St Gabriel's Choral Scholarship
Choral Scholarships at St Gabriel’s Church, Newcastle
2025–26 Academic Year
We are delighted to announce the introduction of two Choral Scholarships at St Gabriel’s Church, Heaton, thanks to generous support from the Cathedral Music Trust’s Church Choir Award scheme. These scholarships offer an exciting opportunity for student or early- career musicians to explore and develop choral leadership, enhance their singing, and engage with a vibrant, community-focused musical life in the heart of Newcastle upon Tyne.
The Choral Scholarships will run throughout the academic year (from September 2025 to July 2026), with a particular focus on strengthening our weekly worship, mentoring young singers, and supporting our developing junior choral programme.
About St Gabriel’s
Located in the heart of Heaton, St Gabriel’s is a place where all people are welcome, and is committed to the transformative power of music in worship and outreach. With an expanding music programme that includes a mixed-voice SATB choir, a Junior Choir, and a thriving Choir Club, the church is becoming a hub for musical activity, drawing in people of
all ages and backgrounds. The Church Choir has sung Evensong recently at Durham Cathedral, Newcastle Cathedral and Hexham Abbey, and is directed by Tim Burke, the Director of the Chorus of Royal Northern Sinfonia, who has conducted for Royal Ballet & Opera House, Scottish Opera, Welsh National Opera and Opera North.
The church building, with its generous acoustic and open, adaptable layout, provides an excellent venue for sacred and secular music alike, and is well connected to both Newcastle University and Northumbria University via excellent bus and metro links.
Purpose and Vision of the Scholarship
These scholarships are designed to:
Strengthen the musical life of St Gabriel’s through boosting our regular singing
Support and mentor younger singers in Choir Club and Junior Choir
Provide tailored practical experience for the Choral Scholars as they develop their
careers in performance, education, or church music
Honorarium
Each Choral Scholar will receive an honorarium of £2,500 for their participation during the 2025–26 academic year. This is funded by the Cathedral Music Trust.
Choral Scholars will commit to approximately 4.5 hours on average per week during choir term time, covering attendance at services and rehearsals, and assistance with Choir Club and Junior Choir.
Duties and Commitments
Choral Scholars will:
Sing regularly at weekly Sunday morning services
Sing at twice-monthly Sunday Evensongs
Attend and assist at Choir Club on Thursday afternoons during school term time
Assist the Choir Director in training and mentoring Junior Choir singers
If desired, Choral Scholars can gain experience of rehearsing and directing the Church Choir for services
Additional opportunities may arise, including concerts, special services, or collaboration with other churches and musicians in the region, for which additional remuneration may be offered.
Scholars will be supervised and supported by the Choir Director and will receive safeguarding training and a DBS check prior to taking up the role.
Schedule and Term Dates
The Choral Scholarships will align with the academic year. Scholars will be provided with a termly schedule of expected commitments, which will include:
Sunday morning services and rehearsals
Twice-monthly Evensong
Weekly Thursday Choir Club sessions
Seasonal or festival services (e.g. Advent, Christmas, Holy Week, etc.)
Absences should be arranged in advance with the Choir Director, who will assist with
finding suitable deputies where necessary.
Eligibility and Requirements
We welcome applications from:
Students at Newcastle University, Northumbria University, or other local
institutions
Early-career singers or musicians looking to gain experience in choral leadership and
music education
Applicants should have:
A confident singing voice
A good level of sight-singing ability
A desire to mentor and inspire young singers
An interest in developing their skills in choral leadership, education, or liturgical
music
You do not need to be a practicing Christian, the Scholarships are open to people of all faiths and none, but we do ask that you are sensitive to the liturgical and spiritual context of the church and committed to working as part of a supportive and inclusive team.
To Apply
Applications for the 2025–26 Choral Scholarships are now open! To register your interest or receive further details, please email the Choir Director:
singingstgabriel@gmail.com
Applicants will be asked to complete a short form, submit two referees, and attend an
audition and informal interview.
Tim Burke
Choir Director, St Gabriel’s Church, Heaton