Music Scholarships
Instrumental, Choral & Piping
Music Scholarships
A thriving music department is at the heart of any successful school. Ampleforth epitomises this with our exceptional music scholars taking centre stage. They are the torchbearers for the high standards and commitment that enable us to produce music of the highest calibre in the concert hall, on tours, and in our many duties in the Abbey church. Our primary aim is for all our students to leave Ampleforth with a lifelong love of music whether that grew out of singing hymns at Sunday Mass or performing in a musical, playing a concerto or being part of a student band.
Edward Seymour Director of Music
Music at Ampleforth
Music is a large and busy department with extensive facilities split over two buildings. The Old Music School is given over almost entirely to keyboard tuition and houses over a dozen high quality pianos, a twomanual harpsichord, and two pipe organs, as well as the rehearsal room for the College Schola (choir). The New Music School accommodates all other instrumental, vocal, and academic music teaching. There are 25 teaching rooms and two large performance halls.
Over 200 individual music lessons are taught each week by our Visiting Music Teachers. They travel from all over the UK to teach at Ampleforth and many balance this with work in the UK’s leading orchestras and music colleges. A broad range of instruments and styles are offered so we can draw in all musicians. There are many opportunities to share music and play in groups as well as perform in public. The College Orchestra and Pro Musica offer a wide range of classical programmes for full orchestra and chamber ensembles, while the Big Band, Ampleforth Highlanders, and a range of flexible chamber ensembles offer a mixed programme of styles for a broad range of abilities. We regularly host concerts as well as staging a major instrumental concert each term.
Choral music is of an extremely high standard and the College Schola maintains a demanding schedule of services and meditations throughout the year. They sing two masses each week in the Abbey and annual performances of Messiah and Faure’s Requiem, as well as tours and Carol services in London and Edinburgh. Over its 50-year history, the Schola has acquired a significant and impressive array of commissioned masses and motets from some of the most notable composers of the late 20th and early 21st century.
We want students to own their music making and we ensure the facilities and expertise are on offer to help them fulfil their own projects. Student bands are numerous and very popular and together they put on an annual SHAC ROCK performance to raise money for the College’s nominated charities.
Central to College life are the occasions where the whole community come together for assembly or mass and lift their voices in song. No one leaves Ampleforth having not been involved in music in some way and touched by this experience.
“I really enjoyed being a music scholar and all the opportunities that it brought and felt that I was making huge personal progress.”
Scholarship Programme
• Free individual tuition in chosen discipline (both disciplines for Basil Hume and Senior Scholars)
• Personal Scholarship Mentor to monitor and support progress, set objectives and report termly
• Termly instrumental reports
• Bespoke programme of rehearsals and tutorials in relevant ensembles
• 1:1 practice support
• Opportunities for concerto roles
• Masterclasses given by some of the finest musicians in the country
• Free attendance at concerts throughout the year
• External concerts as both participants and audience and tours
• Support and help with preparation for applications for the next developmental stage of Scholarships and/or for competitive higher education institutions
• Access to support and careers guidance from a wide network of alumni and staff in the relevant field
• Regular music scholar socials
• Scholars to log their progress and achievements
Could you become a Music Scholar?
In all cases we look for interest and potential. No Music Scholars come as the ‘finished article’ and we aim to identify and nurture passion and skill. The individual tuition, personal mentoring, and many opportunities on offer, enable our music scholars to go from excellent to outstanding.
Throughout the year the Director of Music welcomes anyone interested in a scholarship to come to Ampleforth for an informal audition where they will be given personal feedback and advice on further preparations for their scholarship audition.
“The help that was available in preparing for exams or concerts was fantastic.”
Could you become an Instrumental Scholar?
11+ Development Award
Instrumental candidates should be at least Grade 3 standard. Recipients who play one instrument are encouraged to take up an additional instrument during Years 7 and 8 on which the Director of Music will advise.
16+ Senior Scholarship
13+ Basil Hume Scholarship
Instrumental scholarships are available for talented musicians who play to a standard of Grade 5. Recipients who play one instrument are expected to take up a second as advised by the Director of Music.
Senior Music Scholarships are available for exceptional and gifted musicians. Instrumentalists should be a minimum of Grade 7 on first study and minimum Grade 3 on second study.
Assessment
Assessment for all music awards and scholarships is by audition and interview and takes place at Ampleforth. The audition comprises:
Instrumental
• Two contrasting pieces at the appropriate level
• Sight reading tasks at the appropriate level
• Scales and Arpeggios at the appropriate level
• 11+ and 13+ candidates who play a second instrument are welcome to prepare an additional piece on this instrument
• 16+ candidates should play one piece on second study instrument (minimum grade 3 standard)
• A general interview to understand experience, aspirations, general interest etc.
Every year we run a series of events for families to learn more about scholarships and development awards as well as taster days for students. Please contact Admissions to find out more: admissions@ampleforth.org.uk.
