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Join our Junior Choir!
Fill in your joining form hereJunior Choir is a wonderful opportunity learn music and contribute month by month to the services at St Michael’s. Children in Year 3 and above can join the choir. Click on the link below to find out more about our activities last year — two visits to Winchester Cathedral (one to listen and the other to sing), carol services, family services, a carol concert at the Leonardo Hotel, and much more…
Click here a review of the Junior Choir’s year…
Our Junior Choir offers children the opportunity to be part of the centuries-old tradition of English church music that is envied the world over. Our choristers receive a thorough training in music, with free singing and music theory tuition.
Choristers gain experience singing alongside our adults both on ‘home turf’ at St Michael’s, and occasionally when they are able to join visits to cathedrals or choir concerts. They sing music from around the world, covering over a thousand years from early chants to contemporary music by living composers.
We also offer Half-Term Singing Days for children in Years 3 or above, as a great way to experience the fun of singing in a choir and to learn more about music. Click on the link for more details of our Singing Days…
Training
Our choristers follow the RSCM’s Voice for Life training scheme. Andrew Hanley (St Michael’s Director of Music) is a professional musician with comprehensive knowledge of choral music, and Helen Carmichael, who leads the juniors’ training programme, is an experienced teacher and chorister. They are helped by a team of our scholars and other choir members.
Everyone involved in training our younger singers is checked and supervised in accordance with the parish’s safeguarding policy
What does it cost?
Membership is absolutely free. From time to time outings or trips may be organised which may have an associated cost, but we try to subsidise these where possible, and we often get group rates. We run occasional fund-raising events like a quiz or barbecue, to help with purchases like music, instruments, and workbooks.
Is it a big commitment?
Compared to a cathedral choir, it’s really not a big commitment! After a trial period though, we do expect our members – if possible – to attend the practice each week and the Family Service once a month.
Our normal routine is:
– Choir practice: Wednesdays in term-time from 6.30 – 7.45pm
– One Sunday morning service per month (including rehearsal): 9.15 – 11.15 (usually on the first Sunday of each month in term-time)
Occasionally there are optional extra services, and events like weddings (for which choristers are paid!) We don’t sing in the school holidays after Christmas and Easter, or at all in the summer holidays, and there are no Wednesday practices for juniors in half-terms (though there usually is a Half-term Singing Day).
Who can join?
Children may join the Junior Choir from school Year 3, and are usually aged 7 to 15. Prior experience and musical skills are not necessary, and children do not need a religious background. We only look for enthusiasm and a willingness to sing! After year 9, young choristers normally rehearse and sing with the adult members of the choir (Wednesdays 7.30-9pm) with continued training available for those following the “Voice for Life” programme.
What’s the next step?
If you’d like to discuss the choir further, come and see us on a Sunday or email us. We’re always very happy to have an informal chat with parents.
Children need parental consent to participate in the choir. You can fill in your details and request your starting date by clicking on the button below…
