Junior Choir

Junior Choir is open to children between the ages of 8 and 14. The entry requirements are commitment to the choir and reasonably regular attendance. There is a very informal voice test. There are usually around 28 children in the choir with a small waiting list for entry.

Choir practice is at 09:00 on Sunday mornings and is separate from the adults’ choir practice (which is led by the Director of Music). Junior Choir is run by the Deputy Organist. At the practice, the children rehearse the hymns for the day and, if it is suitable, the day’s anthem. They also rehearse an anthem which they sing on their own (i.e. not with the adult choir) around once a month.

They also spend time in the practice discussing aspects of the service and any concepts which are suggested by the words of the hymns (e.g particular church seasons or Festivals such as Advent, Easter, Pentecost etc.). They are all working on the Royal School of Church Music’s Voice for Life Scheme, which combines music theory with basic singing technique.

Junior Choir processes into church as part of the church choir and sits in the choir stalls immediately in front of the adults. The senior members of Junior Choir (the Head and Deputy Head Choristers) sit with the youngest children and help them to follow the service. They are all encouraged to lead the worship in the hymns and to join in clearly with the other spoken parts of the service. Choristers are able to go out to Junior Church if they wish and return before the anthem.

Junior Choir have enjoyed trips to Westminster Abbey, to the theatre and there are occasional parties too.