What is the purpose of the Norwich Cathedral Choir Endowment Fund?
Choirs of boys and men are one of the glories of the Church of England and contribute immeasurably to the distinctive ethos of its worship. The twenty Choristers and probationers at Norwich Cathedral - the successors of the hundreds of boys who have sung here since monastic times - are educated at Norwich School. This is a fee-paying, non-boarding school and the Choir Endowment Fund provides bursaries to help offset the cost to parents of the Choristers' education.
What financial support is available for Choristers?
The Trustees are at present able to meet 50% of school fees and, in cases of financial hardship, additional funding from elsewhere may be available. Our eventual goal is to meet a higher proportion of the fees of every boy and to maintain this higher level of support until each boy finishes his GCSE year. Without this support, recruitment of suitable candidates to the Choir is more difficult and its continued existence threatened.
The commitment involved in being a Chorister
Being a member of the Cathedral Choir is a huge commitment not only for the boys but for their whole family. Long gone are the days of school boarding houses when boys were deposited at school and collected again after Christmas or Easter; family life now has to revolve around the Chorister and his timetable. There are obvious pressures on families with boys who have suitable voices. Finding the money for school fees is a big barrier to low income families.
The benefits of being a Chorister
The Choral Foundation at Norwich is exceptional and distinctive and the life of a Chorister within it is a marvellous experience. Daily involvement in fine music and literature in one of the great buildings of our Christian heritage provides a formation in faith and worship not just for schooldays but for life. The disciplines of responsibility and concentration which Choristers must quickly acquire are of lasting benefit, and skills learned, such as how to manage their time, stand the boys in good stead as they proceed through the school and on to Higher Education.
How you can help
Please help us provide this unique opportunity to more boys from a wider variety of backgrounds by making a donation on your own behalf or in memory of someone who also cared about Norwich Cathedral’s rich musical heritage.