Ouseley Trust Scholarship

St Michael’s Choir has gratefully received funding for this Scholarship for the academic years 2015-17 and also 2024-2025 by the Ouseley Church Music Trust, a charity set up to promote and maintain choral services to a high standard.

The Ouseley Scholar may be a student from the University of Exeter or another academic institution and will be required to sing with the choir for rehearsals and services during term time, including (but not limited to):
•  rehearsals – Tuesdays, 7:00pm-8:30pm and Sundays, 10:00am-10:50am
•  Mass – Sunday, 11:00am-12:15pm
•  Evensong and Benediction on the first Sunday of each month; rehearsal from 4:45pm-5.50pm, service from 6:00pm-7:00pm.
•  Feast Days and special services, in accordance with the St Michael’s calendar to include services during Holy Week and Easter Sunday,  although this may fall outside of the university term
•  conduct and/or accompany the choir for occasional rehearsals and services, as agreed with the Director of Music and Organist
•  provide a strong lead in their section, ensuring that they are familiar with all music in advance of the service at which it is being performed
•  undertake solo and/or semi-chorus roles as requested by the Director of Music
•  support the Director of Music with the administrative running of the choir, for example by assisting with the maintenance of the music library

Pascale Walker Scholar 2019-2020

“Having only joined the choir as a Scholar recently, I already feel very at home here. I love singing, and being able to sing such beautiful music with a warm, friendly and welcoming group every week is the most fantastic experience. I absolutely love the repertoire, which is sometimes challenging but always rewarding. Being presented with new music each week means we cover an extensive range of pieces, and learning it all and singing it every Sunday is now one of the highlights of my week. I have sung in a variety of choirs throughout my life, as well as achieving Grade 8 in singing and piano, and now being in the choir at St Michael’s plays a large role in my experience of living in Exeter and being at university here.

I joined the choir at St Michael’s to continue to widen my choral singing experience, and have the chance to sing in such a high quality choir. I feel like I have been welcomed in immediately, and it has really boosted my confidence as a singer too. It’s a lovely community to be a part of, and I’m so happy I joined!

I am in my final year studying Liberal Arts at the University of Exeter, majoring in Anthropology and French. Outside of my studies I’m also involved in music at the university, singing in Choral Society and Opera Society.”

Michael Grace

Miranda Fern - Ouseley Scholar - 2015-2017

Miranda began singing with St Michael’s choir in 2013.

“I originally came along to sing the Faure Requiem, fully intending it to be a one-off, but the atmosphere was so lovely I’ve been here as often as possible ever since!

I come from a very large family who all enjoy singing, so it was inevitable that I’d end up being involved with music somehow. Before university, I sang in a number of different choirs and choral societies both inside and outside school, and when I arrived at Exeter I joined the University Chapel Choir, University Singers, the A Cappella Society and took up a choral scholarship at St Peter’s Church, Tiverton. In my second year I began singing at St Michael’s whenever I had a Sunday off from Tiverton, and the rest is history.

In my final year at Exeter I studied History and Ancient History, as well as German as an extra option. From 2014-15 I spent a year in the Netherlands on a study abroad placement, which was a brilliant experience. As well as singing and doing my degree, I was also a leader at a Brownie and Guide group in Exeter. I also enjoy swimming, cycling and cooking.

It was very exciting to be a full-time scholar at St Michael’s  and I am looking forward to great things to come!”

Marianne Connors Scholar 2010-2015

Marianne joined St. Michael's in September 2010, having moved on from the University Chapel Choir. "I already had friends at St. Michael's, and wanted to be part of a more permanent community. The choir here are a really lovely group of people, and definitely the heart of the church. We spend a lot of time together, and enjoy socials such as bacon sandwiches after the Ascension Day dawn service, pancakes after choir practice on Shrove Tuesday and Prosecco after, well, every major church festival or event! We've had some fantastic trips away, including a week in Fulda & Blankenau, Germany, in 2012. However, the choir's passion is for bringing music to rural churches who do not normally get to enjoy the likes of Stanford, Tallis & Byrd. These frequent evensongs and concerts are extremely rewarding, and usually involve a lot of time in the pub! It is a real pleasure to sing in a relaxed and welcoming environment with people who care so much about their music.  In fact my husband and I chose St. Michael's for our wedding last year because it feels so much like home!"

Rebecca Vinnicombe Scholar 2012-15

Rebecca studied for a BSc Mathematics at Exeter University.

“When I’m not in Exeter, home is way down in the far west of Cornwall. I was a choral scholar at St Michael’s since the first week I started university and I’ve never looked back. Singing is something I have been involved in from a very young age but I only discovered the world of choral singing around the age of 16. When I got my offer to come to Exeter, I was certain that I wanted to try for a scholarship and on my arrival I had scheduled three auditions with local churches. My first was at St Michael’s and I found it so friendly, supportive and welcoming that I cancelled the other two!

Life as a scholar at St Michael’s has been the most amazing enhancement to my time at university. Yes, at times it can be hard, with challenging repertoire, sight reading skills are certainly put to the test, but with the whole choir being supportive and talented, it’s impossible not to enjoy every second.  Personally, I have also loved learning a lot more about the Christian calendar, with special services throughout the year, allowing the choir to sing whole requiems and large anthems as well as have the opportunity to improve on both my technique and confidence.

Outside of choir, I was appointed Vice-President and Treasurer of the Methodist and Anglican Society and I am  a very keen baker and cake decorator.”

