Supporting music at St George's

“To St George’s Chapel in the evening for one of the finest pieces of singing I have yet heard there; and the last for a bit.  I shall never mind going to war if I know that I am fighting that such institutions as St George’s may live, for they are England and epitomise the spirit of tradition and worship – the laying before God of the most perfect and beautiful singing that man can produce.  Just as much work and practice goes into each service even when no one is there but God.  There is nothing slip-shod or cheap there, and the result is inspiring and uplifting”.

Written by a young Lieutenant in the Grenadier Guards in the summer of 1943, before going off to fight in WWII. He died in Italy, aged just twenty-one – taken from the Friends 1949 Annual Report.

The Choir of St George’s Chapel has sung services at St George’s since the foundation of the College of St George in 1348. Continuing in the English Choral tradition, the Choir consists of up to 24 boy choristers, educated at St George’s School, and 12 Lay Clerks – professional singing men who live at Windsor Castle with their families.

As well as singing daily at Evensong during the days of the College term (except Wednesdays), the Choir also sings at the Sunday Mattins and Eucharist services as well as numerous special services as part of the liturgical calendar year.

They sing regularly in front of Her Majesty The Queen and other members of the Royal Family and take part in special services throughout the year, like St George’s Day in April and Garter Day in June, as well as Royal christenings, weddings and funerals, when these take place at St George’s.

For all general enquiries about the music in St George's Chapel, please email music@stgeorges-windsor.org

The Choral Endowment

Mantaining a choir of this size to the standard demanded of a national institution like St George’s takes considerable expertise, time and resources – from the recruitment, training and education of choristers to the provision of accommodation for Lay Clerks and the purchase of music and robes.

One of the ways of meeting this requirement is with a Choral Endowment Fund. This will help not only to meet the current need, but help to secure the future of the Choir of St George’s Chapel in the longer term. With the English Choral tradition under threat, this need is greater than ever.

To find out more about the Choral Endowment or to make a donation, please contact us.

Chorister Bursaries

The Dean and Canons of Windsor currently offer all choristers part bursaries for tuition and 100% for boarding at St George’s School.

The choristers, aged between 7 and 13, attend St George's School, and receive generous bursaries from the Dean and Canons of Windsor. They rehearse each morning from 8.15 a.m. - 9.15 a.m. before the beginning of the school day, and then come up the hill again to sing the service with the Lay Clerks. The Lay Clerks are selected by audition, and are professionally trained singers in their own right.

Currently there are two 100% choristerships available at St George's which have been provided by anonymous benefaction. These provide full boarding and tuition over the five years of a chorister's education. The Dean and Canons contribute 50% of the tuition and boarding fees for the other 21 boys, with the boys' parents making up the remainder. In these difficult economic times donations and contributions have decreased. We have an urgent need for funding to enable the Dean and Canons to continue funding choristers so that they have the opportunity to recieve both a first-class education and experience the joys and privilege of taking part in the heritage of the choral tradition at Windsor Castle. Such is their commitment to funding the Choir, in 2007 the Dean and Chapter Clerk donned boots and walked 250 miles across the UK to raise funding for them.

Cost of choristership for the Dean and Canons is approximately £11,000 per annum per chorister.

To find out more about helping to support Chorister Bursaries, please contact us.

Other ways to get involved

Become a chorister
St George’s is always looking to recruit new choristers, if you would like to find out more, please click here.

Purchase music sung by the Choir of St George’s Chapel

Sponsorship
The Choir of St George’s Chapel takes part in a series of concerts both at St George’s Chapel and internationally each year. There is also a recording programme of compact discs of the Choir’s music. If you would like to find out about sponsorship opportunities in either of these areas, please contact us.