As members of the Youth Choir gain experience, skills and musical knowledge they progress through the ribbon training scheme.

When choristers join the choir they have a trial period which lasts about a term. After that they are admitted as full members of the choir and receive their surplice (the white robe that all choir members wear) in a special short ceremony before a 9.30am service.

Ribbon training is a combination of work done in the normal course of singing in rehearsals and services, some homework and some individual tests. Each chorister is individually monitored through every level of training by an adult chorister and the Director of Music. Awards are (in ascending order)

  • Orange
  • Light Blue
  • Dark Blue
  • Bronze Award (green ribbon)
  • Silver Award (purple ribbon)

The first three levels are awarded within our choir and the training is based on that used by many church choirs from the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM).

Bronze and Silver awards are entirely the RSCM’s and require external examination. The Bronze award roughly equates to the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) grade 4 singing exam, and Silver is grade 6. So very worth while!

There are also two red ribbons – we use these for the two head cholisters. Head choristers are experienced singers who usually serve for twelve months and are appointed at the end of year concert in July.

Training materials – downloads

1 Orange Ribbon training cardDownload
2 Light Blue Ribbon training card. 2022docDownload
LightBlueWorkbook 2022Download
3 Dark Blue Ribbon training card 2023Download
3 Dark Blue Ribbon WorkbookDownload

Bronze and Silver award materials are here on the national RSCM website (scroll down to “Singing Awards”) – the church pays the fees.