Choral Awards
| Important dates |
|---|
| Open Day for prospective Choral Scholars: 3 May 2012 |
| Closing date for Choral Award applications: 12 September 2011 |
| Related links |
| Cambridge Online Preliminary Application (COPA) |
| Information about Organ and Choral Scholarships from the Colleges |
| Choral Scholarships Open Day Timetable 2011 |
 Organ Scholarships at Cambridge Primarily geared towards potential organ scholars, this short film also gives a good overview of choral music at Cambridge. |
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Online applications for the Choral Open Day will be available at the end of February.
The information below relates to the 2011-12 admissions round. Please note that the deadline for Choral Awards in this admissions round has now passed and late applications will not be considered. Please return to this page in March 2012 if you are considering applying for a Choral Award in the 2012-13 admissions round.
- What is a Choral Award?
- Which Colleges have Choral Awards?
- What is expected of a Choral Award-holder?
- Are there any restrictions?
- Can I study any course?
- What vacancies are there for 2012 and 2013 entry?
- How do I apply?
- When do the auditions and interviews take place?
- When will I hear the results of the Choral Trials?
- What will happen at the audition?
- How can I find out more about Choral Awards?
What is a Choral Award?
Choral Awards, Choral Exhibitions, Choral Studentships, and Choral Scholarships all indicate the same thing (the music award held by a student in a Cambridge chapel choir who is usually referred to as a ‘Choral Scholar’). There are various different official names for choral awards depending on the history and statutes of the individual College concerned. Most Cambridge choirs consist of a combination of choral award-holders and volunteers.
Which Colleges have Choral Awards?
The following Colleges offer Choral Awards through the inter-collegiate competition (called Choral Trials) held in September. If you wish to be considered for one of these Choral Awards you must submit a Choral Award application form (see How do I apply?).
| Christ’s | Gonville and Caius | Robinson |
| Clare | Jesus | St Catharine’s |
| Corpus Christi | King’s | St John’s |
| Downing | Magdalene | Selwyn |
| Emmanuel | Newnham | Sidney Sussex |
| Fitzwilliam | Peterhouse | Trinity |
| Girton | Queens’ | Trinity Hall |
The following Colleges do NOT offer Choral Awards through the inter-collegiate competition, although some do have their own choirs and may offer choral awards to students once they begin their studies at Cambridge.
| Churchill | Lucy Cavendish | St Edmund’s |
| Homerton | Murray Edwards | Wolfson |
| Hughes Hall | Pembroke |
What is expected of a Choral Award-holder?
Choral award-holders are required to sing in the Chapel Choir of their College chapel, attending regular rehearsals and services. Most Colleges also expect choral award-holders to play an active role in College music-making in general. The responsibilities of choral award-holders vary greatly from College to College (a list of links to individual College choir websites can be found below). As a Choral Award applicant, you can apply for a number of Colleges, which you will list in an order of preference on your Choral Award Application Form. Thorough research into the commitments and expectations should be carried out when you are completing your list of preferences. You should consider how many hours a week you are willing to devote to your singing, and how that relates to the subject you wish to study. In general, science courses are busier than humanities ones, and fit less comfortably with busy choral schedules, so you need to be an organised person, willing to forego extensive social or extra-curricular activities, in order to make such combinations work. Some Colleges restrict the subjects you may apply for as a choral award-holder (see the table of subject restrictions).
In all Colleges, Choral award-holders receive a small financial award each year, currently £100. In most Colleges, Choral award-holders also receive a subsidy towards singing lessons. Other perks, including subsidised meals and choir tours, are determined by the individual Colleges. A booklet outining the responsibilities of Choral Award holders in each of the participating Colleges is available to download above or from the Co-ordinator of the Inter-Collegiate Choral Awards Scheme.
Are there any restrictions?
A Choral Award can only be held in conjunction with an academic place at the awarding College. You cannot obtain an award at more than one College. The awards are primarily geared towards, and held by, undergraduates, but some Colleges will accept applications from potential postgraduate students (details should be sought from Directors of Music in individual Colleges).
