St Mary's Cathedral Choir, Sydney

Choir Scholarships 2011

 

THE CATHEDRAL CHOIR The Choir is a group of about 40 schoolboys (from Years 5 to 12) and 20 adults who provide the music in St Mary's Cathedral at the principal Mass (at 10.30 a.m) every Sunday and sing at services for other important occasions in life of the Cathedral. They are drawn from all over the metropolitan area. From time to time, they also give concerts, make recordings and appear on television. Occasionally, there is the chance for travel to the country, interstate, or even overseas. MEMBERSHIP The largest group of choir members are schoolboys, who attend St Mary's Cathedral College and who receive their school fees as a scholarship in return for their services to the Cathedral music. New members usually start in the choir at the beginning of Year 5 and may remain in the choir right through to Year 12. In fact, many schoolboy choristers stay on as volunteer adults after they have finished school. TRYING OUT Boys are selected to join the choir as a result of their standard of natural musical skill. That skill is assessed in a short audition, held on a Saturday morning during the third school term. No previous musical training is necessary as the auditions try to assess whether a boy has a good, natural sense of pitch and rhythm. Obviously, boys who have done some singing or are learning an instrument will find the tests easier and usually score higher that those without any previous training. But, it is natural skill that is being looked for. If that is present, musicianship can be taught. The audition takes about 10 minutes and consists of clapping some rhythms, singing notes and intervals after they are played on the piano, listening to chords and singing the notes that they are made up of, and singing a simple carol, such as Silent Night.   Continue

Contact :
Choir Director: twilson@stmaryscathedral.org.au