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The Quiristers are
Choristers of a special
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William of Wykeham, Bishop of Winchester
and twice Chancellor of England founded Winchester College in 1382.
His statutes make provision for sixteen Quiristers to sing at the
Chapel services, and this precious inheritance is still maintained
by the College today. Winchester, with its 600 year-old Choral Foundation,
is unlike any other school in the country.
For centuries the Quiristers existed as a small school of their own
within the College. Since 1966, however, they have been educated a
stone's throw away at the Pilgrims' School, where the College provides
scholarships for them worth half the full boarding fee. The old Quirister
School is now their boarding house. The Quiristers perform their musical
duties in the College: at Pilgrims' they are given an excellent all
round education, benefiting from high academic standards and joining
in all school sports and activities.
A Quirister's routine is more varied than that of most choristers.
The tradition of worship in the medieval College Chapel involves regular
choral services and a great range of church music. Winchester College
Chapel Choir has broadcast frequently and made several highly praised
recordings; senior College boys, many with experiences as former choristers
or Quiristers, provide the lower voices in the Choir. But because
the College does not hold Choral Evensong daily, the Quiristers also
find time to sing as a concert choir with a wide secular repertoire
that adds a special dimension to their work. Sunday morning, with
its hymns and anthems, can be preceded by a Saturday evening recital
with a programme that ranges from classical Lieder to popular music.
The Quiristers regularly broadcast on BBC Radio, have made several
CD recordings, and have in recent years toured the USA, Germany, the
Czech Republic, Scotland and Canada. In addition, the boys play an important part in the
College Choral Society, and appear on stage in College operatic productions.
Quiristers are usually required to sing during term time only: they
can spend Christmas and Easter with their families.
Each Quirister learns two musical instruments. Practice is timetabled
and supervised. Many Quiristers win instrumental awards or academic
scholarships to help with their secondary education.
Being a Winchester College Quirister is demanding and enjoyable. A
Quiristership provides a particularly broad musical training, and
teaches confidence, teamwork and high performance standards. It offers
a unique opportunity for a boy with musical gifts.
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