Structure & Benefits

Participation in the choral program requires a significant time commitment across the academic year:

• Monday through Friday rehearsal during Period 1 of the school day
• Weekday Evensongs: Mondays and Wednesdays, 4:45–6:15 pm
• Sunday Eucharists and Evensongs: Every other Sunday, 10 am–12:30 pm and 2:45–5 pm
• Choir Camp, a weeklong retreat in August
• Choir Tour, a weeklong commitment in June
• Cathedral concerts, events, and special services as assigned

Participation in the choral program requires a significant time commitment across the academic year:

• Monday through Friday rehearsals before the start of the school day
• Weekday Evensongs: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4:45–6:15 pm
• Sunday Eucharists and Evensongs: Every other Sunday, 10 am –12:30 pm and 2:45–5 pm
• Choir Camp, a weeklong retreat in August
• Choir Tour, a weeklong commitment in June
• Cathedral concerts, events, and special services as assigned

Boy trebles who would like to further the professional and musical development they receive during their time as choristers may, after their voice changes, continue their commitment to the program as Choral Apprentices.

Apprentices participate in selected services and concerts throughout the academic year; receive 23 half-hour voice lessons a year, the cost of which their family covers at $35 a lesson; attend two morning rehearsals a week; and attend Choir Camp, a weeklong retreat in August. Choral Apprentices likewise fulfill an expectation of leadership and mentorship for younger singers.

In 11th grade, Choral Apprentices may opt to audition for the Choral Scholars program, which constitutes a more rigorous musical and leadership engagement within the Music program. Scholars participate regularly in Evensong services, Cathedral concerts, choir tours, and Choir Camp; receive regular voice lessons at no cost to their family; attend three morning rehearsals a week; and assist with the maintenance of the Cathedral Music Library as assigned. Their engagement as a Scholar continues until their graduation from St. Albans School.

Choral Apprentices who do not wish to engage as a Choral Scholar may elect to remain in the Apprentice program until their graduation from St. Albans School.

Education Stipend
In recognition of the extraordinary time commitment required of the students, Cathedral Music offers an education stipend equal in the 2022–2023 school year to $6,000 for junior choristers (i.e., Form C and B for boys; seventh and eighth grade for girls) and $8,000 for senior choristers (i.e., Form A, I, and II for boys; ninth through twelfth grade for girls).

Comprehensive Music Education
In addition to their training in rehearsals and services, each chorister receives musicianship classes that encompass aural training, sight-reading, music theory, music history and performance etiquette. After their second year, choristers receive individual voice lessons to cultivate a healthy and versatile instrument capable of sustaining the significant workload placed upon their developing voice.

The Chorister Program is wholly integrated into the students’ academic curricula at St. Albans School and National Cathedral School, and the two schedules complement one another to facilitate student success. Choristers receive school credit for their participation in the Cathedral Choir, and the Music staff assign letter grades based on their performance and growth in the program.

Personal Growth and Life Skills
Cathedral choristers nurture lifelong friendships, experiences and memories during their time in the Music program, developing an extraordinary capacity for time management, leadership and team building. These skills are both profoundly important for their personal growth and transferable to their academic and professional careers.