exams.

They are invited to go on tour with the choir, and take part in recordings, concerts, and radio and television broadcasts.

There are opportunities to sing for major political and religious figures, including sometimes royalty!

The Extras

Choir Pay

Choristers and probationers receive choir pay at the end of every term. We have a

sliding scale based on the age of the choristers and how long they have been in the

choir. Bonuses are given for choristers who have done especially well over the course

of a term.

Costs

Being a chorister is free. The cathedral choir is part of the ministry of Bradford

Cathedral and justly proud of its choral tradition. The only thing for which costs are

levied are tours and, there are generous bursaries available for these activities.

Parish Visits

The choristers sing a “Safari Evensong” in one of our parish churches every term. This

enables them to sing to people who don’t normally hear choirs, who really appreciate

the sound of young voices. The parishes provide them with amazing buffet teas, and it

is always a nice day out.

Radio

Bradford Cathedral Choir sings regularly on Premier Radio, a Christian radio station.

In the past the choir has sung on BBC R4, BBC Radio Leeds, and has been on BBC

Songs of Praise.

Singing Lessons

Choristers receive free fortnightly singing lessons, and work towards ABRSM exams.

Socials

We take the choristers out on socials once a term, to go bowling, to laser quest or

ice skating.

Tours

The choir goes on tour every year. These alternate between tours abroad and tours

in the UK. Fundraising takes place for choir tours, which meant that last year’s tour to

Germany cost only £300 per person. There are also generous bursaries available for

those going on tour.

The Chorister Curriculum

The curriculum is designed to support choristers from the beginning of their time with us,

through to the end of year 8. It aims to help them develop musical excellence by teaching

them to read music, sing confidently and develop their stage-craft and musicianship.

It is delivered by the staff of the cathedral music department, principally Alex Berry,

Graham Thorpe and Claire McGinn.

Music theory is taught before most chorister rehearsals and during the Saturday morning

rehearsal. There is an established weekly Theory and Musicianship Club, and extra help is

offered for exams. Choristers receive free singing lessons every fortnight. All singing and

theory exams are paid for by the cathedral.

Ongoing musical support is also offered to former choristers who wish to continue

studying music.

Probationers

Introduction to weekly choral evensong, and training in what types of music are sung

at services.

Participation in full chorister rehearsals, gaining confidence singing with more

experienced choristers.

Singing training with Claire McGinn and occasional free singing lessons with our

cathedral singing teachers.

Begin work on ABRSM grade 1 theory.

Year 4/ First terms as full chorister

Understanding of all services that choristers take part in. Confidence in the majority

of the core repertoire we sing at services.

Familiarity with singing psalms and confidence when singing simple solos in front of

other choristers and during services.

Regular singing lessons with our cathedral singing teachers, beginning to work

towards grade 1 singing exam.

Work towards grade 1 theory exam if not already, and work on basic musicianship

skills.

Year 5

Confidence in being a good example for younger choristers throughout cathedral

services, and able to assist probationers where necessary.

Confidence in reading from the Bible during a service. Readings are always provided

in advance.

Familiarity with more of the repertoire, and confidence in sight-reading new psalms

and singing more difficult solos.

Work towards grade 2 singing exam.

Work towards grade 2 theory, and work on more complicated musicianship

exercises, such as aural and sight-reading skills. Have confidence recognising the

theory in cathedral repertoire.

Year 6

Take on more responsibilities in cathedral services and rehearsals, setting an example

in behaviour, how to prepare music, and taking on jobs such as becoming music

monitor.

Confidence singing the majority of the repertoire, and able to lead in new or more

challenging pieces.

Work towards grade 3 singing exam. Confidence in singing solos in services and

concerts.

Work towards grade 3 theory exam. Confidence in more challenging theory and

musicianship exercises.

Year 7

Set an example as a senior chorister, guiding younger members through music and

services, including demonstrating how to behave.

Confidently lead psalms and responses, set an example of how to approach new

music. Be happy to volunteer for solos, and be confident in reading from the Bible

during services.

Work towards grade 4 singing exam. Confidence in stage-craft and solo singing even

for the most complex solos.

Work towards grade 4 theory.

Be confident in challenging sight-reading, aural and musicianship exercises.

Year 8

Become a leading chorister, confidently able to support and assist younger children.

Always act as a role model during rehearsals and services, particularly when

approaching new and difficult music.

Work towards higher grade singing exams and show confidence in solo performance,

including stage-craft.

Confidence in complex musicianship exercises, including sight-reading and aural tests.

Work towards higher grade music theory exams, with excellent working knowledge

of standard music theory.

What next?

Boys or Girls who sing alto, tenor or bass can choose to stay in the choir and become

Junior Choral Scholars. Girls who sing soprano can join the Cathedral Consort. In both of

these groups the older boys and girls are given more freedom to choose what they sign up

for, as their lives become busier with GCSEs and A-levels. Former choristers have gone to

study at universities (including Oxford and Cambridge) or music conservatoires.

We hope very soon to found a youth choir for teenagers which offers ongoing singing and

musical tuition to children who are too old to be choristers but still love to sing and want

to remain a part of the cathedral community. It is hoped that many of our choristers will

join this choir, especially as the commitment is designed to fit around the demands of GCSE

and A Level work. It will have a relaxed atmosphere, including social events and pizza at the

start of every rehearsal!