Music is central to the life of Exeter Cathedral School.
Founded as a choir school in the 12th century, and as one of today’s forty-four cathedral schools in the UK, Exeter Cathedral School has music and music-making at its heart: it is in the walls and in the blood. To this day we are known for the breadth of musical opportunity that we provide, and for being a school which promotes ‘music for all’ whilst all the while providing high-calibre training and opportunities for our most gifted elite musicians.
The hub for our music-making is Kalendar Hall, with its recently refurbished classroom and practice rooms for rehearsals, ensembles, productions and performances. We are also proud to make use of the cathedral nave as a regular (and spectacular) performance space for our large-scale recitals and concerts, as well as tapping into the city’s leading professional performance venues for our major productions and performances.
Recitals, soloists’ evenings, chamber concerts and our Performers’ Platform series take place in the Chapter House, Kalendar Hall and the Cathedral Quire.
Each pupil receives a class music lesson each week (from our Reception classes right through to Year 8), delivered by our Director of Music or our Music Teacher. Performance opportunities abound, and specialist tuition in music theory is available. A huge number of instrumental lessons take place each week, with our pupils being taught by some of the region’s finest visiting music professionals. We are proud of our track record of impressive ABRSM grade results.
Ensembles
Our extended lunchtime activity slots, as well as some before-school sessions, provide ideal rehearsal time for our many music ensembles.
- 3 School choirs (Years 3 & 4 Choir, Years 5 & 6 Choir, Years 7 & 8 Choir)
- Orchestra I & II
- Flutopia
- Bash Street Kids
- Recorders
- Years 4 & 5 Drummers and Singers
- School of Rock
- The Red Hot Chili Preppers
- Jazz Band
- Rhythm Stix
- Arco Ensemble
- Big Band
We are proud that music scholarships and awards to some of the country’s leading senior/public schools are won by Choristers and non-Choristers alike.
Our weekly Senior Enrichment Programme allows all senior musicians, of whatever standard, to take part in enriching music-making sessions and, for those who wish, to receive specialist preparation for scholarship exams and auditions.
