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.

The 2020–21 choral scholars: Max Boorman, Charlotte Sleet and Robert Guthrie

Charlotte Sleet alto choral scholar
Charlotte has graduated from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire with a BMus
(Hons) in vocal performance. In recent years she has been an Ex Cathedra alto
student scholar and an alto choral scholar at St Chad’s Cathedral, Birmingham.

Robert Guthrie tenor choral scholar
Robert has graduated from the University of Glasgow with an MA (Hons) degree in
French and politics. In recent years he has been singing in the choirs of St Mary’s
Episcopal Cathedral in Glasgow, Paisley Abbey, and as a member of Genesis
Sixteen.

Max Boorman bass choral scholar
Max was a chorister at St John’s College, Cambridge and comes to us having
completed his A-Level studies at Rugby School earlier this summer, where he was a
music scholar and head of choir.

2021–22 scholarships

Applications are invited for the alto scholarship for the year 2021–22. Details of the scholarship may be downloaded here. Prospective applicants 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 two are lay clerks at Manchester Cathedral and Christ Church, Oxford.

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