The adult section comprises 5 altos, 4 tenors and 4 basses. We are always interested in hearing from singers who would like to join us.

The top line (Treble) of the Choir is taken by the Junior Choir except for the 1st Sunday evening when a group of adult singers form the soprano line.

The Adult section of the choir practices on Friday evenings between 7.15pm and 9.30pm.The Junior Choir practices with the Adults until 8.30pm. There are also practices before each service i.e. 9.30am and 5.30pm.

The Adult section usually sings on all Sunday mornings except the 1st Sunday when the Juniors sing the All Age Eucharist. The 2nd Sunday evening Choral Evensong is sung by the Gentlemen of the Choir and the 4th Sunday Evensong is sung by the Altos together with the Juniors. All adults therefore have one Sunday morning and one Sunday evening free each month.

Joining the Choir.

Adults are admitted to the Choir following an audition when they will be asked to perform a piece of music together with some simple aural tests and sight reading. Prospective singers should be either competent sight readers or be able to learn music quickly after one hearing. It is essential that prospective members should be able to blend well in ensemble singing.

ST. OSWALD’S JUNIOR CHOIR

The Junior Choir is made up of boys and girls of 7 years and upwards and forms the Treble line of the Parish Church Choir. The Juniors usually sing every Sunday morning and two Sunday evenings each month. The Junior Choir also sings at major festivals and for weddings and other special services.

What can the Chorister expect from membership of the Choir?

1. Musically

• The opportunity to sing some of the finest choral music ever written and to experience the performance of a spectrum of music from before the Reformation to the present day.

• The benefits of a fine music training through the Royal School of Church Music’s Chorister Training Scheme and the Lichfield Diocesan Chorister Award Scheme. Additionally choristers receive free singing and musicianship lessons, a benefit normally available only to children in cathedral choirs.

• The opportunity to attend music courses and summer schools either free or at substantially reduced fees.

2. Financially

• Choristers receive Choir Pay each term. The amount is determined by the number of attendances that the chorister has made and the level that (s)he has attained in the Choir. (see below)

• Choristers receive a fee for singing at weddings and other occasions outside the normal duties specified above.

• Sponsorship and / or support on Chorister Training events.

3. Socially

• Once or twice a year choristers are taken on an outing to a place of their own choice (within reason).Recently we have been to the West Midlands Safari Park at Bewdley, the Centre for Alternative Technology at Machynlleth and Cadbury World at Bourneville, Birmingham.

• There is a trip to the pantomime usually just after Christmas each year.

• There are a number of social events including Summer and Christmas parties, Friends of the Music Extravaganza etc.

What do we expect of the Chorister?

1. That the Chorister will attend services when (s)he is on duty and carry out his / her duties to
the best of his / her abilities..

2. That the Chorister will be available to sing at weddings as required ( a fee is payable for this service)

3. That the Chorister will attend punctually the set Choir Practices and Services. These are:-

Singing lessons: Tuesday every 2 weeks by arrangement.
Junior Practice: Wednesday from 6.30pm to 7.45pm.
Full Practice: Friday from 7.15 pm to 8.30 pm.

Sunday Morning: 9.30 am. Practice, 10.30 am. Service
Sunday Evening: 5.30 pm. Practice, 6.30 pm. Service

Each Saturday morning in term time there is a Choir Club from 10.00 am to 11. 30 am. Attendance at this is optional but most choristers do attend and enjoy these sessions.

Joining the Junior Choir

Joining the choir is through a simple audition. We do not expect a high level of musicianship - we will teach this. We do expect that the young person can sing in tune and can read well. The Choir performs music in a number of languages other than English and also uses ‘Prayer Book English’. It is important, therefore, that the prospective chorister has a good reading ability. Without this (s)he may quickly become discouraged.

When a young person joins the Choir (s)he does so as a probationer and wears a maroon coloured cassock. After an induction period of about 6 weeks the chorister makes a commitment to the choir and is admitted formally during a service. (S)he is then presented with a white surplice and becomes a full member of the Choir.

At the same time the chorister can take the first step in the Royal School of Church Music’s training and if successful is awarded a medal with a light blue ribbon. (S)he then becomes a Junior Singer. Further stages lead to the award of dark blue ribbon (Senior Singer) and red ribbon (Chorister). From this point the chorister follows the Lichfield Diocesan Scheme and is examined externally to attain the Dean’s Chorister (Green Ribbon) and Bishop’s Chorister (Purple Ribbon ) awards.

Finally...

Choristers lead a busy but fulfilling life. They make good friends and enjoy full social lives. Perhaps more importantly, a church choir is unlike any other choir in that it is continually producing new music for services. The chorister, therefore, soon develops the ability to learn quickly and make the most of his/her time. We have found that these skills affect all other aspects of the chorister’s life and most do well. During our choir training careers several of our choristers have gone on to study music, some as choral scholars at Oxford and Cambridge, and most go on to some form of higher education.