Vicki Brammall Scholar 2011-15

Vicky Brammall studied for an MMath while at the University of Exeter. “I’m originally from the seaside town of Gorleston-on-sea, Norfolk, and I’ve been singing with the choir of St Michael and All Angels since September 2011. I only started singing in a church choir when I was seventeen, so by the time I got to applying for universities I certainly didn’t have experience on my side. Despite my original intention of applying for a choral scholarship at the University of Cambridge, they saw fit to not let me in, so I ended up several hours away in the lovely city of Exeter. I remember the first time I came to St. Michael’s was just before my university Post Offer Day in March, and I went to Vespers (not quite realising that there would be a twenty-five minute meditation in the middle!) then choir practice. It can’t have put me off too much however, as once I started my degree I contacted the church again, had an audition and was accepted, despite being struck down with Freshers’ Flu at the time.I’ve absolutely loved being a scholar at St. Michael’s as it’s really given me the chance to improve my technique and expand my repertoire. The choir are all lovely and the standard is really high, and it’s been great to be involved with something outside of university life. 

My favourite times of the year have to be either Advent, or Holy Week and the few weeks that succeed that with the big services such as Ascension and Trinity Sunday, I love singing big Victorian anthems so that time of year really lends itself to it!

Aside from my singing, I'm very active in the religious side of the University, having recently been elected President of the Methodist and Anglican Society. I'm also an avid knitter and sewer, and despite suggestions (mainly from my mother) that I should apply for the Great British Sewing Bee, I much prefer to take a leisurely approach to these sorts of things!

Here are some links to me singing on the St Michael's Soundclick page.."

http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=12306145

http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=11944018

Amy Down Scholar 2015-2016

“Moving to Exeter unexpectedly in September 2015 I quite by chance found myself living next door to a church in which I’d sung a concert with the Chapel Choir of The Queen’s College Oxford earlier that summer. A look at the website introduced me to the choir and less than 24 hours after moving house I’d been to Mass and become a member of St Michael’s Choir!

The madness hasn’t stopped since then and I now can’t imagine a life in which St Michael’s doesn’t play a huge part. Everyone involved in the church is so friendly and welcoming and the best friends I’ve made this year are those at church. I’ve really enjoyed getting to know the church calendar this year and am looking forward to being confirmed at St Michael’s in November.

As well as being a scholar at St Michael’s I’ve had enormous fun prancing around the Northcott Theatre in the Gilbert and Sullivan Society’s production of Princess Ida, and singing with Exeter Chorale. In my spare time I enjoy sewing and baking, dog walking around Exeter and frequent trips to the Boardgame Café. I’ve just completed my MA in Classics and Ancient History at the university and I am thrilled to be working in Exeter for the next year (at least) and can’t wait for another year of St Michael’s!”

Junior Choral Scholarships

Junior Choral Scholars may be appointed following an audition. Please contact Neil Page for details, music@stmichaelsmountdinham.org.uk

Junior Choral Scholars will be upper secondary school or sixth form students from the local area, and will be expected to:

• Sing with the choir for rehearsals and services during term time, including (but not limited to)

  • Choir Practice – Tuesday, 7:00-8:30pm

  • Mass with rehearsal – Sunday, 10:00am for 11:00am -12:15pm (approx.)

  • Evensong and Benediction with rehearsal – first Sunday of every month, 4:45pm for 6:00pm – 7:00pm.

  • Feast Days and special services – in accordance with the St Michael’s Usage (calendar)

• Ensure that they are familiar with all music in advance of the service at which it is being sung

Junior Choral Scholars will be awarded an honorarium.

Senior Choral Scholarships

For Students or Graduates with good sight-reading ability. Applicants will be able to contribute to a friendly and active liturgical choir with a Cathedral style repertoire.

Senior Choral Scholars will likely be students from the University of Exeter, and will be required to:

• Sing with the choir for rehearsals and services during term time, including (but not limited to)

  • Choir Practice – Tuesday, 7:00-8:30pm

  • Mass with rehearsal – Sunday, 10:00am for 11:00am -12:15pm

  • Evensong and Benediction with rehearsal – first Sunday of every month, 4:45pm for 6:00pm – 7:00pm.

  • Feast Days and special services – in accordance with the St Michael’s Usage (calendar)

• Provide a strong lead in their section, ensuring that they are familiar with all music in advance of the service at which it is being sung

• Undertake solo and/or semi-chorus roles as requested by the Director of Music

• Support the Director of Music with the administrative running of the choir, for example by assisting with the maintenance of the music library

Please contact Neil Page for audition details, music@stmichaelsmountdinham.org.uk

Successful candidates will be awarded an honorarium. Choral scholars are required to undertake online safeguarding training (CofE level C0) within three months of their appointment.

Organ Scholarship

St Michael’s is pleased to offer an Organ Scholarship to further enhance the music of St. Michael’s. This post is currently jointly held with the University Organ Scholar and there is also an organist in post at both places.

The Organ Scholar should expect to play for around half of the services at St Michael’s and to attend, often to accompany, Tuesday choir rehearsals. The Organ Scholar has unlimited free use of the wonderful pipe organ at St Michael’s, subject to other events in the church calendar. Opportunity is also offered to the Organ Scholar to rehearse and direct the choir, if desired.

The scholar is required to undertake online safeguarding training (CofE level C0) within three months of appointment.

Please contact Neil Page for details, music@stmichael’smountdinham.org.uk

The Choir

St Michael’s Choir is a mixed SATB robed choir. Its main duties are singing for weekly Mass and monthly Evensong at St Michael’s Church, with seasonal festival and Feast days. The choir also visits nearby churches to give concerts or sing services, and tours each summer.

The Choir enjoys and is enhanced by the contribution of  our Choral Scholars and the links which are fostered with the University of Exeter and its Chapel Choir. Scholars at St Michael’s  also enjoy the wide-ranging music, from Plainsong and Palestrina to Paul Mealor, and the relaxed atmosphere of this talented Choir.

Choir members and Scholars are all required to undertake online safeguarding training (CofE level C0) within three months of joining.