Being a Chorister
“I owe my entire career to my experience as a chorister. It was where I learnt to perform, where I learnt to use the full range of my voice; where I learnt to listen, where I learnt to write comedy, where I learnt to carry a pencil at all times – but most importantly it was where I learnt the wonderful truth that something exceptional, something as beautiful as anything anywhere, can be created just by you and your friends ”
- Alexander Armstrong, presenter, comedian and former chorister of St Mary’s Cathedral
"I love being a chorister. The feeling when you walk into the Cathedral is incredible and everyone is so friendly. It’s a great experience." Jake, chorister 2019-2023
The Choir of St Mary’s Cathedral
The heart of a chorister's work lies in singing for the regular weekday and Sunday services at the Cathedral and a number of special events throughout the year. Christmas and Easter are both very important and are highlights for every chorister, and in August the Choir takes part in the world-famous Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The Choir of St Mary’s Cathedral, Edinburgh enjoys an international reputation through its recordings, tours, broadcasts, and concerts. Described by Gramophone as ‘ one of Scotland’s (indeed the UK’s) musical jewels’, the choir consists of choristers aged 9-14, university Choral Scholars and professional Lay Clerks.
The high standard of musical performance on a daily basis brings a great deal of satisfaction. It develops a team spirit and qualities of leadership. Singing at an occasion such as the Christmas Carol service, or a live radio broadcast, or working and meeting with world-renowned composers is an unforgettable experience for a chorister and provides the foundation for a lifetime’s enjoyment of all music. The choir has toured all over the world including America, Hong Kong and across Europe. All Cathedral Choristers are educated at the prestigious St Mary’s Music School within walking distance of the Cathedral.
Cathedral Life
The chorister programme is widely acknowledged as unique in developing high levels of musicianship and performance at an early age. In addition to the exceptional musical benefits, it fosters important life qualities of dedication, discipline, and teamwork and provides strong foundations for the choristers, not just in music but in their lives more generally. Being a choristerisundoubtedlyhardwork,buttherewardsareimmeasurable!
TheChoristerDay(Weekdays)*seedailydetailsbelow
08.20 CathedralSongSchooldoorsopen
08.30 RegistrationandChoristerRehearsal
09.45 SchoolLessons
16.30 ChoirTea(hotorcoldsnack,fruitandadrink)
16.55 FullRehearsalintheCathedral
17.30 ChoralEvensong
18.15
Mondays
Tuesdays
Wednesdays
Thursdays
Fridays
Finish(exceptThursdays-seebelow)
Choristers go home from School at 4.30pm
Evensong - Full Cathedral Choir
Choristers go home from School at 3.30pm
Evensong - Full Cathedral Choir, followed by rehearsal until 6.55pm
Evensong - Full Cathedral Choir
TheChoristerDay(Weekends)
ThereisseldomanyChoristercommitmentonSaturday. OnSundays
09.20 ArrivalattheCathedralSongSchoolandRehearsal
10.30 CathedralSungEucharist
12 00 Choristersreturnhomeforlunch
14.25 ArrivalattheCathedralSongSchoolandRehearsal
15.30 ChoralEvensong
HolidayCommitments
School term times are broadly followed. However, a Chorister is committed to take part in Christmas and Easter Services as well as two weeks during the Edinburgh Festival in the Summerholidays.
The life of a chorister is split between time spent at the Cathedral and its Song School and their academic education at St Mary's Music School. Staff from the Cathedral and school work closely together to ensure that every child is supported both academically and pastorally.
St Mary’s Music School is the Choir School of St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral in Edinburgh. One of five Government-supported specialist music schools in the UK and the only one of its kind in Scotland it educates musically gifted children aged 9-19 years. All choristers upon being awarded a place in the choir are educated at the School. St Mary's Music School is co-educational, non-denominational and it attracts day and boarding pupils from across Scotland, the rest of the UK and internationally.
During their time as a chorister, all of their academic lessons take place in School. The curriculum follows the Scottish Curriculum for Excellence. P5-P7 are taught in a composite class, with the younger pupils benefitting from the experience of older pupils’ taught primarily by the Head of Primary. PE, French, Art, music theory and instrumental lessons are taught by other specialists. From S1, choristers move up to the full Senior School Curriculum.
