Choral Scholarships
The St Martin-in-the-Fields Choral Scholarships are among the most stimulating and educative choral programmes available in London. The scheme is aimed at choral singers who are wishing to embark on a professional career in singing. The Choral Scholarships provide an opportunity for up to ten singers to enjoy an intensive, focused period of training with others of a similar standard and interests and are an integral part of an exciting choral music programme.
Alongside singing services, concerts and events at St Martin’s, exploring a huge range of repertoire from the Renaissance to the present day, choral scholars will receive regular opportunities for learning, including a series of workshops with members of staff at St Martin’s and external professional musicians.
Applications for 2026-27 have now closed. If you’re interested in applying for the 2027-28 scholarship, please email choirs@smitf.org and we’ll get in touch when applications open.
With thanks to The Arts Society, The Golsoncott Foundation, the Pilling Trust and donors to the St Martin-in-the-Fields Trust for supporting the 2025-26 Choral Scholarship programme at St Martin-in-the-Fields
Diocese of Manchester Choral Scholarships
The Diocese of Manchester Choral Scholarships offer a programme of stimulating and educative choral training, working across churches in Manchester with the music team from St Martin-in-the-Fields, London. The scheme is aimed at choral singers wishing to embark on a professional career in singing. The Choral Scholarships provide an opportunity for up to ten singers to enjoy an intensive, focused period of development alongside others of a similar standard and interests whilst building on a tradition of musical excellence in churches in the city centre and beyond.
The Choral Scholarship programme is part of a wider project called ‘Sing my Soul’, which aims to develop new music and faith initiatives in a number of churches in the Diocese of Manchester, supported by the Church of England Strategic Development Fund.
As well as their regular commitments, the Manchester Choral Scholars have sung for broadcasts of Choral Evensong on BBC Radio 3, taken part in Church of England online services for Christmas and the Platinum Jubilee, and participated in concerts in London and Manchester, including a collaboration with vocal ensemble I Fagiolini. They have taken part in workshops with choral leaders including Neil Ferris, Jamie Wright, Robert Hollingworth and Stuart Overington.
The 2026–27 Choral Scholars programme will be centred around Manchester’s student and academic district, with regular Wednesday evening services at St Paul’s Church, Withington, alongside performances at St Anselm Hall Chapel in Victoria Park and further afield at Oldham Parish Church, St Stephen’s Church, Audenshaw, and other churches across Manchester.
We are always looking to expand our deputy list in Manchester, so if you are interested please email your CV to lorna.day@smitf.org.
Applications for 2026-27 have now closed. If you’re interested in applying for the 2027-28 scholarship, please email choirs@smitf.org and we’ll get in touch when applications open.
Our music programmes are supported by generous donors, funders and members of the Music Patrons Circle. We are grateful to the following and those who have chosen to give their support anonymously.
Funders
- The Arts Society
- The Foundation for St Martin-in-the-Fields, London
- Lord and Lady Lurgan Trust
- The Pilling Trust Fund
- The Williams Church Music Trust
Legacies
- Mary and Bryn Walters and family
Music Patrons Circle
- Bernard and Phyllis Fisher
- Lady Sarah Riddell
- & Other Patrons
