Boy Choristerships in the Choir of Leeds Parish Church
are 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 Andrew Whitelaw, who has almost eight years service to his credit, Wesley Scholar Xavier Wright, joined the Choir from the Choirs of Cologne and Guildford Cathedrals, and regularly undertakes acclaimed solo work in major concerts at venues including recently King’s College Chapel, Cambridge, Leeds Town Hall and Halifax Parish Church. With former Wesley Scholar Toby Ward, Xavier was a principal soloist at the major choral and orchestral concert held at Leeds Town Hall in June 2008 in support of the Choral Foundation Appeal.
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 - 2 Choristers
Headingley St Urban's Roman Catholic Primary School [RC Diocese of Leeds]
Abbey Grange Church of England Grant Maintained High School
[Anglican Diocese of Ripon and Leeds]
Cardinal Heenan Roman Catholic High School
Fulneck School – 3 Choristers*
Armley, St Bartholomew Church of England Primary School
Primrose High School
*Apart from those with chorister numbers, each school listed is attended by one boy
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