Trinity Cathedral offers two types of choirs: Training choirs for the younger generation and adult choirs for those with musical experience. We strive to provide vibrant, substantial, and fun musical programs for all who show an interest in music and who can commit to our schedule. Our choirs are open to all people regardless of church membership, religious affiliation, or any other reason.
Why Join Our Choirs?
Our choirs offer great weekly instruction, including one-to-one weekly musicianship lessons focused on music theory, aural skills, and vocal technique. Join a team of encouraging people who will constantly strive for excellence and for the opportunity to sing music that spans hundreds of years, and a variety of cultures. The Choir provides an opportunity for subsidized choir retreats and tours, and choristers earn a small scholarship based on years of service. Beyond all of this, choristers learn important, transferable life skills such as citizenship, patience, self-discipline, ability to focus, and good humor.
Our program year begins in September. Information about start dates and placement auditions will be shared here and in the Tidings, our weekly newsletter. If you would like to join a choir during the year, please contact William Douglas for information and an audition.
Trinity Youth Chorus
The Trinity Youth Chorus is open to all children in grades 3 and higher who enjoy music and singing. This choir rehearses once a week and participates as scheduled at Sunday liturgies. Many of our current choristers have started their musical journey in the Trinity Youth Chorus.
Cathedral Choir of Boys
The Cathedral Choir of Boys is an accelerated choir for trebles (typically grades 3-8) who are drawn from all over Columbia and South Carolina. We offer an extensive music education for those in the Cathedral Choir of Boys. These choristers are supported by a team of professional adult musicians of altos, tenors, and basses, while the choristers sing the treble line. Additionally, the Cathedral Choir of Boys participates in special services, tours, recordings, and retreats.
- Who’s eligible: age 8 and up
- What is required for membership: previous musical training is not necessary. Choristers must be able to read printed English, to hear and match pitch, and to focus.
Cathedral Choir of Girls
The Cathedral Choir of Girls is an accelerated choir for trebles (typically grades 5 -12) who come from all over Columbia and South Carolina. We offer an extensive music education for those in the Cathedral Choir of Girls. These choristers are supported by a team of professional adult musicians of altos, tenors, and basses, while the choristers sing the treble line. Additionally, the Cathedral Choir of Girls participates in special services, tours, recordings, and retreats.
- Who’s eligible: grade 5 and above
- What is required for membership: previous musical training is not necessary. Choristers must be able to read printed English, to hear and match pitch, and to focus.
Cathedral Choir of Young Men
The Cathedral Choir of Young Men is an accelerated choir for people with changed voices and those who are drawn from all over Columbia and South Carolina. Many members of this choir have graduated from the Cathedral Choir of Boys, although this is not a requisite for participation. We offer an extensive music education for those in the Cathedral Choir of Young Men. These choristers will sing services in conjunction with the Cathedral Choir of Boys, as well as by themselves, supported by a team of professional adult musicians of altos, tenors, and basses. Additionally, the Cathedral Choir of Young Men participates in special services, tours, recordings, and retreats.
- Who’s eligible: people with changed voices in the alto, tenor, and bass range.
- What is required for membership: previous musical training is necessary, as this is not a “training” choir.
Cathedral Choir of Adults
This choir enjoys a reputation as one of the finest church choirs in the southeast, and sings a varied repertoire encompassing more than 800 years of music. The Cathedral Choir leads the music for the Sunday worship services in rotation with the Cathedral Choir of Boys and the Cathedral Choir of Girls, and sings for special events on a regular basis. The choir has toured England seven times since 1990, most recently in July 2017 at Durham Cathedral. In addition, Trinity Cathedral Choir was in residence at Canterbury Cathedral in 2009, Gloucester Cathedral in 2006, Washington National Cathedral in 2004 (and 2008), and sang at St. Thomas Church in New York City in 2005. Auditions are required.