Musical Opportunities for Students

Southampton, Royal Holloway, UEA, all the Oxbridge Colleges, York, Durham and many others, pay students – not just music students – who can sing or play in their chapels and churches. Besides the financial help, and the useful entry on their CV, such Scholars enjoy a great social life – at Southampton, for instance, they frequently sing on the great cruise liners, and in city celebrations – all paid extra.

Naturally enough, in handing out these scholarships, preference is given to those with experience. And here's a new way you can get that experience.

The Director of Music at Poole Parish Church is David Owen Norris, who knows the Scholarship scene through his work as Professor both at Southampton University and the Royal College of Music, and as a Fellow of Keble College, Oxford.

Norris is forming a new choir of musical volunteers, who will rehearse at St. James's Church, Thames Street, Old Town, Poole, from 5 till 6 every Sunday afternoon. After a tea-break, we'll sing Evensong each week, finishing at 7.

We start in February, and by the end of July, you'll have learnt:

• Good choral technique, clear diction, sight-singing, ensemble and blend
• A dozen of the best anthems and the most famous 'settings'
• All the best hymns, and different ways to sing psalms and responses
• Those who want to can have organ lessons – all free

And you'll be able to take part in the following musical events:


• A complete recording of a newly discovered early 19th-century manuscript of music written in Swanage, plus performances of it in conjunction with the Dorset Music Service
• Poole's new Georgian Festival
• Festival of the Voice in Lighthouse Arts Centre on March 5th
• Rehearsal and performance with the Southampton Choral Scholars
• Concert tour with Southampton Harmony (one of the University ensembles), performing in Northampton, Oxford, Andover, Southampton and London
• If we can find the sponsors, a trip to perform in Cherbourg
• And there may be paid bookings to sing at weddings

If you're interested in this, please email Professor Norris on don@soton.ac.uk or ring him on 07957 322 091

Music – paper copies and CD recordings – will be sent out at the end of January. The first rehearsal will be on Sunday February 6th at St. James's Church, Thames Street, Poole at 5pm.