If you are a student or recent post-graduate aged 16-25 and have a love of choral singing, you could apply for one of our Choral Scholarships. As a Choral Scholar you are full member of the choir, singing in a fun, supportive environment, while strengthening your core skills as a singer improving your sight-reading, building your vocal technique and rapidly expand your experience of choral repertoire.
Choral Scholars receive a bursary of £1200 per annum, paid in monthly instalments.
A Choral Scholarship is a wonderful way to gain experience of singing at a high standard in a choir that covers a broad repertoire. It is also excellent preparation for any young musician wanting to pursue music further, especially singers who may wish to apply for choral awards at university or prepare for professional choral singing. Our most recent Choral Scholars have been young professionals and post graduates at music college. Many young members of our choir have gone on to exciting Organ and Choral Scholarships, at places like Clare, Emmanuel and Robinson colleges at Cambridge University, Keble, Merton and the Queen’s College at Oxford University, Royal Holloway Chapel Choir, Royal Northern College of Music/Manchester University joint studies degree, and the Old Royal Naval College Trinity Laban Chapel Choir.
As a Choral Scholar, you would be expected to demonstrate excellent commitment and musicianship, attending rehearsals and services throughout the year. The choir rehearses every Friday evening and sings each Sunday morning for the 10am Eucharist service and for 6.30pm Choral Evensong on Sunday evenings. The choir also enjoys exceptional opportunities to sing at cathedrals across the UK and abroad, to perform concerts and to make recordings. There is also time off for exams and university holidays.
Auditions can be held throughout the year but mostly fall in July and August for the new academic year. Occasionally there are vacancies during the year, so there is no harm is emailing to enquire at any time. If you would like to apply or would like more information, contact the Director of Music, Richard Brain, at music@christchurch-southgate.org. Should there be a vacancy, you will then be contacted to arrange a 20-minute audition, which will involve singing a prepared piece, some sight-reading and aural tests.
