
Here is a list of the current choral opportunities available for children and teenagers in Oxford. They are divided into Youth Choirs and choirs which are part of Cathedral, Church and Chapel Choirs.
If any information is missing, incorrect or needs updating please contact admin@singoxford.org
Youth Choirs
The Cathedral Youth Choir offers opportunities for ex-choristers from any choir, as well as other able young singers, to continue singing at a high level and with a professional team of singers. As well as regular services at Christ Church and in chapels across Oxford, the Choir also has a regular programme of concerts and other events. Ages 13-18.
Mondays at 7pm
Music Director: Helen Smee
Christ Church Cathedral
Established in 2013, The Oxford and Cambridge Singing School is for boys and girls aged 7–13 who love to sing. The singing school was created to give children the opportunity to sing great classical music to a high standard in a relaxed and fun environment and to develop their confidence and ability in singing and performing. Courses are held in Christmas, Easter and Summer holidays.
Courses run in the school holidays
Music Director: Edward Wickham
Various locations in Oxford
Part of the Oxford Youth choirs, the Boy's Choirs provide musical and vocal training for boys aged 7 and above who enjoy singing a wide repertoire. Singers are encouraged to enjoy music and develop their potential in a friendly atmosphere, with sessions including work on ear-training and aural skills, as well as singing from written notation. Voice training methods are the same as those of the girls' choir.
Saturdays Mornings:
9.10 - 11.00
Music Director: Colin Ritter Danskin
Cherwell School North
The "Junior Choir" is for girls in years 4 and above, to develop musicianship skills and a love of singing. Girls move into the Senior Choir "Oxford Girls' Choir" when they are confident to do so, normally at year 6 or 7.
Saturday Mornings 9.10 - 13.00
Music Director: Amy Chang and Margaret Lingas
Cherwell School North
Part of the Oxford Youth Choirs, Musical Mayhem is a lively sing-along music class for babies and toddlers from 3 months to four years, with puppets, percussion games & parachute play. There are two sessions, at 10.15am & 11.15am. Drinks & biscuits included.
Saturday Mornings:
Class 1 - 10.15 - 11.05, Class 2 - 11.15 - 12.05
Music Director: Monica Nelson
Cherwell School North
Our Prep Choirs encourage a love of music and singing and develop early musicianship through fun warm ups, singing games and song. Prep 1 is for children in Reception and Year 1 and Prep 2 is for children in Year 3 and 4. We do introduce notation and teach music theory although all our songs are taught by ear.
Saturday Mornings:
Prep 1 - 9.10 - 10.00, Prep 2 - 10.10 - 11.40
Music Directors: Hannah Rhodes and Lucia Boué
Cherwell School North
We are open to both boys and girls and cater for soprano, alto, tenor and bass voice parts. Oxfordshire County Youth Choir enjoys singing in a variety of styles and aims to perform at the end of each term; there are also opportunities to sing with some of the county’s instrumental ensembles. Some recent highlights have been singing with the Gabrieli ROAR project in Coventry Cathedral and performing at the National Festival of Music for Youth in Birmingham Symphony Hall.
Thursdays during school terms:
18.30 - 20.00
Music Director: Debbie Rose
Centre for Music, Bayswater Road, Oxford, OX3 9FF
A musical community without barriers to give a voice to people with SEND. The Oxfordshire Youth Inclusive Choir welcomes people aged 25 years and under and their families/carers. It is administered by Oxfordshire County Music Service and supported by Soundabout. By welcoming all voices, we aim to be as inclusive as possible, and actively try to remove barriers to participation for those with severe and profound learning disabilities.
Tuesdays at 5pm for one hour online, fortnightly, with termly face-to-face/hybrid sessions at The Centre for Music.
Music Director: Debbie Rose
Online and at Centre for Music, Bayswater Road, Oxford OX3 9FF
Songsters is a singing group for children aged 4-11. We're based in East Oxford and open to all primary-age children. The focus is on fun, listening to each other, and joining in. We introduce lots of different styles of music and learn songs by ear – no need to read music.
Mondays in term time 3.30 - 4.15
Music Directors: Hester Crombie and Tim Croston
SS Mary & John CE Primary School
The Soundabout Choirs are musical communities without barriers for people all ages and all abilities, with a focus on giving a voice to people with severe and profound learning disabilities.
Virtual rehearsals Thursdays 17.00 - 18.00 on Zoom Face-to-face rehearsals once every half term
Online and face to face
The Choristers welcomes both girls aged 7 – 16 years and boys aged 7 until their voices break (after which they can join the alto tenor or bass section)
This choir is ideal for children who would like to develop their musical skills by learning from the church choir tradition, and be introduced to the beauty of sacred music. It is also a good place to make new friends, socialise, and experience singing in a beautiful and inspiring place. Our rehearsals aim to be fun, challenging, and full of learning. It is ideal for busy parents and busy children!
