St Margaret's Choristers

St Margaret’s Choristers is our choir for girls aged 11-17. The 24 girls in the choir come together at St Margaret’s three times a week to rehearse and sing at the weekly 6pm Sunday service in the church. The choir sings the majority of its services with the professional lower voices of the St Margaret’s Consort, but also sings as an ensemble in its own right.

About the choir

There are 20 full choristers and 4 junior choristers in the choir. Girls enter the choir at the start of Year 7 and spend a year as junior choristers before progressing to the full choir at the start of Year 8. They then spend 5 years in the choir and leave at the end of Year 12. The choir is directed by Greg Morris, the Director of Music at St Margaret’s Church.

Applications Open

We are now recruiting our newest choristers who will begin in September 2025. If you would like to learn more about the St Margaret's Choristers of Westminster Abbey, how about attending an Experience Day this spring?

Photograph focusing on one side of St Margaret's Choristers, wearing red robes, singing in St Margaret's Church, Westminster Abbey

St Margaret's Chorister Experience Day

Sunday, 23 March from 2:30pm-4:30pm.

Learn more
St Margaret's Chorister Experience Day

St Margaret's Chorister Experience Day

Sunday, 27 April from 2:30pm-4:30pm.

Learn more
Join the choir

Join the choir

We are looking for girls with musical potential who will give a strong commitment to the weekly schedule. The choir is open to girls from any school or background, and no previous experience of singing in a choir is necessary.

How to apply

We recruit four new Junior Choristers each year (when girls are in Year 6) to join from the following September.

We are currently recruiting for:

  • Four new Junior Choristers, girls currently in Year 6, to join in Year 7 from September. 
  • One girl currently in Year 9, to join in Year 10 from September
  • One girl currently in Year 11, to join in Year 12 from September
The Choristers of St Margaret's rehearsal

Roles and duties

The Choristers sing weekly for the Sunday evening 6:00pm service in St Margaret’s Church, as well as regular Wednesday Evensong services in the Abbey.

There are a small number of additional services such as at Christmas and Easter. Other musical projects such as concerts, recordings and tours will be introduced as the choir develops.

Scholarship

On joining the full choir in Year 8, each chorister will receive a scholarship of £2,500 per annum:
  • £1,500 will be paid each year
  • the remaining £1,000 will be paid as a lump sum when a chorister leaves the choir at the end of Year 12. 
Free singing lessons (1:1 or 1:2) are provided during rehearsals, and choristers will have the opportunity to attend music theory classes after weekday rehearsals.
Apply Now

Apply Now

Download application forms below.

Year 7 application form

Year 10 application form

Year 12 application form

Applications are open till Saturday 31 May 25.

To learn what it feels like to sing with St Margaret's Choristers of Westminster Abbey, come along to one of our Chorister Experience Days: 23 March or 27 April.

For more information about applying to join in September 2025, or about our Chorister Experience Days, please email the Music Coordinator at [email protected]

In their own words

Hear from some of the current St Margaret's Choristers about their achievements, musicality and experiences.

Photograph of St Margaret's Choristers rehearsing, wearing red robes in St Margaret's Church, Westminster Abbey, looking from altar down the church

Our achievements

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Close-up photograph of a music score and a choristers hand holding a pencil

Our musicality

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Photograph focusing on one side of St Margaret's Choristers, wearing red robes, singing in St Margaret's Church, Westminster Abbey

Our experiences

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Patrons

The choir is supported by patrons from across the worlds of public service and the arts. They are:
  • Baroness (Floella) Benjamin
  • Baroness (Sue) Carr, Lady Chief Justice
  • Broadcaster Katie Derham
  • Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons
  • Baroness (Genista) McIntosh, Senior Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords 

Further information

While we only regularly recruit girls for Year 7 entry, it is possible that vacancies will arise occasionally in older year groups. If you would like to be placed on a waiting list to be told about such vacancies, please email the Music Coordinator.
If you have any further questions about the choir, please email the Music Coordinator at St Margaret’s, [email protected].

Safeguarding

We are dedicated to safeguarding children and adults at risk so they can visit, worship and grow safely in Christ. St Margaret’s Choristers and all its staff and volunteers will adhere to the safeguarding policy for Westminster Abbey and work together to keep each other safe.

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