Choral Scholarships

The Choir at St Mary’s Church, Primrose Hill is augmented by 4 choral scholars (SATB). The scholarships are particularly suitable for music college students, young professional singers and those aspiring to university choral scholarships.

The music at St Mary’s is maintained to hight standards by the current Organist & Choirmaster, Tony Henwood, and the Assistant Organist & Choirmaster, Bryan Almond. There is also an Organ Scholar. Various recordings have been made in recent years and the Choir has presented recitals in London and Paris. The choir recently appeared on a BBC documentary, ‘Holst and Vaughan Williams: Making Music English’.

The rich musical heritage of St Mary’s, Primrose Hill, has its origins with its most famous vicar, Percy Dearmer (Vicar 1901-1915), who with Ralph Vaughan Williams and Martin Shaw (organist of St Mary’s 1909-1920) compiled The English Hymnal (1906). The congregation at St Mary’s was the first to sing many well-loved hymns, such as ‘He who would valiant be’, ‘In the bleak midwinter’, and ‘For all the saints’.

The Choir
The Choir of St Mary’s Church, Primrose Hill, sings at the 10.30am Mass each week (rehearsal at 9.30am) and at the 6pm Choral Evensong on the first Sunday of every month (rehearsal at 4.30pm).

The Choral Scholars
Choral Scholars will be expected to provide leadership and support to their voice parts in rehearsal and services. Those applying should have excellent sight-reading skills and musicianship. Experience of church music and the Anglican choral tradition, particularly plainchant, is useful. Choral Scholars will gain experience of a wide repertoire of sacred music, while developing their technique in sole work, small ensembles and with the full choir. It is a fine introduction to the London choral scene and provides useful training for those wishing to sing with professional choral ensembles.

In addition, the Choral Scholars will be required at the following services:
Ash Wednesday
Maundy Thursday
Good Friday
Easter Day Dawn Mass
Ascension Day

Fees
The current fee is £70 per service. Scholars are generally appointed for one year, from September-July, but there might also be an opportunity to stay on for an additional year. There may also be additional feeds from occasional services. In the event of reasonable planned absence, it is possible for Choral Scholars to book deputies to cover their singing. Deputies must be approved by the Organist & Choirmaster and it is the Choral Scholar’s responsibility to make appropriate payment in such cases. It is particularly important that the choral scholars (or approved and well qualified deputies) are able to sing at pivotal services in the church year (e.g. Midnight Mass, Christmas Day, Easter Day Dawn Mass).

Auditions
Applicants will have a short interview with the Director of Music and an audition which will comprise singing one or two pieces of the applicant’s own choice and sight-reading two contrasting pieces, generally one from the renaissance and a more modern work.

Applications
Applicants should submit their CV and a brief letter of application by email (music@smvph.org.uk).  The Organist & Choirmaster is always happy to discuss the role and its requirements informally prior to a formal audition and can be contacted via the email address above.