Temple Church wishes to give talented and gifted young female singers, who are thinking of pursuing a career in music, the opportunity to be led and supported through the experience of working in a professional environment.

This opportunity is open to female sopranos or contraltos who have begun and not yet finished secondary education, or who have recently finished secondary education but have not yet begun tertiary education (i.e. a ‘gap year’). We are looking for outstanding singing and a high level of musicianship.

The individual(s) will sing regularly as part of our adult choir, the Temple Singers, made up of professional singers, all of whom have flourishing freelance careers across different areas of music (opera, consort, solo careers and teaching). They regularly sing services on Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings. Additionally, they sing at memorial services, weddings and occasional concerts.

For the academic year 2022/23 we are looking to appoint four choral scholars, and welcome applications from both sopranos and contraltos.

Value of Scholarship

The total amount of each scholarship will be £7,500. The expenditure of this scholarship will be tailored to fit the individual, in consultation with the Music Department of Temple Church. The scholarship will cover individual singing lessons (taking place in-house at Temple Church), the services of a mentor, and may also be used to cover other music-related expenses (contribution towards school fees, other music tuition, costs of sessions with accompanists, language coaching, master classes, books and scores, making audition recordings, application fees for further study, travel expenses etc).

Person Specification

Essential:

  • In secondary/sixth form education (Year 12 or 13) OR in a gap year between school and university as at the beginning of the academic year 2022/23. For those on a gap year, they must be aged under 20 as at 31.8.23
  • Able to travel into central London easily to fulfil the duties outlined below. (Some of the scholarship allowance may be used to cover travel expenses)
  • Available on Tuesday evenings (for singing lessons and mentoring), Wednesday evenings, Sunday mornings and occasional additional evenings and Saturdays (see ‘Duties’ below)
  • A developed musical understanding with the ability to be self-sufficient with the learning of the repertoire
  • An ability to read music to a high level of competence
  • Good general standard of musical education
  • Enthusiastic, dedicated and highly-motivated
  • Comfortable with the concept of singing in a small ensemble, sometimes one to a part

Desirable:

  • Experience of singing in ensembles
  • Experience of the Anglican liturgy and repertoire

Duties

Typical weekly schedule:

  • Singing lessons and mentoring sessions on Tuesday evenings in term time (timings flexible to fit around school finishing times)
  • Evensong on most Wednesday evenings in term time – 4.45 pm for 6.00 pm service, finishing by 7.00 pm
  • One or two Sunday services per month in term time – 9.45 am rehearsal for 11.15 am service
  • Tues/Weds/Thurs evenings – occasional memorial services (4.30 pm rehearsal for 6.00 pm service, finishing by 7.15pm)
  • Saturday weddings (times vary)

Participation in memorial services and weddings will be on a voluntary basis, according to each choral scholar’s availability and their other commitments.

The closing date is 9am on Monday 23 May

We plan to hold the auditions in person at Temple Church on Saturday 18 June.

For an informal conversation about the scholarship, please contact: Susan Keeling, Music Administrator at susan@templechurch.com or Tel: 020 7427 5650.

For more information and an application pack please click here.