Does your son or daughter enjoy music and would he or she like to be a part of a tradition that dates back hundreds of years?
Auditions
Why not bring them along for an audition with Michael Stoddart, 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. While more recent, the Girls' Choir, founded in 2008, already plays an integral part in the life of the cathedral, singing for at least one service a week and singing many concerts and services throughout the diocese.
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 people say about the Choirs
“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 and girls 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:
Michael Stoddart
Director of Music
Cathedral Church of St Nicholas
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 1PF
Tel: 0191 261 4505
Email: directorofmusic@stnicnewcastle.co.uk
Website: stnicholascathedral.co.uk