Voice Trials

Following the Voice Trial day, the Cathedral’s Music Department will meet with the School to discuss the results from all the assessments. We will hope to inform parents of decisions within two to three weeks of the Voice Trial day. This correspondence will come from the Cathedral’s Precentor, Canon James Mustard.

It is important to understand that auditions for the Cathedral Choir are necessarily a very selective process and not everyone can succeed. The number of places is strictly limited in any given year and younger candidates may be encouraged to return for a further voice audition the following year if their voices have not yet developed sufficiently. It is also perhaps worthy of note that several of our current and past Choristers were unsuccessful first-time round.

The deadline to apply for Voice Trials is Monday 20 January 2025. Please expect to hear from us regarding the specific details of your Voice Trial shortly after this deadline date has passed.

Voice Trials are open to pupils, external and internal, who are currently in the following year groups: Years 2, 3, 4 & 5

Please click here to read about our admissions process, and the steps to enrol as a pupil at Exeter Cathedral School.

If you are a family not currently at Exeter Cathedral School, a member of our friendly admissions team will contact you ahead of the candidate’s Voice Trial to arrange a tour of the School for your family, as well as a taster day for the candidate. It should be noted that the School and Cathedral are not able to offer Choristerships to external candidates unless a tour and taster day have already taken place.

Voice Trials applications are only open to children in Year 2 and above.

Smart/casual.

We’d recommend parking in The Cathedral and Quay Car Park.

A clearly named water bottle.

No, children do not have to attend a ‘Be a Chorister for a Day’ event to submit an application for Voice Trials.

If successful, a chorister place is offered on the condition that the child becomes a pupil at Exeter Cathedral School (that is, if they are not already).

Yes, every child who accepts a place as a chorister receives a scholarship to Exeter Cathedral School. A Choristership allows for a 25% reduction on day school fees.

New entrants to the Choir are admitted as Probationers: they receive specialist musical and voice training, attend Cathedral services and occasionally sing with the Cathedral Choir. The length of the probationary period is not fixed; it varies according to the age of the Probationer and how quickly he or she learns the repertoire. When they are ready, Probationers are installed as full Choristers.

All Choristerships are offered on the understanding that children remain in the Choir and at the School until they reach the normal age of leaving – the end of Year 8 (13+). In addition to the Cathedral Scholarship, each Chorister/Probationer receives free instrumental tuition on one musical instrument and some voice coaching.

At the age of thirteen, pupils move on to a range of leading senior schools. The School has a proven record of scholarship success to many senior schools and a number of senior staff are in place to advise families on the next steps. Often, Exeter Cathedral Choristers receive offers of music scholarships/awards to a number of top senior schools.

Certainly! The School and Cathedral requires that parents/guardians have toured the school and candidates have had a taster day before candidates can be offered a Choristership. 

To arrange a private tour and taster day, please contact our friendly admissions team on: [email protected] | 01392 457 072