Starting in the 2023/24 academic year, the University of Birmingham is set to introduce four new scholarships specifically for talented singers within its choral program. This initiative not only aims to provide these students with significant career development opportunities but also reinforces both the University’s and Birmingham’s reputation as hubs for choral music.

This year, the University’s Music Department is excited to share that Hannah Rowe, Molly Fry, Monty Charles, and Alex Dixon have been selected as the inaugural recipients of these scholarships. Throughout the academic year, they will have the chance to participate in Ex Cathedra projects under the guidance of Jeffrey Skidmore.

Founded in 1969, Ex Cathedra is a leading British choir based in Birmingham. Their website states they pride themselves on ‘performances of the best, the unfamiliar and the unexpected’, and say ‘nurturing talent is at the heart of [their] work’. The choral group is well known for championing new choral music, as well as ‘bringing new insights to choral masterpieces’.

‘We are so excited to begin this partnership with one of the UK’s leading choirs,’ commented UoB on X, formerly known as Twitter.

 This experience is expected to be highly beneficial for their vocal training and will also prepare them to meet professional standards, setting a solid foundation for their future careers and further education after completing their undergraduate studies.

This effort is supported by the University’s exceptional choral team, which includes world-renowned musicians such as Professor Simon Halsey CBE, Bob Chilcott, Julian Wilkins, and Mariana Rosas. Their expertise, combined with collaborations with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) and Ex Cathedra, contributes to a diverse choral scene at the University.

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