People are seated in pews inside a church, facing the altar. A schola cantorum from St John's Beaumont School stands at the front, singing as the congregation looks on. The brightly lit church features high arched ceilings and religious artwork above the altar.

Schola Cantorum

A World-Class Choral Scholarship Programme

St John’s Beaumont is proud to introduce The Schola Cantorum, a new choir programme designed to nurture exceptional young singers within a vibrant and supportive musical  community.

  • Open to girls and boys aged 8 -12, The Schola Cantorum offers outstanding musical training alongside the rich educational experience of one of the leading Prep Schools in the country.
  • Through expert tuition, regular rehearsals and inspiring performance opportunities, pupils will develop musical excellence, confidence and a lifelong love of singing.
  • The programme combines excellent music-making with the great traditions of a school founded in 1888, thereby creating a
    distinctive pathway for young musicians.

BENEFITS AS A CHORISTER:

  • Individual singing lessons
  • Music theory teaching
  • Piano lessons and a second instrument
  • Regular choir rehearsals and performances
  • Recording and broadcast opportunities
  • Regular international tours, with the first scheduled for December 2027
  • Pupils will work with leading musicians and will have the opportunity to learn from Dr Andrew Lumsden, one of the most
    respected cathedral musicians in the country

Dr Andrew Lumsden

A middle-aged man in a suit and blue tie stands indoors, smiling. The blurred background reveals religious icon paintings and architectural details, hinting at a setting like St John's Beaumont School or the Schola Cantorum.

Dr Lumsden served as Director of Music at Winchester Cathedral from 2002 to 2024, where he led one of the finest Cathedral Choirs in the world. Educated at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and an Organ Scholar at St John’s College, Cambridge, he previously served at Westminster Abbey, Lichfield Cathedral and Southwark Cathedral.

During his time at Winchester, the choristers performed at the BBC Proms with the Berlin Philharmonic under Sir Simon Rattle, sang at Papal Masses in St Peter’s Square, and recorded award-winning albums, including a Gramophone Editor’s Choice. In 2024 he shared in a Grammy Award for the soundtrack of a Star Wars video game.

An internationally renowned recitalist and choir trainer, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University of Winchester in 2023 for services to music.

As a former Cathedral Chorister and Lay Clerk, I have benefited enormously from my own choral upbringing and have seen first-hand how transformational world-class musical training can be. Such experiences can be life-changing, not only in terms of academic achievement but, more importantly, in the way children grow socially and emotionally. As Head Master-Elect of St John’s Beaumont, I am deeply passionate about our exceptional school and warmly welcome applications from boys and girls currently at the school as well as those from other schools, whether independent or state-maintained. Having led schools in both the state-maintained and independent sectors, I am particularly proud that The Schola Cantorum will be open to all young singers to audition.
Head Master-Elect, Mr Andrew De Silva

Future Musical Pathways

Choral training at a young age builds musical excellence, confidence, discipline and teamwork. With the high level of training, we envisage members of the Schola Cantorum to gain music scholarships to leading senior schools. St John’s Beaumont already has an enviable reputation for sending children to some of the leading schools in the country, but also prides itself on sending children to the right school for them. With Mr De Silva’s extensive knowledge of senior schools, we would expect this to be the same for both girls and boys.

How to Apply

Families interested in the Schola Cantorum are invited to register their interest with the Admissions Office.

Auditions will take place in April, and places will be confirmed shortly afterwards.

For further information, please read the brochure below and complete the application form here:

application form

terms & conditions

 

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