Lichfield Cathedral School

A record number of new boy choristers have joined the Lichfield Cathedral Choir as probationers at the beginning of this academic year.

The seven boys, who are variously in Years 3, 4 & 5 (aged 7-9), are: Edward Mansfield from Swadlincote, Thomas Luscombe from Woore in Shropshire, Christopher Bowen from Hamstall Ridware, John Day from Tamworth, Hugh Wells from Peterborough, Oliver Chatham from Rugeley and Daniel Walker from Abbots Bromley. Each of the boys gained their place in the choir after successfully auditioning earlier in the year.

For the first few weeks they will be learning new repertoire and observing how the experienced choristers go about their task of providing the music for the daily choral services in the Cathedral. But before very long, they will be contributing to the singing themselves, and as soon as the Master of the Choristers, Philip Scriven, considers that they are ready – which can take anything from three months to a year – they will be installed as full choristers by the Dean.

Simon Ashwood, from Stafford , is the latest probationer to be installed as a full chorister. His installation took place in a ceremony held during Choral Evensong in the Cathedral on Saturday, 8th September. During the same service, Edward Chapman was installed as Head Chorister while Luke Bowen and Joby Fitzgerald were installed as his Deputy Head Choristers.

All the boys are educated at the Cathedral School with Scholarships valued at 50% of the school fees. Some of the boys receive further funding from the School or from the Choir Schools Association, as it is the aim that lack of financial means will not be an obstacle to a boy singing in the choir.