The choristers sing at a Sunday morning service once a month, and at major festivals and services throughout the year. Choristers rehearse with the Schola Cantorum on Sunday mornings from 9.45am when they are singing, and weekly on Friday evenings during school term time during which they receive vocal training and theory tuition. We follow the RSCM Voice for Life programme. Choristers receive pocket money.
Friday evenings and Sunday mornings
Music Director: Esther Bersweden
St Barnabas, Jericho
Cathedral, Church and College Choirs
Here is a list of the current choral opportunities available for children and teenagers in Oxford which have connections with the Cathedral, local churches and College Choirs. Click here to return to Youth Choirs
If any information is missing, incorrect or needs updating please contact admin@singoxford.org
The boy choristers who sing in Christ Church Cathedral Choir are all members of Christ Church Cathedral School.
Services:
Sundays: 11.00 Sung Eucharist and 18.00 Evensong
Tuesdays: 18.00 Choral Evensong
Thursdays: 18.00 Sung Eucharist
Fridays: 18.00 Choral Evensong
Saturdays: 18.00 Choral Evensong
Plus additional services on special occasions as well as a programme of concerts, recordings and tours.
Director of Music: Peter Holder
Frideswide Voices is the girls’ choir of Christ Church Cathedral, singing each week in the Cathedral alongside the Lay and Academical Clerks. The girls, aged 7 to 14, do not attend the Cathedral school, but instead are drawn from schools across Oxfordshire. They sing around 80 services in the Cathedral each year.
Services:
Wednesdays: 18.00 Choral Evensong
Plus additional services on special occasions as well as a programme of concerts, recordings and tours.
Director of Music: Helen Smee
The Cathedral Singers of Christ Church is the mixed-voice choir of Christ Church Cathedral. Its main role is to maintain the Cathedral’s daily pattern of sung worship at times when the Cathedral Choir is away or on vacation. This amounts to over a hundred sung services a year. Directed by its own professional staff of Director and Organist, the choir comprises talented volunteer musicians from the local area, from young professionals to professorial fellows. There is also a Choral Scholarship scheme for Sixth Formers and those on a GAP year.
Weekends and weekdays when the Cathedral Choir is away (usually in the holidays)
Director of Music: Hilary Punnett
The boy choristers who sing in Magdalen College Choir are all members of Magdalen College School.
Services:
Sundays: 11.00 Eucharist and 18.00 Evensong
Tuesdays: 18.00 Choral Evening Prayer
Wednesday: 18.00 Choral Evensong
Thursdays 18.00 Choral Evensong
Plus additional services on special occasions as well as a programme of concerts, recordings and tours.
Informator Choristarum (Director): Mark Williams
The 24 girl choristers attend many different schools across Oxford and beyond, and rehearse at Merton on Mondays and Wednesdays during school term-time.
Services:
Mondays 18.00 Choral Vespers
Wednesdays 18.15 Choral Evensong
Plus additional services on special occasions as well as a programme of concerts, recordings and tours.
Director of Music: Benjamin Nicholas
The boy choristers who sing in New College Choir are all members of New College School.
Sundays 17.45 Choral Evensong
Tuesday 18.15 Choral Evensong
Thursday 18.15 Choral Evensong or Choral Vespers
Friday 18.15 Choral Evensong
Saturday 17.45 Choral Evensong or Choral Eucharist
Plus additional services on special occasions as well as a programme of concerts, recordings and tours.
Director of Music: Robert Quinney
St Mary’s Choristers is a mixed children’s choir, offering young singers an opportunity to explore their musicality and lead the worship in their local parish church, continuing a centuries-old tradition of Anglican church music. Our philosophy is to strive for musical excellence, while being as inclusive as possible. As members of the choir, choristers learn the fundamentals of voice production, musicality and performance discipline and receive a comprehensive training in musical notation and music theory. But being a chorister is about more than just music – we aim to provide choristers with a supportive and stimulating environment in which they can build self-confidence and develop values of teamwork, responsibility and leadership that will last a lifetime. The Choristers rehearse from 6pm-7.30pm on Friday evenings and sing regularly at Sunday morning services, choral evensongs, and special services at Christmas and Easter, both as an independent choir and with the St Mary’s adult choir. Membership of the choir is completely free of charge and new choristers are always welcome.
Sundays 10am Holy Communion or 5.30pm Choral Evensong
Director of Music: David Hewett
The boy choristers who sing in Worcester College Choir are all pupils at Christ Church Cathedral School
Services:
Tuesdays: 18.00 Choral Evensong
Sundays: 18.00 Choral Evensong
Plus additional services on special occasions as well as a programme of concerts, recordings and tours.
Director of Music: Caius Lee