The Schola Cantorum are the girl choristers of King’s College School. Founded in September 2020, they sing services and concerts in Cambridge and further afield. Recent venues include the University chapels of King’s, Emmanuel, Corpus Christi, Magdalene and Queens’. They have also sung in the cathedrals of Winchester, Peterborough, St Edmundsbury and Chelmsford, at Ipswich Minster, St Bride’s Church in Fleet Street, St George’s Church in Hanover Square, The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in London and at Winchester, Uppingham and Lancing College Chapels. At the end of last term they joined with the City of London Choir and the Hanover Band to perform J.S. Bach’s St Matthew Passion in Cadogan Hall in London. They have also broadcast the annual Civic Act of Remembrance on local radio on several occasions.
Over recent years the school has undertaken an exciting reimagining of the school day, which has afforded the opportunity for pupils at King’s to pursue a number of specialist study and enrichment programmes, including choral training.
The Schola Cantorum have timetabled rehearsals just before lunch on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Once they reach Year 6 the Schola Cantorum becomes their specialist choice as part of the Cresco division lesson.
As they progress through the school, members of the Schola Cantorum also have the opportunity to participate in the School’s specialist music training programme on Monday afternoons, that includes (for instrumental players) ensemble and orchestra rehearsals, alongside small group tuition of music theory and composition. The girls are then also members of the School Choir from the end of Year 5 onwards.
In addition to the significant investment in weekly training and performance opportunities, members of the Schola Cantorum also participate in masterclasses and choral workshops with other professionals in the field, as well as the opportunity to learn by watching and listening to other choirs rehearsing and performing. A programme of individual and small group singing lessons is also available.
There are not any regular weekend commitments, although from time to time the Schola Cantorum will accept invitations to sing in concerts and services which will take place during the weekend.
Members of the Schola Cantorum are awarded a small bursary from the start of Year 6, in recognition of their work and commitment. Each girl will be eligible for a bursary that is worth 50% of the fees for an individual weekly (term time) music lesson, to be taken with a music teacher in school, for one instrument, or for singing, in agreement with the Director of Music. They are also entitled to a 50% discount on flexi-boarding fees.
Auditioning
Parents of girls in Year 3 (or those interested in joining King’s in Year 4) will be advised each year of the process for registering interest for membership ahead of auditions, usually during the final term of Year 3. Current Year 3 girls are invited to contact the Director of Music (Mr James Randle, jrandle@kcs.cambs.sch.uk) before Easter 2026 to arrange an audition.
The next auditions will be held on 7 May 2026.