You may list as many or as few Colleges as you like on your application form. Only list Colleges for which you are eligible: King’s and St John’s have male-voice choirs; Newnham is a women’s College, and although the awards are held in Selwyn’s mixed choir, only women should list Newnham.
Can I study any course?
Some Colleges restrict the subjects you may apply for as a Choral Award-holder. Applications from potential Choral Award-holders will NOT normally be considered by applicants hoping to study the following subjects.
| College | Restrictions |
|---|---|
| Christ’s | Architecture |
| Clare | no subject restrictions |
| Corpus Christi | no subject restrictions |
| Downing | no subject restrictions |
| Emmanuel | no subject restrictions |
| Fitzwilliam | no subject restrictions |
| Girton | no subject restrictions |
| Gonville and Caius | no subject restrictions |
| Jesus | no subject restrictions |
| King’s | Architecture, Medicine |
| Magdalene | no subject restrictions |
| Newnham | no subject restriction |
| Peterhouse | Education, Geography, Veterinary Medicine |
| Queens’ | no subject restrictions |
| Robinson | no subject restrictions |
| St Catharine’s | Architecture, History of Art |
| St John’s | Architecture, Veterinary Medicine |
| Selwyn | no subject restrictions |
| Sidney Sussex | Education |
| Trinity | Medicine, Veterinary Medicine |
| Trinity Hall | no subject restrictions |
What vacancies are there for 2012 and 2013 entry?
The following numbers of vacancies (by voice type) are predicted at each of the Colleges. These numbers are subject to change, but can be used as a general guide for applicants.
| Key: | ||
| S = Soprano | C = Contralto | A = Male Alto |
| T = Tenor | B = Baritone and Bass | |
| Please note: ‘C/A’ indicates that both female contraltos and male altos are eligible. | ||
| College | 2012 Entry | 2013 Entry |
|---|---|---|
| Christ’s | 2S, 2C, 2A, 2T, 2B | 2S, 2C, 2A, 2T, 2B |
| Clare | 2S, 2C, 2A, 2T, 2B | 2S, 2C, 2A, 2T, 2B |
| Corpus Christi | 2S, 2C, 2A, 2T, 2B | 2S, 2C, 2A, 2T, 2B |
| Downing | 1S, 1C/A, 1T, 1B | 1S, 1C/A, 1T, 1B |
| Emmanuel | 2S 2A/C 2T 2B | 2S 2A/C 2T 2B |
| Fitzwilliam | 2S, 1C, 1A, 2T, 2B | 2S, 1C, 1A, 2T, 2B |
| Girton | 4S, 4C, 2A, 4T, 4B | 4S, 4C, 2A, 4T, 4B |
| Gonville And Caius | 3S, 3C/A, 3T, 3B | 3S, 3C/A, 3T, 3B |
| Jesus | 4S, 3C, 2A, 3T, 3B | 4S, 2C, 2A, 3T, 4B |
| King’s | 1A, 1T, 1B | 3A, 2T, 4B |
| Magdalene | 1S, 1C, 1A, 1T, 1B | 1S, 1C, 1A, 1T, 1B |
| Newnham | 4S, 3C/A, 2T, 2B | 3S, 3C/A, 2T, 2B |
| Peterhouse | 3S, 3C/A, 3T, 3B | 3S, 3C/A, 3T, 3B |
| Queens’ | 2S, 1C, 1A, 2T, 2B | 2S, 1C, 1A, 2T, 2B |
| Robinson | 3S, 3C/A, 3T, 3B | 3S, 3C/A, 3T, 3B |
| St Catharine’s | 2S, 2A, 2T, 2B | 2S, 2A, 2T, 2B |
| St John’s | 1A, 1T, 1B | 2A, 3T, 2B |
| Selwyn | 2S, 4C/A, 1T, 3B | 3S, 2C/A, 2T, 2B |
| Sidney Sussex | 3S, 3C/A, 3T, 3B | 3S, 3C/A, 3T, 3B |
| Trinity | 4S, 3C/A, 2T, 2B | 3S, 3C/A, 2T, 4B |
| Trinity Hall | 2S, 1C/A, 1T, 1B | 2S, 1C/A, 1T, 1B |
How do I apply?
