The Cathedral Choir
Life as a chorister is highly rewarding; it provides great opportunities for a child’s development, both musical and academic, and is lots of fun. Through this experience, they will also learn social skills in how to work with others as part of a team in the pursuit of excellence. Boys and girls will also develop and gain self-confidence in performance skills, and an appreciation of the Cathedral’s long musical heritage through daily contact with great art.
The Cathedral Choir consists of up to 20 choristers (boys and girls) and 6 full-time Lay Clerks, who are all professional singers in and around Manchester.
The Choir is directed by the Organist & Master of the Choristers, Christopher Stokes.
Each year we offer a number of choristerships to girls or boys aged between 8 and 10. All of our choristers attend the internationally renowned Chetham’s School of Music where they receive an excellent musical and general education in addition to the first-class musical training they receive from the Cathedral’s music staff. Choristers attend daily rehearsals in the Cathedral in preparation for the weekly services. The life of a chorister will also include other special events such as live television and radio broadcasts, CD recordings and touring within the UK, Europe and beyond.
Listen to us here-
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p05hgyc7
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000tw5n
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p08hvfq7
Applicants do not need any prior experience to audition for the Choir. We are looking for children who enjoy singing, have vocal potential, good natural aural ability and enjoy working as part of a team and who, with their parents, will commit to a demanding but immensely rewarding schedule.
The normal weekly schedule of services is as follows:
- Choral Evensong: Mondays – Thursdays at 5.30 pm (Term Times)
- During August, Visiting Choirs sing Choral Evensong on a Saturday at 3.30 pm and on a Sunday Morning at 10.30 am for the Sung Eucharist Service. (Please check the Website for up-to-date services).
Auditions are held throughout the year and applications are welcomed from anyone between the ages of 7 and 10. For an informal chat, or to arrange a preliminary informal audition, please contact the Organist and Master of the Choristers, Christopher Stokes.
For further in-depth information about choristerships, please view and download our brochure Opens in new window .
Opportunities are also available for singers to join our list of deputy Lay Clerks too. Please contact the Worship & Music Administrator for further details.
