Sing my Soul Choral Scholarships Open for Applications
The Diocese of Manchester Choral Scholarship is a programme of stimulating and educative choral training, working across churches in Manchester with the music team from St Martin-in-the-Fields, London.
“Having the opportunity to sing choral music on a regular basis has helped me develop my skills and confidence as a musician and has given me a feeling of security in my chosen career path”
Eibhlin, Choral Scholar from 2025-26
The Diocese of Manchester Choral Scholarship is 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 between 10 and 13 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 programme is led by Andrew Earis, Director of Music at St Martin-in-the-Fields, alongside Harry Mobbs, Choral Director for the Diocese of Manchester Choral Scholars.
The Choral Scholarship programme is part of a wider project called ‘Sing my Soul’, which aims to develop new music initiatives across a number of churches in the Diocese of Manchester, supported by the Church of England.
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. Previous Choral Scholars have progressed to sing regularly with such professional groups as Apollo5, St Martin’s Voices, The Mancunium Consort, Kantos Chamber Choir, The Monteverdi Choir and the BBC Singers.
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.
Term Dates
Autumn Wednesday 23rd September – Saturday 5th December 2026 (inclusive)
Spring Wednesday 20th January – Saturday 20th March 2027 (inclusive)
Summer Wednesday 14th April – Saturday 26th June 2027 (inclusive)
“The programme has been really rewarding in terms of the community outreach…and affirmed to me the power of ensemble music”
Daniel, Choral Scholar from 2025-26
Schedule
The regular focus of the scholarship is Wednesday evenings during term time, at St Paul’s Withington, from 5:45pm until 8:45pm. This includes services such as Compline and Evensong, alongside rehearsals.
Typical Wednesday Schedule
5.45 – 6.45pm rehearsal
7.00pm – Evensong (followed by refreshments)
8.15 – 8.45pm General rehearsal
In addition, the choral scholars will sing on some Saturdays, Sundays and other dates given in advance of the term, for concerts and special services in churches around the diocese.
Honorarium
Choral Scholars receive a remuneration of £900 per term, paid in instalments at the end of each term. Choral Scholars are allowed to be absent from one Wednesday (or other agreed date) per term with
no money deducted from their Choral Scholarship remuneration, providing this absence is agreed in advance in writing. If it is necessary to arrange any additional absences, these must be requested and agreed in writing as far ahead as possible. For any absences exceeding the allowance of one date per term, a deputy fee of £50 will be deducted from the Choral Scholarship remuneration at the end of term.
The Choral Scholarship will be tenable until the end of the summer term 2027. Throughout the scholarship period, you will be a scholar at Diocese of Manchester and not an employee. Nothing in this document is intended to create a relationship of employer and employee between you and the Diocese of Manchester or St Martin-in-the Fields.
Eligibility and requirements
Candidates for Choral Scholarships must be aged 18 and over and should have a confident singing voice and good standard of sight-singing ability. Enthusiasm for singing as a member of a team, together with a willingness to develop their musical talent, will be determining factors in the appointment of Choral Scholars. Applications are welcome from all singers at the beginning of their choral music careers, including current students, graduates and singers with an equivalent level of choral experience.
Our ambition is to work together to promote a more inclusive environment, which attracts all candidates and signals our commitment to celebrate and promote diversity. We particularly encourage applications from those who are currently underrepresented within choral music.
“I wanted to be singing as much as possible, and this was a great opportunity to meet like-minded singers and sing in places all around Manchester”
Clara, Choral Scholar from 2025-26
Applications
Please return the application form, along with a current CV, by email to Lorna Day, St Martin’s Music Partnerships Coordinator, at singmysoul@smitf.org
The deadline for applications is Tuesday 26th May 2026.
Auditions for shortlisted applicants will take place in-person in Manchester on Thursday 4th June and Friday 5th June.
Application Form