Posted Sunday 9 September 2007
St Mary’s Cathedral Choir is to form a new section of boys and girls. The choir has established itself as one of the finest church choirs in Britain.
As well as providing the music for regular services in the cathedral, they have made CD recordings, sung in various Cathedrals in Britain (including Salisbury, Lichfield, St Mary’s Edinburgh, and Tewkesbury Abbey) and are the most broadcast choir in Scotland, featuring regularly on BBC Radio 2’s Sunday Half-hour, BBC Radio 4’s Morning Worship and Daily Service as well as many special programmes on a variety of radio stations. They have also appeared twice on BBC TV’s Songs of Praise.
One of the choir’s youngest current members was a finalist in the Young Choristers of the Year Competition run by Radio 2 and broadcast from Westminster Abbey. That same chorister was also the first Scottish chorister under the age of 18 to gain the Royal School of Church Music’s prestigious Gold Award.
Now the Cathedral Choir, under the leadership of its Director of Music, Frikki Walker, seeks to form a Boys and Girls section to the choir. He will be looking for boys and girls aged approximately 8 - 14, who are confident readers (of words, that is, we will teach them to read music!) and have a responsive ear.
Rehearsals will be on a Thursday evening, and the boys and girls will sing in the Cathedral services about twice a month and on special occasions, including at Christmas and Easter, and other festivals.
Entry to the choir will be by a short informal audition, and membership will be entirely free of any costs or subscriptions. Furthermore, choristers will receive:
- A first class musical training from the cathedral’s staff of professional musicians
- The opportunity to gain a sense of achievement from performances of some of the finest choral music
- The opportunity to sing with one of Scotland’s finest organs, and occasionally with an orchestra
- Participation in Radio and TV broadcasts
- Tours to other Cathedrals
- Participation in the RSCM‘s Voice for Life award scheme, and regional and national RSCM events
- Development of social skills, self-discipline, commitment and team-work
- Introduction to foreign languages (the Cathedral Choir has sung in Latin, Greek, French, German, and even Icelandic!)
- Social trips and events
- Introduction to like-minded friends
The Director of Music, Frikki Walker, is a highly experienced choral trainer and conductor. In addition to his duties with the Cathedral Choir, he has worked, and continues to work with choirs of all ages and abilities, including the Chamber Choir of the Junior RSAMD, the RSNO Chorus and Junior Chorus, the Glasgow Chamber Choir, the choir of Bearsden Academy, and the Chamber Choir of the High School of Glasgow. Frikki is also an examiner for the RSCM.
Frikki is assisted by two other professional musicians: Oliver Rundell, who is a repititeur for Scottish Opera, and Christopher Hampson, who is on the staff of Hutchesons’ Grammar School and the Junior RSAMD. Both are experienced and talented organists and choir trainers.
Furthermore various members of the adult choir are professional musicians, singers and music teachers, and they, too will be offering their help and expertise to the boys and girls in the new section of the choir.
Anyone wishing further information, or wishing to arrange an audition, please contact Frikki on: 07948 371997. For more information, see the St Mary’s Cathedral website.
Category: Liturgy Action Network, General
