Winchester Cathedral Choir

WHAT DOES BEING A CHORISTER INVOLVE

Our 22 Choristers carry on the tradition, singing with the Cathedral Choir under the leadership of its Interim Director of Music and Cathedral Organist, Andrew Lucas. The boys sing with the Lay Clerks, adult professional singers who take the alto, tenor and bass parts. The Cathedral also has an outstanding girls’ choir, with whom the boys sing on occasion. 

HIGH PROFILE OPPORTUNITIES

As well as singing the Cathedral liturgy each week, the Winchester Cathedral Choir is often involved in high-profile services in the Cathedral, as well as being sought after for commercial recordings, concerts and tours around the world.  We are very proud that our boy Choristers sang for a Star Wars video game, composed by former Pilgrim and Chorister, Stephen Barton, which went on to win a Grammy.

CHORISTERS TAKE OVER 

At Pilgrims’, Choir Time is something Choristers look forward to with great excitement.  

Our Cathedral choristers stay at school after the end of term.  They do this for Christmas and Easter.  They also go on tours to Europe for high-profile choral festivals.    

Every July, the choir also joins with the choirs of Salisbury and Chichester Cathedrals for the Southern Cathedrals Festival. 
 
With all non-choristers gone, Choristers have the school to themselves. Boarding House parents create a special programme of trips and fun activities, along with plenty of free time and music practice so there’s a balance with the huge concerts and services.  Go-karting, paddle boarding, movie nights, virtual reality games, model making, quizzes, treasure trails – each Choir Time has a different, seasonal character. 

We regularly post stories about the Choristers on our socials, please follow us.  You can also visit our Latest News.   
 

CHRISTMAS FOR CHORISTERS  

Christmas is probably the most public time for the Choristers and one of the most magical, creating memories for life.  

Not many people get the chance to sing in front of thousands of people packed into one of the most iconic Cathedrals in the world. Mix that with snowball fights, sledging, Press calls, TV and radio broadcasts and you have a unique childhood experience.   

The boys play traditional games at their  Turkey Feast meal, go to the pantomime, and, of course do a bit of Christmas shopping in Winchester. It’s also become a tradition to sing Carols in the Wykeham Arms in the week running up to Christmas, a ticketed event which is always a sell-out.  It’s a tradition with our Choristers to put on a cabaret on Christmas Eve, and to be woken up by an enormous, very loud firework on Christmas Day.  

The Choristers then tear open their stockings and exchange gifts, eat a full English breakfast, and race off to sing Matins. Extended families cram into the school’s dining room to share a lively festive lunch before finally returning home for the long holiday and a well-earned rest. Boys say Choir Time is the part of being a Winchester Cathedral Chorister that they, and their families, miss the most when they leave.