St Margaret's Choristers

St Margaret’s Choristers is a new choir for girls aged 11-17. The 24 girls in the choir come together at St Margaret’s three times a week to rehearse and sing at the weekly 6pm Sunday service in the church. The choir sings the majority of its services with the professional lower voices of the St Margaret’s Consort, but also sings as an ensemble in its own right.

About the choir

There are 20 full choristers and 4 junior choristers in the choir. Girls enter the choir at the start of Year 7, and spend a year as junior choristers before progressing to the full choir at the start of Year 8. They then spend 5 years in the choir, and leave at the end of Year 12. The choir is directed by Greg Morris, the Director of Music at St Margaret’s Church.

Join the choir

We are looking for girls with musical potential who will give a strong commitment to the weekly schedule. The choir is open to girls from any school or background, and no previous experience of singing in a choir is necessary.

New vacancy

We are currently recruiting for one girl (current Year 9) to join St Margaret's Choristers of Westminster Abbey from September 2024 (when in Year 10). Please see further details under ‘how to apply’.

Why join?

St Margaret’s Choristers experience the thrill of singing with professional musicians, and perform music by great composers from across six centuries. During their time in the choir, choristers not only receive a superb musical education, but also develop the teamwork and discipline required to sing at a consistently high standard within a professional ensemble.

Together with the commitment that comes with being part of a choir, these skills are invaluable for all future endeavors. However, it is not all work - the choristers are an extremely friendly and supportive group and enjoy socialising together.

The Choristers of St Margaret's rehearsal

Roles and duties

By September 2024, the Choristers will be singing weekly at the Sunday evening service in St Margaret’s Church, as well as regular Wednesday Evensong services in the Abbey.

There are a small number of additional services such as at Christmas and Easter. Other musical projects such as concerts, recordings and tours will be introduced as the choir develops.

Scholarship

On joining the full choir in Year 8, each chorister will receive a scholarship of £2,500 per annum:

£1,500 will be paid each year
the remaining £1,000 will be paid as a lump sum when a chorister leaves the choir at the end of Year 12.

Free singing lessons (1:1 or 1:2) are provided during rehearsals, and choristers will have the opportunity to attend music theory classes after weekday rehearsals.

How to apply

To apply for the vacancy starting in September 2024, please download and complete the application form (PDF, 62KB) and send to: [email protected].

Further details about the choir can be found here on our St Margaret's Choristers information leaflet (PDF, 6MB).

The deadline for applications is Wednesday 21 August 2024.

Auditions will be in the first week of September.

The applicant must be born between September 2009 and August 2010 so they start the school year in Year 10 from September 2024

Prospective choristers are encouraged to come and hear the choir sing at one of their Sunday services, at 6pm. See our website ‘Worship at St Margaret’s’ for details.

Please note this is the only vacancy currently. The choir is full in all other year groups and we have already appointed four new Junior Choristers to join from September 2024.

The next round of recruitment will be from March 2025, for girls who will be in Year 7 from September 2025.

More information about joining in September 2025 will be posted in early 2025

Patrons

The choir is supported by patrons from across the worlds of public service and the arts. They are:

Baroness (Floella) Benjamin
Baroness (Sue) Carr, Lady Chief Justice
Broadcaster Katie Derham
Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons
Baroness (Genista) McIntosh, Senior Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords

Further information

While we only regularly recruit girls for Year 7 entry, it is possible that vacancies will arise occasionally in older year groups. If you would like to be placed on a waiting list to be told about such vacancies, please email the Music Coordinator.

If you have any further questions about the choir, please email the Music Coordinator at St Margaret’s, [email protected].

Safeguarding

We are dedicated to safeguarding children and adults at risk so they can visit, worship and grow safely in Christ. St Margaret’s Choristers and all its staff and volunteers will adhere to the safeguarding policy for Westminster Abbey and work together to keep each other safe.