An Opportunity for Girl Choristers to Sing Services at Oxford University Chapels

AN OPPORTUNITY FOR GIRL CHORISTERS TO SING SERVICES AT OXFORD UNIVERSITY CHAPELS

Frideswide Voices is a girls’ choir with up to 24 choristers. The choir has been established under the auspices of The Frideswide Foundation, a charitable trust which seeks to promote opportunities for girls, aged between 7 and 14, to sing within the liturgy in Oxford College Chapels

Frideswide Voices is based principally at Worcester College but also contributes to worship in other chapels such as those of Christ Church, Magdalen, New, Oriel St Peter’s and The Queen’s Colleges.

THE FRIDESWIDE FOUNDATION Registered Charity Number 1165171

[email protected] www.frideswidevoices.co.uk

DIRECTOR OF MUSIC: WILL DAWES www.willdawes.co.uk FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 What will an audition for Frideswide Voices entail? After some vocal warm-ups, candidates will be asked to sing a short prepared piece of their choice (this may be sacred or secular, accompanied or unaccompanied). Some simple aural tests will then be given (e.g. singing or clapping back a phrase played on the piano). Girls may be tested on basic sight-reading, as appropriate to their age and experience. The audition will last up to ten minutes. If presenting an accompanied piece, please provide an extra copy of the music.

 Do singers need to be able to read music to join Frideswide Voices? No. Some girls will have no previous experience of reading music. Those who are keen and committed and have a good musical ear and a reasonable vocal range will be considered for the choir. Training in musicianship and sight-singing will be given.

 What do Frideswide Voices choristers wear? Full choristers wear a purple cassock with a necker and surplice (provided), and black shoes. Probationers wear cassock and necker only; pre-probationers wear school uniform or white shirt and dark trousers for services. For rehearsals there is no dress code.

 How much does it cost to become a member of Frideswide Voices? The termly subscription is currently £50 per chorister, plus a £10 joining fee. From September 2016 the termly subscription will be £75 per term, for two sessions per week.

 What if my child cannot attend a rehearsal? If a chorister is unwell and needs to miss a session, a committee member must be contacted via the FV email address to explain her absence. If a rehearsal is missed, the chorister may not be able to sing in the next service, but will be required to attend. Full commitment to the choir is essential.

 Which days of the week does the choir meet on? Frideswide Voices currently meets on Mondays, with very occasional extra evening commitments (for exceptional services or concerts). From September 2016, this will increase to Mondays (4.30-6.30pm) and Wednesdays (4.30-7pm). The choir will sing a weekly Evensong which will usually be on Wednesdays.

 How will rehearsals be structured? The Monday rehearsal session will include a 30-minute Music Theory lesson, taught in small, differentiated groups. There will be a short break for drinks, biscuits and fruit in the middle of the session. On Wednesdays a snack of sandwiches and fruit will be offered at 4.30, after which the session begins promptly at 4.45. This rehearsal will focus on preparation for the Evensong service. There will be a drinks break to provide time for vocal rest. One-to-one singing coaching will be offered on Mondays or Wednesdays.

 How are the Pre-probationers’ sessions structured? Pre-probationers (Year 3) follow a separate schedule, adapted to their needs. These sessions are typically shorter during the Michaelmas Term. Music Theory is included in most sessions. The Pre-probationers are introduced progressively into the full choir rehearsals and steadily increase their contributions to services.  What about practical arrangements (e.g. times/dates/venues, parking arrangements, etc.)? The Term Card and termly newsletter give details of rehearsal times, venues, emergency contact numbers, etc. Parents and carers of choristers will also receive regular email updates, and information will be posted on our website: www.frideswidevoices.com. At Worcester College, the dropping off point will be in the Fellows’ Car Park, where there will be adults on hand each week to welcome choristers for rehearsals, and to re-unite them with parents and carers at the end, to ensure their safety at all times. At other colleges the drop-off/meeting point will be the Porters’ Lodge.

 May I park in the Worcester College Fellows’ Car Park? No, the car park is reserved for Fellows of Worcester College. Apart from dropping off and collection, parents should not use the car park.

 What arrangements will be in place for my child’s pastoral care? Frideswide Voices acknowledges it has a responsibility for safeguarding children involved in all of its activity. It aims to provide a safe and secure environment in which children flourish and feel comfortable. Frideswide Voices accepts its duty of care to safeguard the welfare of all its members by committing to practices that protect them. Our safeguarding policy is available to view on our website: www.frideswidevoices.co.uk.

 Are parents and carers expected to attend evensong? All parents and carers are warmly welcomed (but not required) at services, as indeed are members of the university and the general public.

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR OF MUSIC

Will Dawes is an experienced conductor, who directs the Bath Choral Society, the Orlando Chamber Choir, Ensemble 45, Ludus Baroque, and the Choir of St Mary Magdalen, Oxford. A recent highlight was conducting the Eric Whitacre Singers in a recording of Fly to Paradise – the track for Virtual Choir 4, which reached number 1 in the iTunes classical chart in the UK, US and Canada. He also appeared as a guest conductor for Gareth Malone's TV series, Sing while you work 2.

He was a chorister at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, studied Music at the University of Edinburgh and then Choral Conducting and Voice at the Royal Academy of Music where he was awarded the Thomas Armstrong Prize for Choral Direction.

Will is active as a consort singer and is a member of the internationally acclaimed and multiple-Grammy-nominated vocal ensemble Stile Antico. The group performs all over the globe, so far including concerts at the Wigmore Hall, Cadogan Hall (BBC Proms), the USA, Mexico, Portugal, Estonia and Canada. He has also appeared as part of the Gabrieli Consort, Collegium Vocale Gent and Polyphony. FORTHCOMING EVENTS

HILARY TERM 2016 Monday 7 March Rehearsal 4.30 – 7pm Worcester College Monday 14 March Rehearsal 4.30pm Evensong – St Peter’s College 6.15pm

TRINITY TERM 2016 Monday 18 April Rehearsal 4.30pm – 7pm Worcester College Monday 25 April Rehearsal 4.30pm Evensong – Worcester College 6.15pm

Monday 2 May Rehearsal 4.30pm Evensong – Christ Church 6.05pm Thursday 5 May Rehearsal 4.30pm Evensong for Ascension Day – St Peter’s College 6.15pm Saturday 7 May Auditions from 10am Worcester College Monday 9 May Rehearsal 4.30pm – 7pm Worcester College Saturday 14 May End of Year Outing Monday 16 May Rehearsal 4.30pm – 7pm Worcester College Wednesday 18 May Rehearsal 4.30pm Evensong – The Queen’s College 6.30pm Monday 23 May Rehearsal 4.30pm Evensong – Magdalen College 6pm Monday 30 May No Frideswide Voices (half-term) Monday 6 June Rehearsal 4.30pm – 7pm Worcester College Saturday 11 June Rehearsal 4.30pm Evensong – New College 6.15pm Monday 13 June Rehearsal 4.30pm – 7pm Worcester College

Monday 20 June Rehearsal 4.30pm Evensong – Worcester College 6.15pm End-of-year celebration from 7pm Monday 4 July Rehearsal 4.30 – 7pm Worcester College Wednesday 13 July Coach departs 12pm, Rehearsal 3.45 – 5pm Evensong – Salisbury Cathedral 5.30pm