“CHORISTER life has been part of our life since 2012 when our eldest son, Thomas, who is now in Year 11 at King’s Ely Senior, joined the Cathedral Choir. From the age of 4, his younger brothers, Matthew and James, took in everything he did and were very determined to follow him into the Choir.
“Chorister life isn’t just about what the public get to see in the daily Cathedral services and the concerts, it’s about what is learnt from the discipline of daily rehearsals, the musical training received and the interaction between choristers and other members of the Cathedral Music Department. It’s about learning to balance Choir commitments with school work, instrumental practice and playing with friends. The benefits of this training were demonstrated during lockdown with the boys’ ability to manage a day’s online lessons and learning on their own, along with maintaining their regular music practice.
“The chorister training continues to reap benefits as the boys move into the more independent learning style in Senior School and the need to manage their own time productively. All of our boys have loved the many different experiences chorister life offers, from the optional boarding house life and daily services to concerts, recordings and the experience of going on tour.
“Thomas says that, looking back, it’s the self-discipline it taught him, learning the value of hard work and knowing that you are a small part of a tradition that spans hundreds of years.”