The gap-year choral scholarships at Hereford Cathedral (one each of alto, tenor and bass) run annually from 1 September to 31 August. The scholarships offer experience of singing daily in the cathedral choir alongside the six lay clerks (who are augmented by three assistant lay clerks at weekends), and they would thus particularly suit singers intending to go on to one of the major university choral foundations.

2022–23 scholarships

All the 2022–23 scholarships have now been filled. Prospective applicants for the academic year 2023–24 are welcome to contact the Director of Music, Geraint Bowen, by email or to telephone him on +44 (0)1432 374238.

Former choral scholars are present or former students at King’s College, Cambridge; Trinity College, Cambridge; Christ Church, Oxford; the universities of Edinburgh, Manchester and St Andrews; the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire; the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama; Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance; and the Royal College of Music. Several are now working as freelance singers and three are present or former lay clerks at Manchester Cathedral; Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford; and Southwell Minster.

Details of the organ scholarship are available here.

The image at the head of this page is St Ethelberts House, where the music scholars live

Our current choral scholars

The 2021–22 choral scholars: Jacob Fitzgerald, Leo Fulwell and Oliver Nathanielsz

Oliver Nathanielsz alto choral scholar
Oliver is from Delmar in upstate New York, and has sung in the choir of the Cathedral of All Saints in Albany NY since 2012.

Leo Fulwell tenor choral scholar
Leo is from Wilpshire, Lancashire and attended Clitheroe Royal Grammar School: he has sung in Blackburn Cathedral Choir since 2010.

Jacob Fitzgerald bass choral scholar
Jacob was a chorister in the choir of Jesus College, Cambridge and has come to us from Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester.