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The Choral Foundation
The Choral Foundation preserves and promotes the unique heritage of English choral music at the Chapel Royal, Hampton Court Palace and makes it accessible to all.
The Choral Foundation has developed the Sunday lunchtime music recitals, the open choir rehearsals, the chorister open day, the concert schedule and a programme of community outreach to encourage everyone to discover the beauty, peace and inspiration of choral music at Hampton Court.
By making a gift to The Choral Foundation you will be making your personal contribution to the future of choral music at the Chapel Royal, Hampton Court Palace.
Read our Autumn 2021 Newsletter
Children's Singing Programme
The Choral Foundation of the Chapel Royal, Hampton Court Palace, is launching ‘Songstars’, a children’s singing programme that offers enhanced singing support to state primary school children in South West London who have little or no access to music. We are seeking to appoint a Vocal Animateur to implement and deliver this programme.
Job Title: Songstars Vocal Animateur
Location(s): Schools in the London Borough of Hounslow, and occasional work at the Chapel Royal, Hampton Court Palace
Contract: Part-time, fixed period between June 2022 – July 2023. See ‘Terms of Employment’ below for full details.
Reports to: Songstars Programme Leader
Salary: approx £6,400
Working with: Primary Schools, Hounslow Music Hub, Chapel Royal Choral Foundation.
Please click the link below for more information about the role, and how to apply.
Help us ...
Maintain the Organ
The Choral Foundation helped to fund the overhaul of the historic Schrider/Hill organ in 2013 by Harrison & Harrison of Durham. The overhaul was also made possible by the generosity of Historic Royal Palaces; thousands of individual donors; trusts and foundations such as The Garfield Weston Foundation, The ON Organ Fund, All Churches Trust and The Ecclesiastical Music Trust; and a number of gifts given in memory of organists, organ devotees and members of the congregation. Please click here to read about the overhaul of the organ and the inaugural organ recital. You can help maintain this magnificent instrument by making a gift to the organ fund.
Provide a first class musical education for free
The Choral Foundation supports and maintains the Choir, Director of Music, Organist and Organ Scholar.
To ensure that any local boy with potential has the best opportunity to train as a chorister and make progress in the choir, the Choral Foundation provides a non means-tested bursary to each boy to cover the cost of instrumental music lessons, voice coaching or music theory. This musical tuition complements a chorister’s training. To find the Chapel Royal choristers of the future, the Choral Foundation funds an open day for prospective choristers and their parents in September each year.
Being a chorister of the Chapel Royal at Hampton Court is the finest musical education that a child can receive, and an experience that stands him in good stead for any future career, musical or otherwise. Many choristers play several musical instruments and gain musical scholarships to their next school or places at national conservatoires. Some choristers go on to play the organ, and several have become organ scholars at local churches and at their universities. You can sponsor a chorister or contribute to the bursary fund in a number of ways and have the award named or dedicated as you wish.
Nurture the congregation
Her Majesty The Queen makes her Chapel available to everyone who wishes to wishes to worship according to the Book of Common Prayer and to those who wish to experience first-hand the unique heritage of English choral music that has accompanied the worship of monarchs from Tudor times to the present day.
The Chapel Royal is a royal peculiar and not subject to parish boundaries. The Chaplain, Reverend Canon Anthony Howe, warmly welcomes enquiries from those wishing to join the congregation or to make a visit. Please click here for more information.
Renew and replace
The Choral Foundation invites you to contribute to capital projects to renew or replace various items of musical and choir equipment.
The practice piano used by the choir is more than 50 years old and requires constant tuning; well used music folders, sheet music and hymnals are always in need of repair as many are rare or out of print; the cassocks and ruffs need replenishing as the number of choristers increases, as does their height! If the Choral Foundation can support these day to day requirements then the Chapel Royal can ensure that its funds are spent on producing the programme of music that inspires the congregation and visitors.
How can I make a difference?
Our Patrons and Trustees
The Board of Trustees of the Choral Foundation is made up of a range of professional people who have some existing or past link to the choir and who care about its future. The Patrons of the charity are The Rt Revd & Rt Hon The Lord Chartres GCVO, Dean of HM Chapels Royal; Elizabeth, The Lady Maclean; The Revd Canon Denis Mulliner LVO; Judith Weir CBE, Master of The Queen’s Music; Harry Christophers CBE; and Rick Astley.
Donate today
Click on your preferred provider, including JustGiving and Virgin MoneyGiving, to donate to the Choral Foundation. You can also sign up to Easyfundraising to generate a small amount for the Choral Foundation whenever you shop online.
We thank you in advance for your support.
Registered Charity Number:
1142075
Company Number: 7542466
All photographs of the Chapel Royal or taken in the Chapel Royal are with the gracious permission of Her Majesty The Queen.
Copyright © HM Chapel Royal and The Choral Foundation 2011-2021. You may not use any imagery on this website without permission.
Photography by Richard Champness. Website designed and maintained by Richard Lewis.
The Chapel Royal
Hampton Court Palace
KT8 9AU