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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]You don't mention whether your child is a boy or a girl.  This may be obvious, but the experience and commitment level is very different depending on if chorister is a boy or girl.  Because the boys age out of the program when their voices change, they can move on to participating fully in other sports and music groups at STA.  The girls are committing all the way through high school making sports and other extracurriculars much more difficult although not impossible.  Also your entire family's vacation schedule (Christmas and Easter) will revolve around the singing schedule for their entire secondary school career.  A truly amazing and unique opportunity but a longer (in terms of years) commitment for the girls[/quote]

I have had the opportunity of having both a son and a daughter in the program.  As you know, the girls program does not start in 4th gade, though the boys do - the entry level year for STA.  When the girls start, they are more mature, generally have developed time management skills, are certainly familiar with the school culture and demands, and have a pretty good idea of who they are as people, their interests, their strengths and weaknesses.  The boys have none of this starting out.  It takes the better part of a year to get fully acclimated.  I think because of this, the commitment is actually more onerous for the boys.  Granted, it is absolutely a huge commitment and sacrifice for both.  But I think all things considered, it is "easier" to be a girl chorister.[/quote]

I think it is only "easier" for,the girls because they are not bullied relentlessly by their peers for being a chorister.  And yes I know not sll boy choristers have been bullied.  But many have and some have left the school as a result.

Girls commitment is a six year commtiment.  There are many ways to pursue music at NCS and St. Albans.  Anglican Church music has a pretty limited appeal.

Do you really want to break down the stipend?  $8000 per year for how many hours?[/quote]

Ha.  The former Choristers I know are some of the biggest Alpha males out there.  A large majority of boys in the lower, middle and upper schools  sing in the many choral arts and other musical groups.  If you attend the Lessons and Carols service in December, he sheer number of participants is staggering.  My point is that yes, there is bullying of boys at STA.  But it has nothing to do with a boys interest in choral music.  The boys I have known who left the program did so because they school was not a good fit for socially and/or academically.  At least 2 boys I am aware of were asked to leave because of discipline issues.  Those Chorister people run a tight and rigid ship, and are not very forgiving of boys being boys antics.[/quote]

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