Lichfield Cathedral School Open Afternoon for Boy Choristers 2002

 

Chorister Voice Trials at Lichfield Cathedral - December 1984

 The following information was sent to potential choristers who would have their voice trial in December 1984; scans of the original documents are under the transcribed text.

LICHFIELD CATHEDRAL

AND

LICHFIELD CATHEDRAL SCHOOL (ST. CHAD'S) 

VOICE TRIAL FOR THE ELECTION OF CHORISTERS

The following information applies to the December 1984 Voice Trial.

1. A Voice Trial for boys wishing to enter the Choir of Lichfield Cathedral will next be held on Saturday, 1st December 1984. 
2. There are 18 Chorister places in the Choir, a small number of which, usually three or four, become vacant each year. Choristers are required to be full boarder pupils at the Cathedral School, the prospectus of which should be read with this notice. They each receive a Dean and Chapter Choral Scholarship which covers two-thirds of the School fees. Successful candidates, who will enter the School in September 1985 will be required to serve a period as Probationers: this will normally be of three terms' duration, each place carrying with it a Scholarship of half the current fees. Probationers can be full or weekly boarders or day pupils.
3. (a) Choristers must attend the daily practices, all sung services on Sunday mornings, and Evensong daily except for one weekday, usually Wednesday. They are also required to practise and sing services daily in the period from the end of the School's Christmas term until 26th December, during Holy Week and Easter, and during the weekends before and after other terms. They have about three weeks' holiday after Christmas and in April, and nearly eight weeks in the summer plus half term breaks. Al-though the leave of boarder Choristers is of necessity restricted, they are granted leave on most Saturday afternoons and on Sundays when not required for practice or services.
   (b) Probationers keep ordinary School terms, attending Choir practices and at least one service during the week but will not normally be required for Saturday Evensong and the Sunday services, nor for the Christmas and Easter festivals.
4. Candidates for the Voice Trial should normally be between 7 and 9 1/2 years of age on the day of the Trial. They will be required to sing a hymn or song of their own choice, to sing scales, to repeat notes heard in quick succession on the piano, to differentiate between two, three or four notes played simultaneously on the piano, to memorise short melodic and rhythmic phrases played on the piano, and they may be asked to sing a simple melody at sight. They also have to take a test in verbal reasoning and to show that they are able to read English fluently. 
5. Previous knowledge of a musical instrument is not necessary, but boys are encouraged to start the piano on arrival at the School, and to take up a second instrument in due course. Should a candidate be able to play an instrument already, he should come prepared to play a short piece at his Voice Trial. 
6. Depending on the number of candidates it may be necessary to hold Voice Trials in small groups during the morning and then to draw up a short list. Boys who are placed on the short list will be given individual auditions during the course of the afternoon and at that time will be asked to play their musical instruments if they have come prepared to do so.
7. Choristers are expected to remain in the Choir and at the School until their fourteenth year when they will have the opportunity of winning valuable Scholarships to Public Schools. All Probationers will fill Chorister places after three terms in normal circumstances, although this will be subject to their progress as Probationers. 
8. Full details of arrangements for the day of the Voice Trial will be sent to applicants about a week beforehand. All candidates and adults accompanying them must be prepared to be in Lichfield by 9.30 a.m. but a timetable of appointments will be included with the details and the distance families have to travel will be taken into consideration.
9. Parents who would like to enter their son for the Voice Trial should complete the enclosed form and return it to the Head Master as soon as possible. The closing date for the receipt of applications is 22nd November, 1984. 
10. Parents entering their child for the Voice Trial are strongly advised to visit the School with their son before the date of the Trial so that they will have an opportunity to meet and talk with the Head Master and also to see round the School in detail. A tour of the School will be conducted by a senior pupil on the day of the Trial for those parents who have not visited previously and the Head Master will be available. How-ever, the amount of time for discussing matters on an individual basis is bound to be limited on such a busy day. An appointment for a visit can be made by telephoning the Head Master's Secretary at the number given below. 
11. A registration fee of £40 is payable when a place in the School is accepted and is returned after settlement of the final account when the pupil leaves the School. 

IAN J. WREN

HEAD MASTER

JONATHAN REES-WILLIAMS

ORGANIST AND MASTER OF THE CHORISTERS

Lichfield Cathedral School,
The Palace,
LICHFIELD,
Staffordshire.
WS13 7LJ. 

Tel: Lichfield (05432) 23326