COUNTERTENOR, TENOR, AND BASS CHORAL SCHOLARSHIPS
(From September 2016)
BACKGROUND
Wells Cathedral Choir was hailed recently by an international jury from Gramophone Magazine as the
greatest choir with children in the world, and the sixth greatest overall. The choir celebrated its
1100th birthday in 2009: boys first sang at Wells Cathedral in 909 and the full choral tradition dates
back over 800 years. In 1994 the choral foundation at Wells was enriched by the addition of girl
choristers. Today the choir consists of eighteen boy choristers, eighteen girl choristers and twelve
Vicars Choral (the men of the choir). The boys and girls usually sing separately with the Vicars
Choral but occasionally come together for larger events and tours.
The choir is at the heart of the worshipping life of the Cathedral, and sings a wide repertoire of
music ranging from the masterpieces of the Renaissance period to the finest choral works of the
present day. New music is also commissioned from some of today’s most exciting composers,
including Richard Allain, David Bednall, Judith Bingham, Geoffrey Burgon, Bob Chilcott, Jonathan
Dove, Gabriel Jackson, John Joubert, James MacMillan, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies (Master of the
Queen’s Music), Tarik O’Regan, John Rutter, Howard Skempton, and Philip Wilby. The choir sings
throughout the cathedral’s festival, launched in June 2008: new music wells, giving a number of
premiers as well as featuring music from the previous forty years.
Wells Cathedral Choir broadcasts regularly on BBC Radios 2, 3 and 4, and on television. Its recent
innovative recordings for Hyperion Records and Regent Records have won international praise:
“wonderfully blended, and must rank as one of the top cathedral sounds outside London” (BBC Music
Magazine); “currently enjoying a superb top line” (The Observer), and has had two recent discs made
Editor’s Choice in Gramophone Magazine which called the choir “probably the finest English cathedral
choir at the moment” in “world-class form”.
As well as the liturgical musical repertoire the choir performs larger scale choral works in concert,
with recent collaborations including The King’s Consort (Bach, St Matthew Passion), the BBC National
Orchestra of Wales (Britten War Requiem), Jools Holland and his band (Jools Holland Mass), Wells
Cathedral Oratorio Society (Britten St Nicolas and War Requiem), Aled Jones, Dame Felicity Lott, and
Wells Cathedral School Chamber Orchestra (at a royal gala concerts at the Royal Opera House,
Covent Garden, and St James’s Palace, London). The choir has toured extensively with recent tours
to Paris (2006), the North West of England (2008), Germany (2009), The Netherlands (2010),
Scotland (2011), and Hong Kong and Beijing (2012).
The choir sings under the direction of Matthew Owens who has been Organist & Master of the
Choristers since January 2005, having previously been Organist and Master of the Music at St Mary’s
Episcopal Cathedral, Edinburgh (from 1999-2004) and Sub Organist of Manchester Cathedral, and
Conductor of The Exon Singers (1996-2011). He is also Tutor in Organ Studies at Wells Cathedral
School (one of the five specialist music schools in the UK), Conductor of the Wells Cathedral
Oratorio Society, and was President of the Cathedral Organists’ Association (2010-13).
He studied at Chetham’s School of Music, The Queen’s College, Oxford, the Royal Northern
College of Music and the Sweelinck Conservatorium in Amsterdam. From 1994-99, he was Tutor in
Organ Studies at the RNCM and Chetham’s and worked for BBC Religious Broadcasting.
As a conductor and solo organist he has premiered many works by leading composers including
James MacMillan, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, Arvo Pärt, and Giles Swayne. He is active as a composer
and some of his works have been recorded for commercial release and broadcast on BBC Radio 3.
The choir is accompanied by the Assistant Organist, Jonathan Vaughn, who was appointed in
September 2007. Previously he was Organ Scholar at St George’s Chapel, Windsor and St John’s
College, Cambridge (under both Christopher Robinson and David Hill) and Assistant Organist at St
Edmundsbury Cathedral, Suffolk.
