Education | ED05 | Summer 2018

Education Magazine
Sing!
An insight into the unique
school life – and opportunities
– of a St Paul’s chorister
Jaco Brand
Deputy Head and Head of Boarding
St Paul’s Cathedral School
The Choir School for boy
choristers dates from about
1123. After the Restoration,
the choristers enjoyed a somewhat
chequered history, but a vigorous
campaign by the redoubtable Maria
Hackett led to the re-establishment
of a purpose-built school in Carter
Lane in 1874. There it remained
until the 1960s, when it moved to
its present site on New Change.
The school day for choristers differs
only slightly from that of day pupils
in that they attend morning rehearsal
whilst day pupils have form time.
The choristers and day pupils then
come together for the majority of the
school day, starting with assembly
at 9.00am. Twice a week, these
assemblies are held in the Cathedral.
A chorister’s tuition fees and music
lessons are paid for by the Chapter
of St Paul’s Cathedral. Parents are
asked to pay the boarding fee, but
can apply for assistance with this
as financial circumstances should
never withhold a boy with talent
from becoming a chorister.
The main task for the choristers
is to sing the daily office in the
Cathedral. However, they also take
part in many services of national
importance, often attended by
royalty and world leaders. They
regularly represent the cathedral
and the country on international
tours and continue to build their
already substantial discography
with recordings on the Hyperion
and Decca record labels.
They perform Handel’s Messiah and a
Bach Passion each year in the Cathedral.
In recent years they have also appeared
St Pauls Choristers in the cathedral
Picture by Graham Lacdao
at the first night of the BBC Proms, at
the Royal Festival Hall and on BBC
Breakfast. After they finish, choristers
frequently win music scholarships to
senior schools. Music also features at
university level with many taking up
choral scholarships. Choristers then
go on to pursue varied careers such as
international cricketers, award-winning
actors, scriptwriters, poets, novelists,
composers, opera singers, teachers,
lawyers and company directors.
THE CHORISTER: Kasper Lootens, Chief Chorister, Year 8
All the choristers head to the
cathedral to start rehearsal at
7.50am every morning. From 9am
to 3.40pm we have a normal school
day. We then have a snack and start
afternoon rehearsal at 4.10pm.
On most days, we have Evensong
at 5pm, ending at around 5.45pm,
when we have supper. Then we do
our homework and music practice
until 7.40pm at which point we
have free time. We can go on our
phones, play outside, or go over
to the boarding house to play on
the Wii or watch TV. Our day
ends with 20 minutes of reading
at 8.40pm and lights out at 9pm.
Although we do a lot of singing,
we also get a lot of privileges,
including making recordings, doing
concerts, meeting members of
the Royal Family
and touring.
It was a lot of fun
working with the
BBC last term to
film a documentary
about St Paul’s
at Christmas. We also get a lot of
treats, including an annual trip to
Thorpe Park, bowling and cinema
trips. Christmas and Easter are our
busiest times and it’s hard not being
at home. The school and teachers
help us to enjoy the celebrations
and we get lots of presents at
Christmas and chocolate at Easter!
Outside school, I train in the
martial art of Kuk Sool Won.
I’ve made it to the rank of black
belt and help out at camps
as a junior instructor.
39 wealdentimes.co.uk