CHOIRS FOR HIRE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22100, 4 May 1935, Page 16

CHOIRS FOR HIRE

- MARRIAGE:S IN LONDON SCHOOL FOR BOY SINGERS [from our own correspondent] By Air Mail LONDON, April 13 St. Paul's Cathedral and Westminster Abbey have their own schools, in which they train their choristers. Other West End London churches depend upon a central market for their choir boys. At a marriage or a memorial service in a London church on a weekday it is surprising to find a choir almost invariably in attendance, and probably members of the congregation wonder how it is possible for these young boys to get away from school at such inconvenient hours. The fact is they are hired for the occasion from the London Choir School.

To put the matter in a less crude way, a dozen of the London Cliurches pool their interests and pay for the education of their own cboir boys at the London Choir School. The boys so chosen thus obtain a fr€*i education. Apart from their regular Sunday services, however, the boys obtain engagements throughout the week. Taking a week of the school diary one finds that a party is attending the film studio at Elstree, 'making a record. There are choirs :tor two weddings on another day. On another day there is a memorial service. Another party is singing in the pageant of "Everyman," and still another is performing at Broadcasting House. The fees for services go to t-hu school, but each bo 3' gets a shillingf for himself for each special engagdmsnt. The director of the London Choir School, Mr. Carlton Borrow, conducts special tours for selected parties from time to time. At present lie- has a choir of 12 in America, and there is a possibility of their gouic on to New Zealand, The second choirmaster, who is in charge while the director is on tour, is Mr. I). Reid, who is not unknown in New Zealand.

The school is situated at the top of Dog Kennel Hill, mid-wav between Denmark Hill and East Dulwioh station. At present there are 106 boys attending. The headmaster, Mr. W. G. Mackie, and his staff of assistant masters devote themselvesi entirely to the educational side of the school, accommodating the school curriculum to the requirements of the vocal work. When a boy's voice breaks he ceases to be a chorister, devotes himiself to his studies, and generally remains at school until he has obtained the Oxford school certificate or passed the London matriculation. The greater proportion of the boys are day bciys.