“Choral
Scholars are confident, musical singers who perform a critical role in leading choral singing at Ampleforth”
Could you become a Choral Scholar?
11+ Development Award
Candidates for a Choral Scholarship should demonstrate strong vocal ability and a foundational understanding of music theory. The audition will include:
• Sight reading exercises
• Aural tests
• Prepared piece performance
• Music theory test to understand knowledge of pitch and rhythmic notation (11+)
• A general interview to understand experience, aspirations, general interest etc.
16+ Senior Scholarship
13+ Basil Hume Scholarship
Candidates for a Choral Scholarship should demonstrate a strong musical foundation, ideally singing to a Grade 5 standard or equivalent. The audition will include:
• Performance of two contrasting pieces to showcase vocal range and musicality
• Aural tests
• Sight reading exercise
• Music theory test to understand knowledge of pitch and rhythmic notation (13+)
• A general interview to understand experience, aspirations, general interest etc.
Senior Music Scholarships are available for exceptional and gifted musicians. Candidates for a choral scholarship should be Grade 7 or equivalent in singing.
• Two contrasting pieces at the appropriate level (13+ and 16+)
• Sight reading tasks in both solo music and music within a choral context
• Aural tests at the appropriate level
• A general interview to understand experience, aspirations, general interest etc.
Assessment
Assessment for all music awards and scholarships is by audition and interview and takes place at Ampleforth.
Every year we run a series of events for families to learn more about scholarships and development awards as well as taster days for students. Please contact Admissions to find out more: admissions@ampleforth.org.uk.
“Highland Piping and Drumming is an important and highly valued part of our music provision.”
Could you become a Piping Scholar?
13+ Basil Hume Scholarship
For 13+ applicants, auditions assess performance and technical understanding. Candidates must play a memorised slow air and/or march on practice chanter or bagpipes, demonstrating appropriate ornamentation. They’ll also perform essential techniques like Throws, Grips, Tariluaths, and Tachums, along with monotone exercises in simple and compound time.
Assessment
16+ Senior Scholarship
16+ candidates must show advanced musicianship and instrumental competency. This includes fluent and musical bagpipe playing, a secure understanding of piping theory, and the ability to tune and perform basic instrument maintenance. A specific prepared piece, sent in advance, will also be required.
Assessment for all music awards and scholarships is by audition and interview and takes place at Ampleforth. The audition comprises:
13+ Assessment
• Performance piece of Slow Air (in 3/4 time) and/or a March (in 4/4, 6/8, or 9/8 time) performed on either the practice chanter or bagpipes. The performance should showcase appropriate ornamentation for the chosen tune and the candidate’s skill level.
• Demonstration of piping techniques, including Throws, Grips, Tariluaths and Tachums.
• Performance of monotone exercises in simple and compound time.
16+ Assessment
• Play the bagpipes with a high degree of fluency and musicality
• Exhibit a secure understanding of piping theory
• A performance of a specific piece sent to candidates in advance of the audition.
• Demonstrate the ability to tune the instrument effectively and perform basic maintenance tasks
The Director of Music and Senior Pipe Major are very happy to hear from younger players who may be interested in an award at 11+ entry.
Every year we run a series of events for families to learn more about scholarships and development awards as well as taster days for students. Please contact Admissions to find out more: admissions@ampleforth.org.uk.
Expectations of our Scholars
Scholars are expected to demonstrate a high standard of musicianship and show exemplary commitment to their bespoke programme of practice and performance as outlined by the Director of Music. Senior Scholars are expected to be role models and active leaders to younger musicians in the College and elsewhere. They will be called upon regularly to demonstrate the excellent calibre of music at Ampleforth both within the College and on external visits and tours. They should also maintain a record of all their achievements and progress as Music Scholars. Scholarships are reviewed annually and may be removed if a scholar does not participate fully in the programme or meet expectations.
Music Scholar Alumni
Many of our music scholars have been awarded scholarships at prestigious universities and music colleges including most recently The Queen’s College, Oxford (Choral award) and King’s College, Jesus College, Cambridge (Organ Scholarship) and also at UK Cathedrals including York Minster, Truro, Hereford, and Portsmouth. Many have gone on to pursue careers as musicians. Former music scholars have had compositions commissioned and premiered by BBC Radio 3, are singing and playing professionally in UK choirs and orchestras, and hold positions within the recording and broadcasting industries.
Bursaries
Those in need of financial support, are encouraged to apply for means-tested bursaries. The award of a scholarship is a very strong indicator of a student who is likely to flourish at Ampleforth, and it can be extremely helpful in supporting a bursary application.
For further information about Music Scholarships, please contact Edward Seymour, Director of Music: eos@ampleforth.org.uk
For general information about scholarships or the assessment process, please contact the Admissions Office:
admissions@ampleforth.org.uk or 01439 766000
Ampleforth education is
Co-educational Catholic boarding and day school for Years 7 to 13
Ampleforth College, York, YO62 4ER 01439 766000 admissions@ampleforth.org.uk www.ampleforthcollege.org.uk