Colmore Row, Birmingham B3 2QB

0121 262 1840 birminghamcathedral.com

Joining the

Cathedral Choir

Girl Choristers

THE CATHEDRAL CHOIR

The Cathedral Girls Choir is made up of around 22 girls aged between Year 6

and Year 13 and up to two Choral Scholars (normally university or

Conservatoire students).

Practices and services take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays after school and on

most Sundays (morning or afternoon) in term-time.

The girls sing regularly with the Lower Voices (adults) of the Cathedral Choir

for services and concerts. All choir members socially distance at all times, they

are not a bubble. They sing from individual packs of music and the librarians use

hand sanitiser regularly while assembling these.

Girl Choristers receive a bursary increasing progressively to £500 per year. All

girls receive free music theory training up to Grade 5 and free singing lessons.

Choristers are trained to be proficient and confident musicians, and to perform

to a professional standard – several choristers have gained Oxbridge and other

choral scholarships.

Choristers are still able to take a full part in all aspects of school life with choir

holidays and half terms coinciding with school holidays as much as possible.

Outings, picnics and social events are organised on a regular basis, although

these are suspended during the Covid-19 pandemic.

At audition the girls are asked to sing a simple hymn or carol of their choice and

participate in some straightforward ear tests. They should be fluent readers with

good concentration. Successful girls will begin with a trial period as a

probationer. During 2020-21, auditions will be on Sunday afternoon and evening

on Zoom.

I would be delighted to hear from you by email at

david.hardie@birminghamcathedral.com or by telephone

0121 262 1840.

Mr David Hardie

Head of Music

For me, the choir has been a journey of exciting

opportunities. I’ve acquired invaluable skills in

musicianship, confidence and teamwork, gaining

lifelong friends along the way.

”

“

Joining Birmingham Cathedral

Choir has been one of the best

decisions I ever made. It has

taught me so much about

music and has been key in

developing my confidence. It’s

great being part of such an

amazing choir, with amazing

people who have become my

second family.

”

“ In recent years the choir has sung:

• On BBC Radio 3 (Choral Evensong)

• In concert with world famous musicians

such as Thomas Trotter

• In recording with Black Sabbath guitarist

Tony Iommi

• With professional orchestras in Handel’s

Messiah and Bach’s St Matthew Passion

• In performance with the Birmingham Royal

Ballet

• With Ian Anderson and Jethro Tull

• In St Paul’s Cathedral and many other

English cathedrals

• In Notre Dame in Paris and the

Thomaskirche in Leipzig

7 11

Read about the Music Department’s successes for

Birmingham Cathedral’s ‘Emerging Talent’ scheme at

www.birminghamcathedral.com/emergingtalent