Chorister Instrumental Tuition
A typical chorister will have a love of singing and of reading, but will generally also play an orchestral instrument and/or the piano. However, there is no minimum standard required to make an application.
Choristers starting at St Mary’s Music School learn one instrument, provided for during the school timetable, and a second instrument may be taken up in the first year of the Senior School.
Regular vocal coaching is provided and all choristers are taught music theory and composition. A weekly Performance Class allows the opportunity to try out instrumental repertoire.
Music lessons, ensembles and classes are timetabled within the school day, as is private practice each week. Practice Supervisors are on hand to help with all musical matters.
Application Process
We welcome applications from boys and girls aged 7 to 8 (Primary 3/4) who love to sing and who are prepared to commit to the full five-year chorister programme. There is no requirement for any religious affiliation and we accept children of all faiths and none If successful this would mean they would then:
P4 – Become a Probationer – Stay at their own school and attend Tuesday and Thursday Choral Evensong after school as well as attending Sunday Eucharist. This provides a good preparation for becoming a full-time chorister.
P5 – Join St Mary’s Music School and become a full-time chorister of St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral.
Because the training for a chorister is very in-depth, we recommend they become full choristers when they are in P5 (age 9). However, it may be possible to join in P6 if there are places available. Very occasionally a chorister with previous singing experience might join after P6. It is expected that a chorister joins for the full five-year programme, or until a boys’ voice changes, whichever is sooner.
The admissions procedure for choristers is organised between the Organist and Master of the Music and St Mary’s Music School.
We look for a quick mind, a good sense of pitch and rhythm and a clear voice. Applicants do not have to have any experience of singing in a choir. They will often have had some experience of learning a musical instrument.
StepOne
Complete our enquiry form. Upon receipt of this form, the Master of the Music at the Cathedral will meet with the candidate and their parents to advise if an audition is appropriate and answer any questions they might have.
StepTwo
Following this informal session and discussion with the candidate and parents, the Master of the Music will refer you to the admissions department to apply for a Chorister Place at St Mary’s Cathedral and at St Mary’s Music School. An audition will be set up. On the panel will be the Cathedral Master of the Music and the Director of Music and the Headteacher from St Mary’s Music School.
Audition will include:
A song that the child knows well. Please ensure that the song has both high notes and low notes as the candidate will need to demonstrate a full range to be able to be part of the choir. There will be an accompanist at the audition.
Performing any instruments the child studies. This is not a requirement for entry but will help to give the panel an indication of the candidate’s musicality.
The candidate will be given a passage of text to read out loud.
Some short aural tests including some simple vocal exercises and singing notes from simple chords.
A short academic assessment with the Head of Primary.
A parental discussion with the Vice Provost of the Cathedral.
Step Three
After the audition, the panel will convene and an audition result will be sent to you via email within five days from the audition. An offer may be made to join the five year chorister programme.
What’s Next?
What happens at the end of the five years?
Your child can either apply to another school - in the past, many have successfully won music scholarships at independent schools - or they can apply to audition for an instrumental place at St Mary’s Music School. An application for an instrumental place can only be made once the full chorister programme is nearing completion and gaining a place will be subject to the full instrumental audition process.
What kind of careers do choristers go on to?
The majority of our choristers go on to higher education after finishing their secondary study. Some opt to study music and others choose a range of other subjects. For the vast majority though, the chorister training is so exceptional that singing and music tends to be a significant factor throughout their adult lives.
Fees & Funding
Chorister places at St Mary’s Music School carry either a Cathedral Bursary or one of a small number of Scottish Government Aided Places. Cathedral Bursaries cover a minimum of 33% of fees; additional discretionary bursary funding may be available depending on financial need. Aided Places are means-tested and they are awarded to those with greatest financial need; only a limited number are available and they are awarded when available.
Contact the School Bursar for further details and enquiries relating to Cathedral Bursaries or theAided Places Scheme.
