To learn more about any of these choir offerings and/or to audition, contact Organist/Choirmaster David Jernigan – djernigan@ccral.org.
Choristers
(Girls & boys with unchanged voices) grades 7-12
This year, the Christ Church Chorister program is accepting 8 girl choristers in grades 7-12 who will train to perform high-level classical music in the tradition of the world’s most famous choirs. In addition to singing a full year in the program, choristers will be eligible to take part in the choir’s 2023 tour to Westminster Abbey, St. George’s Windsor, and both cathedrals in Dublin, Ireland.
Choristers are selected through audition and participate in weekly rehearsals, singing regular services, and private instruction in music theory, sight-singing and voice, free of charge. Rehearsals take place on Sundays from 6:15 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. and on Tuesdays with dinner from 6 – 6:25 p.m. and rehearsal from 6:30 – 7:45. They sing (with the Lay Clerks) for the 9 a.m. service on 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month during the academic term as well as a few additional services like Lessons & Carols, Christmas Eve, and choral evensong.
Contact Director David Jernigan for more information, or click here to view the Chorister’s Handbook.
The Choristers & Lay Clerks at St. Paul’s Cathedral, London, where they were the resident choir for a week of services in August 2018. See/hear more from their 2018 tour to Notre Dame Paris & St. Paul’s London here (link).
Who are the Choristers & Lay Clerks?
A choir modeled in the English Cathedral tradition wherein children/youth sing the soprano part while professional adult musicians sing the alto, tenor, and bass parts. This allows children/youth to make music at a professional level.
Who are the Choristers?
Youth with treble voices in grades 7-12, who love to sing in choir with their friends. We also have a Training Choir, where children in grades 4-6, learn the basics of singing. While the Choristers & Lay Clerks are a choir of Christ Church, in Raleigh, membership in the choir does not require membership in the church.
How do I join the Choristers?
A simple audition wherein a youth must match pitch, repeat rhythms, and sing a prepared piece that can be as simple as “happy birthday.” Membership in the Choristers & Lay Clerks requires excellent commitment, a positive attitude, and a willingness to learn. To schedule an audition, or to find out more, contact David Jernigan.
“It was such a privilege to be able to sing in these prestigious places of worship, and become part of a legacy of music and prayer dating back centuries before our country was even founded.” -Nicole Arch, reflection on Chorister’s 2018 tour to France and England
How much does it cost?
Choristers pay with their time, not their money. While the program is free of charge (including private lessons and Tuesday night dinners) excellent commitment is required for the success of each chorister, and the choir. Choristers do not have to be members of Christ Church to participate.
The Training Choir
(Girls and Boys, Grades 4-6)
The Training Choir is the younger part of the Chorister program, where children in grades 4-6 learn the basics of singing and reading music. They enjoy peer mentoring from the older Choristers (grades 7-12), with whom they have weekly dinners on Tuesday nights.
This choir is primarily focused on teaching young children to read, understand and sing classical music at a pace appropriate for their age range, while building community with fellow Christians and Christ Church members. Rehearsals are on Tuesdays, from 4:45 -6pm (dinner from 6 – 6:25pm). The Training Choir sings on the third Sunday morning each month as well as at occasional other services throughout the year. Contact David Jernigan if you’re interested in learning more about The Training Choir.
Cherub Choir
(Kindergarten – 2nd Grade)
The Cherub Choir is a wonderful way for all K-2 students to make a joyful noise unto the Lord! Rehearsals are held on Wednesdays from 4:45 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. in the church. We sing in church monthly during the 9 a.m. service. No experience is required and no sign up is necessary. The Cherub Choir is directed by Caroline Braswell.