Applicants from the UK and EU need to submit a UCAS application in order to apply to Cambridge.
From 2012 entry, applicants for a Choral Award through the inter-collegiate competition must complete a Cambridge Online Preliminary Application (COPA), as well as a UCAS application.
The deadline for application for entry in 2012 and deferred entry in 2013 is 12 September 2011. Late applications will not be considered.
You will be considered for Choral Awards according to the order of preference which you express on your COPA. In the past successful applicants have listed between eight and 10 Colleges on their application. If you decide, after submitting your COPA, that you wish to alter your list of preferences, alterations will be accepted up to 12 September by consulting the Co-ordinator of the Choral Awards.
If you are unable to submit a final version of your UCAS personal statement or reference with your COPA, a working draft can be submitted. If this is your intention please make this clear and ensure that the final version/s are sent to the appropriate College as soon as possible to enable them to make their assessment at the Choral Trials which take place towards the end of September.
If your previous academic record is poor, and there are no mitigating circumstances, you may be excluded from consideration before the final stage of the competition. If you are uncertain whether or not to pursue your application, you should consult the Admissions Tutor of your first preference College who will be able to offer you advice.
When do the auditions and interviews take place?
Auditions will be held in Cambridge on the following dates in 2011:
- Monday 26 and Tuesday 27 September 2011 - Sopranos, contraltos, countertenors, and some tenors
- Wednesday 28 September and Thursday 29 September 2011 - Tenors, baritones, and basses
You must arrive in Cambridge the evening before the day of your audition for a meeting of all applicants to be auditioned the following day, and you should expect to remain in Cambridge until at least 12 noon on the day following your audition. Accommodation for the period of the auditions will be provided in your College of first-preference, in most Colleges (but not all), free of charge.
Applicants may undergo a preliminary academic assessment at the time of the Choral Award trials in September. Applicants may then be invited to return to Cambridge for formal academic interviews in December, either at their first-choice College or at a College further down their list of preferences.
When will I hear the results of the Choral Trials?
All applicants will be informed of the results of both the choral and academic interview processes in early January.
What will happen at the audition?
At your audition you will be required to sing in the Faculty of Music, as well as attend a second audition at your first-choice College, and any other Colleges on your list of preferences interested in hearing you further. You will be asked to sing a piece of your own choice, which should be something that demonstrates the suitability of your voice to the traditional choral repertoire. The text can be sacred or secular, and the piece should not exceed four minutes in length. An accompanist will be provided.
You will also be asked to do some sight-reading and ear-tests. In the Faculty of Music audition, the sight-reading will most likely be 16th-century polyphony (probably in Latin) and the ear-tests will consist of exercises such as recognising intervals, singing the middle note of a given chord, singing back a short melody, and other similar exercises. If you would like to prepare for these, you can try our sample tests.
How can I find out more about Choral Awards?
Open Day 2011
Bookings are now closed for the Choral Award Open Day 2011
A Choral Award open day will be held on Thursday 3 May 2012.
- Download the Choral Award Open Day Timetable
- For further information, please contact Dr David Skinner (dgs38@cam.ac.uk).
Information from the Colleges
Download the organ and choral scholarships booklet for information from the participating Colleges: Information about Organ and Choral Scholarships
College choirs and chapel have their own websites that you may find of use:
Further enquiries
Do you still have any questions? Please contact the Directors of Music at the individual Colleges if you have questions about specific College Choral Awards. If you have any further questions about the inter-collegiate competition, please contact:
Dr David Skinner
Co-ordinator, Inter-Collegiate Choral Awards Scheme
Director of Music
Sidney Sussex College
Cambridge CB2 3HU
Email: dgs38@cam.ac.uk