Choristers at Bristol Cathedral
There are up to eight places available at Bristol Cathedral Choir School to students who are members of Bristol Cathedral attending the probationer chorister programme.
Applying to become a Probationer – Year 4
If your child is interested in becoming a Probationer, the Cathedral hosts a taster day called Chorister for the Day each year, around February or March. This offers the opportunity to find out about cathedral life, and what becoming a chorister entails. You can find out more information about this here: https://bristol-cathedral.co.uk/worship/choir/.
If your child then wants to apply to become a Probationer, they must first pass a Voice Trial (audition), which is held later that year, around April when your child is in Year 4. Please note this is run by the Cathedral and not the school and is therefore independent of the school's admission process.
Probationers – Years 5 & 6
Through Years 5 & 6 your child remains in their primary or prep school, and attends rehearsals and services at the Cathedral with the full choristers becoming accustomed to the routine of the choir and receiving a musical training specifically geared to them. Your main point of contact through this time will be the Cathedral, who provide full administrative and pastoral support to you and your child as they prepare to become full Choristers. Regular attendance by Probationers at rehearsals, services and concerts is essential and is monitored closely.
During their time as Probationers, your child’s singing is developed in a supportive atmosphere. Probationers normally receive an expenses allowance of £50 per term.
The Probationary period runs from the beginning of Year 5 (1st September) until Bristol City Council’s co-ordinated Year 6 admissions closing date (for admission to Year 7 in the following academic year).
When your probationer is in Year 6, you need to apply to BCCS under the probationer chorister criterion for your child by completing this supplementary information form and submit to admissions@bristolcathedral.org.uk by the closing date for secondary applications which is 31 October.
Full Choristers – Years 7 to 9 (with an option to remain until Year 10)
Your child joins BCCS through the chorister route, and remains in the choir until the end of Year 9. For girls – and boys whose voices have not changed – there is an option to remain in the choir until the end of Year 10.
As well as an exceptional musical education, full Choristers enjoy other benefits such as attendance and incentive payments, concert and broadcast payments, and reimbursement for the cost of lessons for one instrument (based on BCCS peripatetic rates). This is largely thanks to the Bristol Cathedral Choral Foundation, which provides funding for the Choristers.
For more information about Choristers, go to our Choir School page or visit the Cathedral website https://bristol-cathedral.co.uk/worship/choir/.
For further details about the Probationers’ Programme, please contact Tim Popple, Music & Liturgy Officer, Bristol Cathedral on 0117 946 8173 or tim.popple@bristol-cathedral.co.uk.