The professional choirs
Do you know a boy who loves to sing? Why not find out if he has the potential to become a Winchester Cathedral Chorister or a Winchester College Quirister?
Informal meetings with the Choirmasters of the two choral foundations associated with The Pilgrims' School can be arranged through the school at any time, to see if the boy is likely to have the right potential, and to put him at ease for the more formal singing auditions. Parents are welcome to chat with the Choirmasters to find out more about the life of the choristers.
Boys need no previous musical experience and can be heard from 6 years old, although the voice begins to show its potential more fully from 7 years onwards. Boys join the choir from Year 4 (8+), but places are sometimes available for older boys; it is unusual, however, for a boy to join the Cathedral Choir beyond the age of 10.
Annual singing auditions are held in November for boys aged 7+
The annual, formal singing auditions are held each November. Over the course of the morning, we assess the boys' quality and range of voice and his musical 'ear'. No specialist preparation is necessary - we are looking for potential and enthusiasm rather than experience and a finished product! All aspects of the audition are explained carefully on the day and include simple exercises such as:
- clapping the rhythm of a short phrase played twice
- singing back a short melody played twice on the piano
- picking out individual notes from a group of 2, 3 or 4 notes
- a short solo - something that the candidate knows well and feels happy to sing
- candidates are sometimes asked to read aloud
More information about the Quiristers can be found on the College website, www.winchestercollege.org. Details of the Cathedral Choir and the Choristers, including service times when it is possible to hear the boys sing, can be found on the Cathedral website, www.winchester-cathedral.org.uk