Join the Choir
Members of the embark upon an outstanding program of music training. Members are also eligible for a generous scholarship to Trinity Grammar School, Kew, or another of Melbourne's Anglican schools by arrangement.
A further scholarship may be available to a boy who sings until his voice changes and he leaves the boys' Choir. This post-choir scholarship continues for a period equal to the time from his admission as a chorister.
Boys may also choose to remain at their State Schools, with the approval of the Dean. The scholarship scheme does not apply in such cases, though other arrangements may be made.
Students' choir commitments are carefully planned to leave time for school, sport and other activities. The intellectual discipline and training of the choir provide a firm foundation for academic success. Boys make new friends, and develop responsibility, leadership, teamwork and time management. They will develop an awareness of adult professional standards, and of glorious music, words and architecture.
It is a training which sets a boy up for life, in whatever field he may eventually choose. Boys between eight-and-a-half and ten-and-a-half years old are eligible to apply. They need not come from families who belong to the Anglican Church.
Entrance to the Choir is via musical test at the Cathedral and school entrance examination. The quality of a boy's voice or his ability to read music are not important, as these skills are developed as part of the Choir education. Rather, he is expected to have a musical ear and a good sense of rhythm. After passing the musical test, he then sits a school entrance exam, unless he is continuing at his State School. If this is also successful, the boy is interviewed by the Dean or the Precentor and begins a probationary period. At the end of that period, he will be formally admitted to the Choir and will be offered a scholarship when one becomes available.
The Choir men
There are occasional vacancies among the men of the Choir. Applicants must be able to read music at sight. For more information, contact the Choir Director.
Gap Organ/Choral Scholar Appointment
For over 70 years, Trinity Grammar School has nurtured choristers for St Paul's Cathedral. The school was the second major Anglican School founded in Melbourne (1903), and considered the Choir School for the Cathedral. A strong association continues to exist between the Cathedral and the school.
Trinity Grammar offers a scholarship for a student to work in the school's Music Department, to provide support for teachers, and to assist in administrative tasks in the Trinity Music School. The preference is for this person to be involved with St Paul's Cathedral. This would occur in two ways:
- The GAP student would be required to sing in the men's section of the Cathedral Choir. This would require the person concerned to attend services and practices during the week, and to take part in two services each Sunday.
- An organ GAP student would need to be well advanced in mastering the pipe organ. This GAP position includes the offer of an Organ Scholarship. The successful applicant could be offered regular lessons on the Cathedral Organ either by the Director of the Choir or by the Cathedral Sub Organist.
Applications, together with written references from the student's headmaster and present Head of Music should be addressed to:
The Headmaster
Trinity Grammar School, Kew
60 Wellington Street
Kew Victoria 3101