Cathedral Choir School of Delaware
Cathedral Community Services, Inc.

Vocal skills are just the first aspect of young people's training at Wilmington's Cathedral Choir School of Delaware. Responsibility, teamwork, and leadership are the enduring lessons learned in this rigorous program, which combines the joy of music with the discipline of musicianship. Each year, the Cathedral Choir School mentors 45 students, involving families and the community in every step of their instruction and advancement.

Each week, participants receive more than seven hours of vocal training, piano lessons, and leadership development classes. The choir has a repertoire that spans five centuries and includes works in five languages. Through weekly rehearsals, students learn proper diction, how to read music, and how to prepare for a performance. In addition, the students receive weekly private piano instruction and high quality digital pianos for practice at homeóboth at no cost.

Parental support is integral to the program's success: Before a child enters the program, the choir's director sits down with the family to explain the expectations and effort involved. Parents not only attend every piano lesson, but they also fully participate in their child's progress evaluation.

To reinforce the values of determination and self-discipline, the program employs a tiered structure of advancement. Each student must meet a number of standards and acquire specific skills before moving to the choir's next level. Adult choir members provide supplementary mentoring to the participants. The program also offers a Leadership Council, which focuses on the development of leadership skills. In addition, individuals may qualify for paid student assistantships, based on their accomplishments.

By recognizing the unique abilities of each student, setting high standards of achievement, and involving families and the community in the training program, the Cathedral Choir School shapes the next generation of community leaders through the power of music.