School news
Choir of Norwich Cathedral
Choristers and Girls' Choir sing at 359th Festival of Sons of the Clergy
Rounders Club
Strong performances from rounders teams.
Cricket Club
Another clean sweep of victories, this time against Woodbridge.
Prospectus
Send for a copy of our Prospectus, or download PDF.
Open days
Open Days are held in September and June. Our next Open Morning will be:
Saturday, 22 June 2013
FROM 10:00 - 12:00
Cathedral choristers
Admission
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Boys are normally eligible for entry to the Choir between the age of seven and nine. They must pass the School's entrance examination and the voice test conducted by the Cathedral’s Master of the Music. The latter includes some simple aural tests (e.g. picking notes out of basic chords and repeating short melodic and rhythmic patterns) and reading aloud a passage of prose. Few candidates at this stage have had much musical training. The Cathedral Choir is looking for boys with strong musical potential, usually expressed in a clear voice, a quick ear and a lively intelligence. It is an advantage to play an instrument.
Leaving the Choir
Boys ordinarily remain in the choir until their voices break, which is usually at about the age of thirteen/fourteen. The date of departure is decided by the Master of the Music.
The Routine of the Choir
An indication of the choristers’ routine can be found here.
Bursaries
The Cathedral Choir Endowment Fund, set up by the Dean and Chapter of Norwich Cathedral, pays bursaries in respect of each chorister and probationer while he is in the choir. These amount to half of school tuition Fees and are not means-tested. The bursary is paid directly to the School and appears as a deduction on the termly bill for Fees and charges. Rarely, in cases of special financial need, additional help may be available to pupils who are means-tested by the School on behalf of the Choir Endowment Fund if the Choir Endowment Fund agrees with the merits of the request for additional support and has sufficient resources with which to meet this cost. The choristers are paid fees in respect of most extra commitments. These are paid directly to the boys themselves.
Parents' Declaration
When a boy is offered a place as a Cathedral Chorister his parents are required to sign a declaration that they understand the conditions of his appointment and that they will ensure his regular and punctual attendance at the services and rehearsals.
Information
The Cathedral’s Master of the Music is always ready to discuss with parents the possibility of membership of the choir for their son and you are welcome to organise an 'informal' voice trial, without obligation, before making formal application.