Vacancies in Cathedral Choir

Press, 7 May 1987, Page 8

Vacancies in Cathedral Choir

Boys aged between seven and nine who can sing in tune and would like to live a chorister’s life could join the. Christchurch Cathedral Choir. Auditions ; for places in the 1988 choir to replace up to five boys will be held after .the ; May school holidays'.’Tfils year's choir wfOvtsttiAustralianextJ

week on its first overseas tour. Being able to sing in tune, having a good musical memory and intelligence, were necessary characteristics of a successful chorister, said the choirmaster and Cathedral organist, Mr David Childs. Joining the choir also Imeans gaining a choral

scholarship to the Cathedral Grammar School. The scholarship pays for tuition fees. Normally, those chosen had a year’s probation as "cassock boys,” when they could then graduate to the status of a surplice (the white garment worn over the cassock). If progress was a boy

could qualify for various badges, said Mr Childs. The sopranos took about two years to train. The average voice octaves ranged from middle C to high A. One young chorister at yesterday’s Australian visit rehearsal, Nicholas Manders, aged 13, summed up the boys’ enjoyment of the

the pleasure of being able to sing and perform to the public.” Losing the ability to reach those high octaves once the voice broke was not seen as a tragedy by the boys. “You can always come back as an alto, or join the National Youth Choir,” Nicholas Manders said.