Choral Scholarships
Come and sing at St Paul’s Church
Learn to sing. Make Friends
Be part of something beautiful
A choral scholarship at St Paul’s offers young people the chance to develop their voice, discover wonderful music and belong to a choir where every singer has something to contribute.
With singing lessons, musical training, cathedral visits and payment for the services they sing, our scholars gain skills and experiences they can carry throughout their lives.
The English choral tradition brings together beautiful music, shared discipline and the offering of worship. It has been nurtured for centuries in cathedrals, chapels and parish churches, and it continues to grow as new generations discover its music.
At St Paul’s, young singers take their place in that living tradition, singing alongside adults and helping to lead the worship of the church. Their voices matter: they are part of the choir’s music and part of its future.
Why sing in a choir?
Singing is a skill to enjoy for a lifetime. A choir gives young people the chance to develop it in company, with encouragement, shared goals and the pleasure of making music together.
Musical skills
Young people learn to use their voices well, read music, listen carefully and sing with expression. They develop a sense of rhythm and pitch, and discover how their own part fits into the sound of the whole choir.
Confidence and achievement
Learning a difficult phrase, mastering a new piece and singing it in a service bring a satisfying sense of progress. Step by step, young people learn that practice makes a difference and that they have something worth sharing.
Friendship across the generations
A church choir is an unusual opportunity for young people and adults of different ages to work together as fellow musicians. Young singers learn from experienced members, build friendships and discover the confidence that comes from being valued within a wider community.
Teamwork, concentration and joy
Singing together means listening to others, following a conductor and being ready when the choir needs you. It offers a regular time to put screens aside, concentrate on something absorbing and enjoy creating something that nobody could make alone.
What the scholarship at St Paul’s offers
Singing lessons
Scholars receive singing lessons from our Director of Music, Louise Turner, to help them develop their voices and grow as musicians. Louise is a highly experienced singer and singing teacher, who has worked with the National Youth Choir and teaches singing at Oxford University and in schools. Lessons provide time to work on technique, breathing, tone and expression, alongside the experience gained in choir rehearsals and services.
Training and recognised achievement
Our Choral Scholars work towards the Royal School of Church Music’s examined Singing Awards. These give singers goals to aim for and recognition of their developing musicianship.
Cathedral visits
We normally make two trips each year to sing at cathedrals. These are opportunities to take our music beyond St Paul’s, experience remarkable buildings and acoustics, and share the excitement of singing together somewhere new.
Payment for services
Scholars receive payment for each service they sing, recognising their commitment and the contribution they make to the musical life of the church.
Becoming a choral scholar
We have six choral scholarships available in the Autumn Term of 2026, for young people between Year 4 and Year 12. Auditions (don’t be scared – these are very informal!) will be held on 30 September and 2 October 2026 – other slots are available if these are impossible so please do ask.
What we ask
A choir depends on its members being there for one another. We ask scholars to attend Wednesday evening rehearsals regularly and to sing at services at least seven times each term, normally on Sunday mornings.
Please arrive punctually, come ready to learn and treat fellow singers with kindness. We ask parents and carers to support attendance and let us know about absences.
Could this be for your child?
If your child enjoys singing, we would love to hear from you. Get in touch to discuss their interests, experience and the next step.
Choir members take part in Christian worship as well as making music. We are happy to explain what this involves and answer your questions.
The practical details
Ages: Year 4 to Year 12
Rehearsals: Wednesdays, 7.15–8.15pm (primary), 7.15–8.45pm (secondary)
Sunday services: 9.30am Parish Mass, ending around 10.45am
Location: St Paul’s Church, Reading Road, Wokingham
Applying: Download the application form and return by 23 September
Get in touch
Louise Turner, Director of Music
louise.turner@spauls.org.uk