Image ©️ Michael Whitefoot
Alex - Tenor Choral Scholar (2022/2023) - written at the end of his year with the Cathedral, summer 2023. Alex is now a Lay Clerk at Ripon Cathedral.
I still remember my first Evensong at Worcester Cathedral back in September. I was ever so slightly terrified, but also fizzing with a nervous energy that comes with the anticipation of performing. Almost straight afterwards, we were told that the Queen had sadly died and the music list was promptly changed to reflect the sombre nature of the occasion. That weekend we sang at the proclamations declaring Charles King. Our schedule for introduction to life as a Worcester Cathedral choral scholar had completely changed in an instant and it was perhaps a sign that we would not always have as much preparation time as we might like for every challenge that we encounter!
It has been a fantastic year for me here at Worcester. I feel that I have learnt and grown so much as a Choral Scholar. We had a recital recently that featured all three of the Choral Scholars and I did not imagine that I would be putting a programme together and singing like that as a close-knit team, when I arrived. The wonderful reception and generous donations we received further increased my confidence which had already grown immensely over the year. The opportunity to practice such a large and varied range of music, sometimes at short notice, has clearly improved the quality of my singing and sight reading.
Life as a Choral Scholar has great variety and no two days are the same! Living onsite is very special; being in such beautiful historic surroundings and feeling a part of it all. It’s such a wonderful experience to sing in the Quire, sometimes close to the congregation, allowing an intimacy with the community despite the awesome size of the entire building. Singing with the superb acoustic of the cathedral is truly uplifting.
Singing as part of Worcester Cathedral Choir has enhanced my life so much. As scholars, we also sing as part of Worcester Festival Choral Society and with the Youth Choir as well. In addition to this, we also take part in the Three Choirs Festival, which this year is at Gloucester. Despite term ending very soon, we still have all of that to come!
I love the caring atmosphere and community here at Worcester Cathedral. I have felt incredibly welcome and I shall be very sorry to leave at the end of July. I have been fortunate enough to work with lovely colleagues and made some very close friends along the way as well. I have no doubt, that this year will be remembered as one of my favourites.
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David, Bass Choral Scholar (2024/2025). David is now training for the police force.
My time as a choral scholar was a wonderful year. I felt welcomed by everyone in the Cathedral community, so living at the Cathedral was such a happy experience. This has continued any time I've come back to visit.
Being part of the music in such a beautiful place was a special experience that has stayed with me. It pushed me to develop my voice and confidence, and I benefitted from that a lot. Contributing to services throughout the year was meaningful to me, not just because of the music itself, but because of the sense of purpose and belonging it created.
The Three Choirs Festival was a wonderful celebration finish to the year. It gave me the opportunity to sing in another Cathedral and visit the City of Hereford whilst performing the most music in a week I may ever perform.
I enjoyed being in the heart of the city of Worcester. It has a perfect balance of busyness and calm and I've stayed in the area since leaving.
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Ciara – Alto Choral Scholar (2024/2025). Ciara is now studying music at University College London
My experience of being an alto choral scholar at Worcester Cathedral was nothing short of extraordinary. It was an experience that nurtured me not only as a musician but as a person. Working alongside the amazing Director of music Samuel Hudson and Assistant Director Nicholas Freestone was a privilege, as they enriched my musical skills. Not to forget the support from the Lay Clerks, whom I am still constantly in touch with—they made every moment of it special, by providing a joyful environment for me and the other scholars. I will always look back on this year, appreciating the friends I made along this path, and will never regret a single moment of it.
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Dominic Lee – former Tenor Choral Scholar and Lay Clerk. Dominic is now a professional singer.
Looking back on my time as a choral scholar, I honestly had no idea what the future had in store for me. I had just left school after a bit of a disaster with my A-levels because I had prioritised musical and sport extra-curriculars over my actual studies. That year at the Cathedral was a real turning point as it helped me realise that my future firmly belonged in music.
Using the skills I learnt and developed in the stalls, I managed to secure a place at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. Since then, the journey has taken me through the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the Glyndebourne Chorus, all the way to my current role at the National Theater Mannheim in Germany.
Image ©️ Michael Whitefoot
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David, Tenor Choral Scholar (2025/2026)
My year as a Choral Scholar at Worcester Cathedral has been fantastic so far. I believe I have learnt so much about myself through it and gained confidence through my time here. This has been particularly aided by the new addition of a scholar’s Evensong each Wednesday evening, where I believe I have grown and become more comfortable with holding my own part. We have sung a wide variety of music throughout the year, which has also contributed immensely to the improvements in my sight-reading skills.
Life as a Choral Scholar is not limited to just the Cathedral Choir. As a Scholar, we also sing as part of both the Worcester Festival Choral Society, as well as the Cathedral Youth Choir. A particular highlight of my year so far has been the Messiah concert, sung by the Worcester Festival Choral Society with a full orchestra in early December. In addition to this, Scholars also have the opportunity to take part in the Three Choirs Festival, which will be taking place in Gloucester this year.
Another highlight of working as a Choral Scholar here is being a part of the friendly and caring community. I have always felt extremely welcome from all parts of cathedral, particularly the other lay clerks, whom I have made good friends with over my time here."
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