Does your son enjoy music and would he like to be a part of a tradition that dates back hundreds of years?
Auditions
Why not bring him along for an audition with Scott Farrell, Director of Music at St Nicholas Cathedral situated in the historic mediaeval core of Newcastle?
Members
Newcastle Cathedral Choir is a professional choir made up of men (Lay-clerks and Choral Scholars) and boys, between the ages of 7½ and 14 and can trace its history back to at least 1503.
What do we do?
As well as singing for choral services in the Cathedral, the Choir has recently broadcast on national radio, recorded CDs, toured Norway and Malta, performed with world famous soloists, conductors and artists such as Julian Lloyd Webber, Carlo Curley, Sir Roger Norrington, Fine Arts Brass and the Northern Sinfonia.
What is the commitment?
Unlike many Cathedrals, Newcastle does not have a Choir School so the boys' timetable is concentrated on three days: after school on Tuesday and Friday and then twice on a Sunday enabling the boys to manage school, Cathedral and other outside activities.
The boys receive a generous monthly payment and are also given a more substantial gift as they leave the Choir when their voices change. The boys also spend time together socially and have annual visits to the pantomime followed by a party, as well as other shows and outings including a pizza and cinema outing to celebrate the Director of Music’s birthday.
What are we looking for?
We are not looking for a fully-fledged accomplished solo singer but a boy who shows spirit and potential.
What to do next?
Contact Scott Farrell for an informal chat about the Choir and arrange an audition at your convenience. If your son is offered a place in the Choir as a Probationer Chorister you do not have to sign your life away; this is a “taster” period to see if it is the right thing for him and your family.
There is a strong support network amongst the choir parents so a choir family is not alone in dealing with the potential burden of having a chorister son!
What people say about the Choir
“There was so much to admire in the singing”
“I just wanted to say how fantastic I thought it all
was...the choir is a great credit to the Cathedral”
“Good robust stuff from the lads, men in cracking
form…so good to hear boys sounding like sparky boys”
“The choir’s full sound is certainly compelling, and the boys have a confident, fruity tone”
About being a Chorister
In the words of the boys themselves:
“We work really hard, but we have a lot of fun too!”
“I just really enjoy singing. It makes me feel really happy. The Choir’s like a big club. We’re all good friends”
“It’s a very wholesome feeling when we’re all singing together. We’re all part of the same team. There’s great companionship and a lot of pride”
“We had to learn how to perform, how to communicate, how to put our best foot forward as a team, how to organize our time, how to concentrate for long spells, how to discern between the excellent and the mediocre…” Howard Goodall, composer.
These are all skills that will stay with your son for life and of course the musical education is second to none.
Other singing opportunities:
The Lantern Singers
Are a choir for boys and girls from the age of 7 upwards which meet at 9.30am for an hour on Saturdays during term time. Here children learn to use their voices in a relaxed environment with a real emphasis on enjoyment. This choir can also be a first step towards becoming a Chorister.
For further information, please contact:
Scott Farrell
Director of Music
Cathedral Church of St Nicholas
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 1PF
Tel: 0191 261 4505
Email: newcathorganist@tiscali.co.uk
Website: www.newcatle-cathedral-choir.net
