The Cathedral Church of St Nicholas
in alliance with
The International Centre for Music Studies (ICMuS),
Newcastle upon Tyne
Role: Postgraduate Choral Studentship
Reporting to: Director of Music, Newcastle Cathedral; postgraduate supervisor, Newcastle University.
Hours of work: c. 10 hours a week (over the c. 40 weeks of choir term), plus academic commitments.
Working at: St Nicholas’ Cathedral, Newcastle, and Newcastle University.
Background
The Cathedral Church of St Nicholas, Newcastle, can trace its choral tradition back to 1503 at the latest, when
the cathedral choristers sang welcome odes to Margaret Tudor during her progress from Collyweston to
Edinburgh where she married James IV. Having offered tuition in music since the early 1900s, the University
of Newcastle upon Tyne has one of the longest-established music departments in the UK. For many years the
cathedral and the university have collaborated in offering undergraduate choral scholarships. We now offer
Postgraduate Choral Studentships as opportunities for talented young singers to develop their careers both
musically and academically. The Studentships are funded principally by the Cathedral, and their workload
devolves principally upon the weekly round of worship maintained at St Nicholas’s; but they also enable postolders to develop research careers or to undertake postgraduate study in performance or composition at
masters or doctoral level. The Studentships can be held singly or in combination with studentships and other
funding sources offered by ICMuS.
N.B: we welcome applications also from capable organists: ‘Postgraduate Choral Studentship’ may also be
read as ‘Postgraduate Organ Studentship’.
Role description
Postgraduate Choral Studentships are offered to graduates who obtain admission to a postgraduate
programme in Music (MMus, MPhil, MLitt or PhD). Reviewable on an annual basis where applicable, PG
Choral Studentships entail a commitment to the worship of the cathedral, expressed through high levels of
professionalism and musical proficiency. PG Choral Studentships can be held in association with awards from
ICMuS, so as to facilitate postgraduate study; ICMuS offers a range of postgraduate programmes, focussing
upon creative practice and research, that can be combined with a PG Choral Studentship.
Terms and Conditions:
1. Remuneration: £3,000 per annum, reviewed annually. Additional support may be available from
ICMuS (for instance through the Tudor Partbooks project, 2014-17).
2. Terms typically run as follows:
a.
From 2nd week of September until 25 December (10am Eucharist)
b.
From 2nd week of January until Easter Day (6pm Evensong)
c.
From 3rd Monday after Easter until the first Sunday in July (6pm Evensong)
School half-term holidays are observed, allowing Choral Students one week ‘off services’
during each term including the first weekend; services resume on the second Sunday.
3. Application process: please apply to the relevant PG course through the university’s PG portal
(http://www.ncl.ac.uk/postgraduate/apply/form/): in your personal statement you should state
that you intend to apply for a PG Choral Studentship. Simultaneously, contact the cathedral
director of music and arrange an audition.
4. Applications deadline: 31 July latest, but you are advised to apply as early as possible during
your final year of UG study.
Key contacts/relationships
At the Cathedral: Director of Music, Assistant Director of Music, Assistant Organist, Music Assistant, Canon
for Liturgy. First point of contact: Mr Michael Stoddart (email or telephone at 0191-232-1939).
At the University: research supervisor; head of PG studies in music; head of ICMuS. First point of contact: Dr
Magnus Williamson.
Person Specification
The successful candidate will meet the following requirements:
Qualifications
 Relevant choral experience, typically as an undergraduate choral scholar or through equivalent
experience;
 A first degree in music or related subject, with upper second class honours.
Knowledge
 Advanced understanding of music theory;
 An informed awareness of the English choral repertoire.
Skills
 Sight-reading to a high level;
 Assured singing technique, with an even tone production throughout the voice;
 Ability to take solo roles where required.
Personal attributes
 Maturity;
 Willingness to give and to take instruction;
 Leadership.
Other
 CV and 2 references required
Schedule
Postgraduate Choral Students are required to take part in all the regular designated choral services and
additional rehearsals as required by the Director of Music, as well as rehearsals of the University’s New Vocal
Ensemble, according to the following normative timetablee:
Wednesday
17:30-19:00
New Vocal Ensemble (university)
Thursday
17:00-18:30
Evensong/rehearsals (cathedral)
Friday
17:00-19:30
Evensong/rehearsals (cathedral)
Sunday
09:15-11:15
16:30-19:00
Eucharist/rehearsal (cathedral)
Evensong/rehearsal (cathedral)
Days and times are subject to review on a termly basis.
In addition to this weekly schedule, Choral Scholars are usually expected to sing for the following services,
events and major feasts:
Ash Wednesday Eucharist
St Cuthbert’s Day, Durham
Maundy Thursday Eucharist
Good Friday Liturgy
Easter Day
Ascension Day
Hadrian Choirs’ Festival
St Nicholas Day, Newcastle
Christmas Eve Carol Service
Christmas Eve Midnight Mass
Christmas Day (10 am Eucharist only)