Auditions for Choral Scholarships (2024-25) and voluntary vacancies
Applications for Choral Scholars (24-25) are now closed but please take a look at this page for further information on joining as a voluntary member. We are always happy to hear prospective members.

St Matthew’s and its Music

 

St Matthew’s, Kensington Olympia is a vibrant church in the Anglo-Catholic tradition, with a proud musical heritage rooted in the performance of plainchant and polyphony. In 2020, a new Music Foundation was established to serve the needs of the church’s liturgies and to make our building more accessible to the local community through concerts and other events. There are currently four choirs under within the Foundation: the Schola Cantorum, an auditioned ensemble of 10-12 singers, which sings the Sunday liturgy and Feasts throughout the year; the Olympia Singers, a larger ensemble, which focuses on concert work both at St Matthew’s and further afield; the Youth Choir, which provides singing opportunities for boys and girls between the ages of 11 and 17; and Aves Cantates, a non-auditioned community choir open to adults.

 

Our Schola Cantorum enjoys a close relationship with the choirs of St Luke’s, Chelsea and All Saints’, Fulham and combines termly for Evensong or Vespers. The London Three Choirs also tour to other parts of the UK and have recently performed Faure’s Requiem in Bristol and David Goode’s Blitz Requiem at the Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford. Our Music Foundation frequently provides musicians for other churches under the care of the Bishop of Fulham, singing at Patronal Festivals, carol services and other liturgies at these partner churches.

 

The Music Foundation is led by our Director of Music, Tom Williams (founder/director of The Erebus Ensemble and former Choral Director at St Martin-in-the-Fields), who is assisted by our Organist, James Furniss-Roe (Southwell Minster and Royal Holloway University).

 

Schola Cantorum Vacancies (voluntary)

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The majority of the Schola Cantorum is made up of auditioned voluntary singers with a background in singing to the highest standard. We encourage applications from singers in all voice parts.  Current members have previously held scholarships at the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge, Nottingham and Exeter, and the Cathedrals of Bristol and Guildford. 

• Schola members have strong sight-reading ability and are confident holding their own line singing in a small ensemble

• Repertoire is broad, but heavily rooted in Renaissance polyphony

• The Schola provides a lively social group and community in West London

• The Schola commitment is a Sunday morning rehearsal followed by Mass (10am for 11.15am) plus other services throughout the year – e.g Advent Procession, Christmas Carol services, Lent, Holy Week and Easter liturgies

• The Schola combines with our larger ensemble, The Olympia Singers for concert work throughout the year. In recent times it has performed  at the Clifton International Music Festival in Bristol, Lambeth Palace Library and the Fitzrovia Chapel

• The Schola has released a CD of Christmas music, and has plans to record music from the Lambeth Palace Library Collection later this year

 

Choral Scholarships for 2024-25

 

Our Choral Scholarship initiative is designed for students or recent graduates looking to develop their choral and solo singing in a professional capacity. Scholars will experience a wide variety of musical styles, ranging from plainchant and polyphony through to contemporary works.

 

Choral Scholars will join with the Schola Cantorum to sing at the Sunday morning mass (10am rehearsal for 11.15am), and at the once termly Three Choirs Evensong or Vespers service. Scholars will also be expected to sing for the major Feasts of the liturgical year (see list below). There will be an element of flexibility in the schedule with possibilities for time off during the choir term but scholars must complete no fewer than 36 liturgies across the scholarship. The specific commitment of each Scholar will be agreed with the Director of Music at the start of each term. There may be occasional commitments at other churches but these may be sung in lieu of Sunday morning duties at St Matthew’s or subject to further remuneration.

 

Scholars are welcome to put on solo recitals at church in preparation for forthcoming exams or performances, and may use the building to rehearse, subject to availability and the agreement of the Parish Priest.

 

In addition to the regular Sunday morning commitment, Choral Scholars must sing at the following Feasts or events across the 2024-25 year:

 

Autumn Term

Saturday 21st September - A Choral Celebration of Holst and Stanford (2pm for 6.30pm)

Friday 8th November - All Souls’ Requiem (6.30pm for 7.30pm)

Sunday 1st December - Advent Procession (2.45pm for 5pm)

Sunday 15th December - Nine Lessons and Carols (2.45pm for 5pm)

 

Spring Term

Wednesday 5th March - Ash Wednesday (6.15pm for 7.30pm)

Thursday 17th April - Maundy Thursday (6.45pm for 8pm)

Friday 18th April - Good Friday (10.30am for 12 noon)

Saturday 19th April - Vigil Mass (6.30pm for 8pm)

Sunday 20th April - Easter Day (10am for 11.15am)

 

Summer Term

Thursday 29th May - Ascension (6.30pm for 7.30pm)

 

Honorarium

 

Choral scholars will receive £1500 per annum, paid in three equal installments in December, March and July. Scholars may use the church for private practice or small rehearsals with fellow musicians free of charge, with the prior agreement of the Priest-in-Charge and Director of Music.

 

Applying

 

Please send your CV and a short covering letter (by email) outlining your suitability for the scholarship to the Director of Music: tom.williams@stmatthew-w14.co.uk

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Deadline - Monday 2nd September 2024 (auditions will likely be during this week)