Boy Choristerships

Boy Choristerships in the Choir of Leeds Parish Church

Available for Boys from seven years of age and are tenable until the time of the voice-change.

A period of probationership involves attendances after school on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons on Saturday mornings for Full Choristers' Practice between 9 & 10.30 am and, in this period of initial training, for one of the two Choral Services on Sunday [normally the 10.30 Service]

For boys with the appropriate aptitude, the Choral Foundation provides free individual tuition in any or all of Violin, Piano, Organ and Theory of Music with the two-fold aim of developing each child's individual potential and preparing them for examinations of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music. All music is provided gratis and parents pay no examination fees or expenses of any kind.

It is by no means unusual for boys to attain at least Grade V – some boys achieve this in more than one subject. Several boys each year commit to the additional preparation involved in achieving the Grade V theory “hurdle”.

During the course of the past six years, three of our principal solo boys have achieved excellent passes at Merit and Distinction level in Grade VIII Singing.

Under the leadership of present Head Chorister Jack Kelly, who joined the Choir at the age of six, the Boy Choristers are gaining in confidence and assurance, building upon the very firm foundations laid by Jack's predecessors - Andrew Whitelaw, who gave nine years' service and Xavier Wright, formerly a chorister at Guildford and Cologne Cathedrals.

The Choral Foundation of Leeds Parish Church is maintained without extensive endowments and survives due to the unfashionable level of commitment sustained by choristers themselves, by chorister parents and families and with the whole-hearted supported of schools within the state sector.

 
Current Chorister Feeder Schools:

St Peter's [Leeds Parish Church] Church of England Primary School [Anglican Diocese of Ripon and Leeds] - 8 Choristers

Abbey Grange Church of England Academy [Anglican Diocese of Ripon and Leeds] - 3 Choristers

Cardinal Heenan Roman Catholic High School [Roman Catholic Diocese of Leeds]

Brudenell Primary School

Roundhay School Technology and Language College

Whingate Primary School, Armley - 2 Choristers

*Apart from those with chorister numbers, each school listed is attended by one boy
 
Canon Ann Nicholl, Lay Minister at St Mary Lincoln Green & Holy Trinity, Boar Lane, is Chaplain to St Peter’s School.

Choristers at St Peter’s – and other feeder schools  – can be prepared for Confirmation in conjunction with normal school
or choir attendance.

FOR FURTHER DETAILS OF BOY CHORISTER MEMBERSHIP OF THE FAMOUS CHOIR OF LEEDS PARISH CHURCH please contact

Dr Simon Lindley, Organist & Master of the Music, 17 Fulneck, Pudsey LS28 8NT

lpc@simonlindley.org.uk