St. Alban's Chorister Program After Voice Change

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Purely out of curiousity, how does a not-yet 4th grade boy get the kind of musical training that would make him competitive for something like this? Thanks.

I think they look for raw talent. The choir director and his staff are remarkable at taking raw vocal talent and refining it into something of majestic beauty. Take in one of the Cathedral services if you think I'm exaggerating. Most of the boys seem to have had instrumental music lessons (piano mainly, but also violin, cello, even guitar) before they come on board but as far as I know, no actual voice lessons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How much is the stipend per year? And do these boys applying for fourth or any other grade go into a different admission pile?

7000.

When you consider the number of hours put into the commitment, by both the boy and his parents, it comes out to about 10 cents per hour. No one does it for the money. You (actually your son) really have to be passionate about choral arts/music and be quite talented to seriously think about it.

You have 2 separate applications. One to Choristers. The other for admission to the school. They really are separate. I know of many boys who try out for Choristers, do not make the cut, but go to STA anyway. I also know of talented singers who had the musical skills but nonetheless did not get admitted to STA because they could not make the academic cut. By the way, the tryout process is also very intense.

My son was in this category. He had no training prior to participating in the novice program. The program itself is outstanding (and intense, as PP mentioned), and my son benefited tremendously from participating in it despite the fact that he couldn't continue because he wasn't admitted to STA.

[Anonymous]

A number of the boys remain as acolytes (altar boys) at the Cathedral while attending St. Albans. I don't know if there is a stipend for this service.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Purely out of curiousity, how does a not-yet 4th grade boy get the kind of musical training that would make him competitive for something like this? Thanks.

My DS sang in a children's choir at church (a pretty rag-tag one) and took piano lessons. The audition included a test of music theory basics and an ear training test (can he match a pitch and hear the different notes in a chord, for instance). The music theory helps but isn't necessary...they are looking for aptitude as well as enthusiasm. A boy has to love singing to do it for 15+ hours a week without complaint!

[Anonymous]

The stipend is $9,000 now (and $11,000 for senior choristers). That's not quite 25% of tuition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Purely out of curiousity, how does a not-yet 4th grade boy get the kind of musical training that would make him competitive for something like this? Thanks.

My DS sang in a children's choir at church (a pretty rag-tag one) and took piano lessons. The audition included a test of music theory basics and an ear training test (can he match a pitch and hear the different notes in a chord, for instance). The music theory helps but isn't necessary...they are looking for aptitude as well as enthusiasm. A boy has to love singing to do it for 15+ hours a week without complaint!

That's only the very initial assessment, and represents the first of many cuts, right? After this initial assessment, you are permitted to enter the Novice program for 3rd graders who have yet to apply to STA. A real pain by the way if you're trekking from any place but next door Beauvoir. After that, cuts take place throughout the year long program. Even those remaining after 1 year may not get invited to become a full fledged chorister. Almost too much pressure and heartache for a 3rd grader to take. But I guess that's show business. And as the pp stated, even if you don't make the final cut, your DS will benefit enormously.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What happens to a boy chorister after his voice changes? Do the boys leave the program entirely?

At least they're not recommending the boys be castrated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Purely out of curiousity, how does a not-yet 4th grade boy get the kind of musical training that would make him competitive for something like this? Thanks.

My DS sang in a children's choir at church (a pretty rag-tag one) and took piano lessons. The audition included a test of music theory basics and an ear training test (can he match a pitch and hear the different notes in a chord, for instance). The music theory helps but isn't necessary...they are looking for aptitude as well as enthusiasm. A boy has to love singing to do it for 15+ hours a week without complaint!

Girls are in the program too. We agree with what the other posters have said about how wonderful the program is. Our only gripe is that there one person on the staff who seems to have an old fashioned view of discipline. It has become much less fun and enjoyable for the girls and boys.

[Anonymous]

We are a former chorister family. You really can't say enough good things about the program or the opportunity it provides. To be able to sing in the Cathedral just once is an opportunity a handful of choirs from across the country cherish for life. The choristers sing there every day. They handle all the high services before thousands. They sing before the President. They have special gigs at the VP's home and such other events. They appear on TV and record discs. Yes, our son complained often about the hard work and sacrifice. But given the passage of time, he recognized that the hard work and sacrifice was part of the experience. We miss the program. By the way, still at the school, and DS is one of the major contributors in the plays and other choirs (as well as being involved in other extracurriculars and sports).

[Anonymous]

Many boy choristers opt to become acolytes when they complete their time in the choir--and, yes, there is a stipend associated with this service, although it is not as much as the chorister stipend (time commitment is less). The novice program, from which choristers are selected, is not a yearlong affair. It has also been moved to the weekend to accommodate aspiring singers from other schools and churches.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Many boy choristers opt to become acolytes when they complete their time in the choir--and, yes, there is a stipend associated with this service, although it is not as much as the chorister stipend (time commitment is less). The novice program, from which choristers are selected, is not a yearlong affair. It has also been moved to the weekend to accommodate aspiring singers from other schools and churches.

How much $ for acolytes? Is it a satisfying experience for the boys?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What happens to a boy chorister after his voice changes? Do the boys leave the program entirely?

At least they're not recommending the boys be castrated.

Puhlease. Perhaps you have heard of the Vienna Boys choir or the Philadelphia Boys Choir. STA did not invent boys choirs . These programs are everywhere.

[Anonymous]

PP, you are the one who is uninformed. While there are many boy choirs, ones structured in the Anglican manner (operated hand-in-glove between the Cathedral and a school) are few and far between in the U.S. And the Choir of Men and Girls is the only such choir in the U.S.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:After leaving the choir do most continue their education through high school at St. Albans? If they leave, are they going to music conservatory type high schools? I would think that the transition away from the choir would be hard. I am curious as to what the experience is like. TIA.

St. Albans school has a broad arts program. We learned of the school because my son's music teacher at his previous school and our church's music director both pulled us aside letting us know that my son seemed to have a real gift for singing. They both, independent of one another, recommended that we explore the chorister program offered by St. Albans. I was an instrumental music major at a well known music school though was never quite good enough to play in a major symphonic orchestra. As a result of this failed dream I was probably a bit more of a stage parent than I should have been. In my mind I figured that after the chorister experience, we might try to find a "music conservatory type" high school. But our son fell in love with the school for things beyond the chorister program so he remained, even after his voice changed. The school provides many opportunities for the former chorister boys to continue participating in the choral and other arts. I was so pleasantly surprised to find that in an all boys environment that boys who sing in a choir or musical or a capella group are supported and very much applauded by the other boys for their efforts/talents. My son does still have voice lessons outside of school, and my son is seriously considering applying to music schools, but at the same time St. Albans has expanded his horizons so much he is considering many other paths. By the way I am much less of a stage parent now!

We love the program and love the school. If you have questions I would suggest you contact the Music Director. He could also put you in touch with former or current chorister parents I am sure.

[Anonymous]

Our son is currently in the novice program. I think a number of other novices have brothers either in the program or already at the school. Is there a sibling preference for boys in the chorister program? In other words, would they actually only let one brother of two in from the novices program into choristers, for example with twins, or does having a brother already at the school whether a chorister or not get you a preference in chorister selection?