Life as a Chorister
It is not an easy life being a Chorister but it is a very rewarding one. Choristers are members of two high-profile institutions and are therefore "on show" most days. They are expected to maintain very high standards of discipline, behaviour and thoughtfulness towards others at all times. Parents must note that the Chorister life is a busy one: Christmas and Easter are especially busy periods and parents will be expected to commit time to transporting their children to and from the Cathedral as appropriate. It is as much a decision for parents as it is for students, therefore, as to whether they wish to make this commitment.
At Chetham's we are very aware that our Choristers have quite a tough schedule and we try to make their lives as easy as possible. Most Choristers are day students but there is a very small number of boarding Choristers. Boarding is only possible however if the parents still live relatively near to Manchester as the school closes during the holidays and it becomes the parents' responsibility to get their son/daughter to the Cathedral for all rehearsals, services and performances. This is a commitment which parents should consider carefully.
In so far as is possible Choristers fit in with the regular School day. They attend lessons and most practice sessions with the other students whilst still going over to the Cathedral at set times for rehearsals. They have timetabled music lessons, as do the other students, and if they do not already play an instrument when they come to Chetham's they will start learning the piano. Choristers usually enter Chetham's in Year 4 and leave at the end of Year 8 (or earlier in the case of boys whose voices break early). Choristers do not have an automatic right of entry into the senior school. We do not normally take singers younger than Sixth Form and if Choristers wish to stay on after Year 8 then they must apply during their final chorister year to audition to stay on as instrumentalists. Auditions for the senior school will not take place earlier than Year 8. After Year 8 they can only stay on as instrumentalists unless there are very exceptional circumstances.
Chetham's is a member of the Choir Schools' Association
Rankings within the choir
Probationer Choristers: new junior entrants into the choir will normally remain "Probs" for a year or more. They will then be tested to become full Choristers.
Choristers: students in the choir remain full Choristers until their final year. They may then become Foundationers or simply remain as 2nd year Choristers.
Foundationers: the Foundationers at Manchester are the senior Choristers and carry responsibilities within the choir.
Post-service debriefing
After services there is a short debriefing on the service just completed and any arrangements for the next day are discussed.
Chorister Funding
The Cathedral will contribute £4000 per annum per chorister towards the annual chorister fee due to the school.