DETAILS
1.
Choral Scholars are appointed at the discretion of The Chapter. Choral Scholars will
normally be appointed for one year and it is likely that candidates will have strong
expectations of a University Choral Scholarship. The Wells Cathedral Scholarship is intended
to provide a year’s valuable experience prior to this. Applications for Choral Scholarships are
also particularly welcome from those at post-graduate stage.
2.
The Choral Scholarship is currently worth £3,289, and is reviewed on an annual basis. In
addition to this, there is the opportunity to earn approaching £1,000 each year in broadcast,
recording and concert fees.
3.
Accommodation in Vicars’ Close is provided for all Vicars Choral. Shared accommodation is
provided for Choral Scholars and is free of rent; basic furniture is provided. Choral Scholars
do not pay water rates or Council Tax. Gas and electricity bills are the responsibility of the
individual.
4.
Choral Scholars are expected to sing, under the direction of the Organists and under the
supervision of the Precentor, in the following services: Evensong on four weekdays, Saturday,
and Sung Eucharist, Mattins and Evensong on Sundays (including one Evensong service per
term to a Church within the Diocese). Also the Advent Carol Service, Sung Eucharist at
Christmas Eve Midnight and Sung Eucharist on Christmas Day and Mattins, Sung Eucharist on
St Andrew’s Day, Ascension Day, the Three Choirs Festival, the Dedication Festival, the
Cathedral Carol Service, the Christmas Candlelight Concerts, Ordination services, Evensong
on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of Holy Week, Evening Eucharist on Maundy Thursday
and Good Friday services – Mattins at 10.00am and the final hour of 3 hour devotion,
normally 2.00 – 3.00pm – and the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday, a recording of Sunday Half
Hour for BBC Radio 2, and not more than six other services during the year, of which one is
the Diocesan Choral Festival. Attendance is also required at all rehearsals prescribed for
these services.
5.
The Tenor and Bass choral scholars also sing in the Wells Cathedral Oratorio Society’s
rehearsals and concerts, for which extra fees are payable.
6.
Choral Scholars will be required for administrative duties in the Music Office, averaging not
more than one hour per week during term time.
7.
Holiday entitlement – Choral Scholars will be entitled to not less than 15 weeks holiday in
the year and more as otherwise provided by the Chapter. Working time will include the
terms of the academic year and holidays will generally, although not exclusively, coincide with
the holidays of Wells Cathedral School. The first Saturday in the month is normally a day off.
If such a Saturday needs to be worked another Saturday will be given off in lieu.
8.
Choral Scholars shall be entitled to receive fees for radio and television broadcasts (with the
exception of the annual Sunday Half Hour recording for BBC Radio 2), recordings and
concerts. The choir gives regular concerts in the Diocese and Cathedral. The choir also
makes regular international tours and has recently been to the USA and Northern Europe.
The Vicars Choral and Choral Scholars also give concerts and make recordings on their own
and have a wide repertoire of men’s voices music spanning several centuries.
9.
Applicants for Choral Scholar positions are expected to be in sympathy with the Church of
England. It is expected that all Choral Scholars will wish to receive communion in the
Cathedral. However, those who fall outside these categories but are interested in applying
for a position are most welcome to do so and are invited to discuss the matter further with
the Precentor.
10.
Applications should be made, in writing, to the Organist & Master of the Choristers, Mr
Matthew Owens, Organist & Master of the Choristers, The Music Office, Cathedral Offices,
Chain Gate, Cathedral Green, Wells, BA5 2UE. Candidates should provide a Curriculum Vitae
together with the names, addresses, email contacts and telephone numbers of three persons
who are prepared to give written support to the application. One should be a priest, and the
other two should be able to speak of your musical experience and ability.
11.
The deadline for applications is 12 noon on Friday 18 September 2015.
Details correct as at 2015-06-19