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Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
If you’re considering applying to Chetham’s, help and advice is available along the way to ensure that you make a decision that is right for you and your child.
We welcome applications and hold auditions throughout the academic year, but we encourage you to apply early, ideally before Christmas, for a place the following September. This timescale will give you plenty of time to prepare for a change of school, and to work on aspects of your playing between your first and second auditions if required.
We also offer Advice Auditions all year round for musicians who would like professional feedback on their playing and musical ability, but have not yet decided whether they plan to apply for a place at Chetham’s.
Please address any admissions enquiries to Alice Herbert, Auditions Administrator, on 07918 078 609* or email us.
*(Please note this is a temporary number which is in use only during the Covid-19 school site closure.)
Explore our website
Take a look around our site to find out more about the School, our staff and students, and the events and projects coming up soon
Download a prospectus
Download a Chetham’s prospectus, giving you more information about the School and its departments
Attend an Open Day
Main Open Days are held twice a year, in October and January, with shorter age-specific sessions during the summer term. They’re a great chance to meet current staff and students, observe lessons and rehearsals, and explore the School site. Manchester Cathedral also arranges regular ‘Be A Chorister For A Day’ events for young singers aged 7-11
Book an advice audition
We are happy to offer pre-application advice and guidance about the suitability of making an application to the school. If you feel this would be helpful please send an email to Alice Herbert, with YouTube links to video recordings of at least 2 pieces on your principal study instrument and at least one piece on any subsidiary instruments, as well as scales/arpeggios on the principal study that reflect the level of repertoire presented. We would also ask you to begin the video/s with a short, spoken introduction of yourself and the pieces you are going to present.
When you send the video links, please also include the following information about the person whose performances we will be assessing:
• Full name and date of birth
• Length of time learning each instrument, details of any exams taken, regularity of lessons
• Information about musical activities he/she participates in – ensembles, choirs, etc.
• Your postal address, or which area you live in.
There is a standard charge of £25 for advice auditions. However, if this cost presents a barrier to your accessing our advice, please let us know as we may be able to help.
Funding
Your family will also be asked to provide their income details to the Bursar who will then calculate what their annual contribution to the fees will be.
New students' day
In June each year, students starting at Chetham’s the following September will be invited to a New Students’ Day. This takes place on a Saturday and is a chance for you and your family to meet staff and students, find your way around Chetham’s, and for us to begin getting to know you so we can match you to a teacher, an accompanist, and if you’re boarding, to your roommates.
Starting at Chetham's
Around 60 new students join Chetham’s every September – that means that one in every five students will be new, so you certainly won’t feel alone!
There will be a lot of information to take in and new people to meet, but staff and older students will always be around to help you out. After just three weeks you’ll have your first free weekend, giving you chance to go home and tell your family all about your experiences – and once you’ve been part of your first Music Course in October, you’ll feel like you’re fully immersed in the Chetham’s family.
