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.

Prospective applicants for the 2024/25 scholarships 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 five are present or former lay clerks at St Paul's Cathedral, Manchester Cathedral, Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, Southwell Minster and Westminster Cathedral.

Details of the organ scholarship are available here.

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

Our 2022/23 choral scholars: Reuben Lally (bass), Alex Hemington (tenor), Eve Doyle (alto)

Eve Doyle was a member of the choir of Old St Paul’s Church in Edinburgh and of both the National Youth Choir and the National Youth Chamber Choir of Great Britain. She has recently studied classical acting at the London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art.

Alexander Hemington was a member of St Mary’s Priory Church Choir in Abergavenny and studied for A levels at Hereford Sixth Form College, singing as a member of Academia Musica. He also plays the violin, piano and organ.

Reuben Lally studied for A levels as a music scholar at Ampleforth College and, like Eve, was a member of the National Youth Choir of Great Britain. He is interested in playing sport and in music theatre, and has won a range of dance awards.