The choir of adults and boy choristers has a long and illustrious tradition stretching back over several hundred years.

Its principal function is to lead The Abbey’s congregation in its Sunday services each week and it sings a wide range of music, ranging from medieval plainsong to the most contemporary choral music.

There are 16 choristers, aged 8 and upwards, who all attend local schools. The adults of the choir comprise a number of local singers and two Sherborne School Choral Scholars who sing in the choir for a year — usually between leaving school and going to university. The Director of Music, James Henderson, is always glad to hear from anyone interested in becoming a member of the choir. Vacancies arise from time to time and are advertised on this website.

Potential Choral and Organ Scholars should contact the Director of Music at any stage of the year, though the posts are generally advertised in January with interviews in February and March.

The choir has made trips to Paris, singing in Notre Dame Cathedral, Chartres Cathedral and the Church of Saint-Sulpice, and has also sung for services in Rouen Cathedral. The choir has also made two CDs.

There are two choral services each Sunday during term-time. At the 9.30am Sung Eucharist the choir sings a variety of mass settings and motets, whilst at Choral Evensong it sings an Introit, Preces and Responses, psalm, canticles and anthem. School holidays and half terms are all observed, except for a few days over Christmas and Easter. There are also a number of social activities and every three or four years the choir undertakes a trip abroad.

During a boy’s years in the choir, he will be trained to professional standards in performing. He will acquire a sense of purpose, of self-discipline and an awareness both of adult standards and of glorious music, words and architecture. It is a training which sets a boy up for life, in whatever field he may eventually choose.

The alto, tenor and bass sections of the Abbey Choir are made up of singers based in and around Sherborne, together with two Sherborne School Choral Scholars who sing in the choir for a year, usually between leaving school and going to university.

The commitment is one practice, held on Fridays evenings from 7.15pm to 9.15pm, and two services on Sunday – 9.30am Sung Eucharist and 6.00pm Choral Evensong. In addition there are occasional weddings and other services coinciding with the major events during the church year: Christmas, Lent and Easter.

Each year The Abbey, in conjunction with Sherborne School, appoints three gap year Choral Scholars. Ideally, these will be one each of alto, tenor and bass voices, though there is some flexibility. Interviews for the gap year Choral Scholarships usually take place in February each year. Further information and details for application can be found in the attached link.  Choral Scholarships.

Each year the Abbey, in conjunction with Sherborne School,
appoints a Gap Year Organ Scholar, who works under the direction of the Director of Music.

Interviews for the Organ Scholarship usually take place in February each year. For further information please click here