Our Training Program

Our training program is based on the Voice for Life program. This program offers a carefully thought out, thoroughly tested development framework. Developed by the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) in the United Kingdom, the experience gleaned from centuries of training choristers for cathedral choirs has been combined with the understanding of how the voice works based on current research and our knowledge of physiology. This has then been prepared as a graduated system that tracks the progress of each chorister as ability and knowledge are gained. Voice for Life develops musical skills that are useful for the whole of a persons life.

Training is provided by qualified and experienced staff. As well as familiarity with the Voice for Life program, our core staff blend in North American music pedagogy and choir training knowledge and European vocal pedagogy and choir training knowledge.

An advantage offered by a boys and men's choir is that the choristers are encouraged to stay with the All Saints' choir while their voices change and to sing on afterwards with the friends they have made. The Voice for Life program incorporates material that prepares boys for this change, and we can offer support and knowledge to the choristers that allows them to embrace this transition and move quickly and comfortably to working with their changed voices.

Cost

The cost of training is fully subsidized by All Saints' for all who are successful during selection interviews. Thus, selection automatically guarantees the equivalent of a scholarship to meet fully all training costs, equating to around $1500.00 per year.

If a boy would like to join the All Saints' choir, after proceeding through the required training, then he is also eligible for remuneration based on experience and ability. For more information, talk to the Director of Music.

Why train with a church choir?

• The choir comprises both men and boys. This allows the boys to sing from early on with tenors and basses, allowing them to experience a much wider range of the choral repertoire: we are not restricted to arrangements for upper voices only.
• Quality of music. The music sung by the choir forms an integral part of the services at All Saints'. Thus the music represents the greatest of the choral music repertoire. We do not sing programs of light entertainment music of poor quality that the singers tire of quickly.
• Performance opportunity. The choristers become used to performing publicly, as they sing every week during school term. Public performance is the norm rather than an exception.
• As music is performed every week, the choristers must be able to learn and perform music to a high standard within a short rehearsal schedule. In order to achieve this, the choristers are trained to read well, to listen carefully to other parts and to the overall sound, and to understand what is required of them for a musical performance. Choirs that perform only a few times a year and rely on drilling each piece of music thoroughly tend not to encourage the choristers to develop their own listening and thinking ability.