Scholarships

Choral & Organ Scholarships

Royal Holloway offers excellent opportunities for singers and organists. Choral Scholars form the College Chapel Choir, an ensemble of usually 24 singers, which undertakes a regular routine of services as well as representing the College further afield through concerts, broadcasts, recordings, and tours.

In the last two years the choir has made recordings for Naxos, Signum and Hyperion Records, broadcast a number of times on BBC Radio and France Culture, appeared on BBC Songs of Praise, performed with orchestras including Florilegium and the London Mozart Players and given concerts in Latvia, Belgium, France and the USA.

The choir also deputises for cathedral choirs, and regularly sings at St. Paul's Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, St. George's, Windsor Castle, as well as other British cathedrals. Over the next few years there are firm plans for several tours to the USA.

It is not necessary for either Choral or Organ Scholars to read for degrees in Music. Applications will also be considered from postgraduate students.

Applications for scholarships should be received early in the New Year with auditions held at the end of February or beginning of March each year.

Further details of scholarship requirements may be found here.

Application forms can be downloaded here.

Any interested candidates are welcome to visit the College and meet with the Director of Choral Music.

Please contact us for further information.

For Singers:

Choral scholarships are generously funded by Banco Santander as a part of the Santander Universities Scheme. Each year Royal Holloway offers a number of Choral Scholarships on each voice part. Countertenors and contraltos are equally welcome.

Scholarships are normally held for three years and the maximum award is £500 per annum (choral).  Singing lessons are provided where there is not already provision from within the degree programme. Scholars are also given preferential treatment for accommodation.

The normal routine for choral scholars involves an evening rehearsal on Tuesday, a short morning service on Wednesday (8.45-9am) and a short lunchtime concert. On Thursday there is a choral Evensong according to the Book of Common Parayer. The Sunday evening service and other morning services are sung by the College Chamber Choir (an un-auditioned choir of about 40 students). This means that, unless there are concerts or other special events, choral scholars are free to pursue other professional work in London during the weekend subject to consultation with the Director of Choral Music.

 

It is preferred, but not essential, for potential choral scholars to have had relevant experience in church singing. Good sight-reading skills are essential.

For Organists:

Further information about the Organ can be found here.

Organ scholarships are normally held for three years and there is usually one available each year. The maximum award is £1,000 per annum.  As there are many regular services in the Chapel, organ scholars will have ample opportunities to play and will be encouraged to conduct the choirs. Assistance will be given in the preparation of accompaniments where required and organ scholars will be provided with recital opportunities.

The chapel contains a 3-manual organ built by Harrison and Harrison in 1978 which is a remarkably diverse instrument voiced in a largely French style. There is also a new 3½ stop continuo organ built by Dutch organ builder Henk Klop and a new Kawai grand piano. There is also a 2-manual electronic instrument available for practice. The College is also the first UK University to be accredited by Steinway on account of the number of Steinway grand pianos on campus.