Dear Parent/Guardian,
My name is Michael Stewart and I direct the music at Wellington Cathedral of St Paul, opposite Parliament on Molesworth Street.
I am writing to you to let you know about the opportunity for children to gain a free music education and singing tuition at the Cathedral, an acknowledged centre of musical excellence.
We offer two choirs at the Cathedral: the first, the Children's Choir, is for children aged 5-8. In the Children's Choir members are taught basic musicianship and singing technique in a weekly rehearsal, and join with the Cathedral Choristers for a monthly Thursday evening service.
The Cathedral Choristers are a robed choir of 8-15 year old children, whose skills are developed in singing technique, music theory, public speaking and teamwork through two weekly rehearsals. They lead the weekly Thursday evening Evensong service, with choristers reciting the readings as well as leading all the sung components. The training that the Choristers receive has equipped many graduates to proceed on to national choirs, such as the New Zealand Secondary Schools Choir, and many of the world's leading singers can attribute their start in their profession to having been trained as chorister.
Please see the this video which illustrates a week in the life of a Cathedral Chorister presented by Archie Taylor, one of our graduates who has proceeded on to the NZSSC.
We currently have vacancies in both of these choirs. If you are interested in finding out more, please do not hesitate to contact me on 021 477 257 or at dom@wellingtoncathedral.org.nz