Cathedral Choristers

“Hi, I’m Sofia, I’m in Year 8, and this is my third year as a Chorister.”

“Hi, I’m Oliver, I’m in Year 6, and I’ve been a Chorister for four years. I first joined after going to a Chorister Experience Day. It was so much fun. You get to meet Mr Daniel Cook, the Master of the Choristers, and Mr Beach, the Assistant Organist. Everyone is really friendly. Now that I’m a Chorister, I help the children who come along to see what being a Chorister is like.”

Sofia: “My parents asked me one summer if I’d like to join the Cathedral Choir. I said yes, so they got in touch with Mr Cook and I auditioned a week later. You sing a song you enjoy and then do some simple choral tests. A few days afterwards, I found out I’d been accepted.”

Oliver: “We also have girls’ and boys’ weekends. We rehearse in the morning and then do really fun activities. They are always great.”

Sofia: “Sometimes we board overnight too. On Sunday, we sing three services; Eucharist, Matins and Evensong. A normal Chorister day starts with a 7:50am rehearsal. Then we have our school day and come back for Evensong rehearsals and the service.”

Both Sofia and Oliver agree that one of their most memorable moments was performing at the Royal Maundy Service and meeting the King and Queen.
“We went to London and sang with lots of choirs including the St Paul’s Cathedral Choir,” says Oliver. “We sang the Gabrieli Jubilate Deo, we all love it.”

Sofia: “We always look forward to the Chorister periods at Christmas, Easter and Summer. At Christmas, we board for about five days. On Christmas morning there’s always a fun activity to find our presents.”

Oliver: “We each have a piece of string tied to our dorm. We follow it all around to work out where our presents are, it is brilliant.”

They are also excited for the upcoming Advent Procession.
“Everything starts in darkness and the Cathedral gradually fills with light as we sing. It is magical,” says Oliver.

Being a Chorister has shaped them both.

Oliver: “It’s taught me how to read music and really helped with my musical progress. It encouraged me to learn instruments, I now play the trumpet and I’m working towards Grade 1. You learn teamwork too. Whether it’s boys, girls or everyone together, you have to work as a team.”

Sofia: “You always have someone to go to, friends, staff or boarding team. Everyone supports you.”

Oliver: “It’s definitely made me kinder.”

Step 1: Informal Voice Trial

The first step is for your child to come and sing to the Choir Master, Mr Cook. If Mr Cook is happy with the informal voice trial, then you can move on to a formal assessment, which takes place during the School day.

Step 2: Voice trial and a day at DCSF

Any prospective Choristers who are not already pupils at DCSF will need to come for a trial day at the school which also includes some academic tests and a boarding trial (optional). The day begins with joining the Choristers for morning choir practice and ends by singing Evensong with the choir.

Step 3: Starting as a Probationer

If your child is successful in all the assessments for both the choir and School, then they can start as a Probationer. Probationers sing only on weekdays during term time.

Step 4: Becoming a full Chorister

When Mr Cook feels your child is ready, Probationers are promoted to full Choristers. When a Probationer becomes a full Chorister, they are given a white surplice to wear in a special ceremony. This is a moment they will remember for the rest of their lives! They then start to follow the full timetable including singing at weekends and for special occasions like Christmas and Easter.