The Junior Choral Course is open to anyone aged between 8 and 15. Between fifty and sixty boys and girls join the courses, split equally between girls and boys. If you are a boy and your voice is on the change or has changed then please still apply for any of the courses – you will be more than welcome and there will be special tuition available for you.
How long does it last?
The course lasts for a week, which means a week away from home. However we are at Wellington College or Chelltenham College, with a floor for girls and a floor for boys, and as many of you will have friends attending the course we will try to make sure that your are close together. However you will also have the chance to make many new friends. At mealtimes we all eat together, staff included. Our staff are led by the two Musical Directors – Ralph Allwood and Martyn Ford. The pastoral team are all very experienced singers, and Matron looks after everyone!
What sort of music?
During the week we will work hard covering a range of music – from sacred to secular and from serious to light. We will sing with the sectional tutors and as a whole group. Everything comes together for the final concert to which your parents and families are invited to attend. The concert is made up of two parts – in the first half you will perform the lighter music you have prepared with Martyn, and in the second half one of the major pieces from the choral repertoire in which you will be joined by the adult voices of the course staff and friends.
Work hard, play hard…
We also know that free time is vitally important and so a range of activities are organised every afternoon. The Junior Choral Course not only provides you with unique vocal training and choral experience but a fantastically fun week proven by the number of children who are keen to return year after year. And, of course, you don’t have to be able to sight-read to attend – that’s one of the things that you learn during the course!