With a choral tradition spanning 600 years, Winchester offers a truly unique musical experience. Two-thirds of our pupils participate in a wide range of musical activities, with opportunities to perform both individually and in groups at every level.
Celebrating talent & originality at every level
Music is at the heart of life at Winchester, where several hundred pupils master 25 different instruments under the guidance of dedicated music teachers.
Each week, the school resonates to the sound of 18 ensembles, 10 choirs and hundreds of individual music lessons, creating a diverse musical landscape from classical piano, viol consort, close harmony singing to jazz improvisation and rock bands.
Renowned for excellence, Winchester’s music programme is embedded through Div, concert trips and house events. Pupils’ musical development is nurtured from any starting point, whether picking up an instrument for the first time or preparing for a national audition or diploma.
With purpose-built facilities, outstanding teachers, and an ethos of celebrating talent at all levels, every Wykehamist will leave the school able to call themselves a musician.
Music Awards are available to any candidate who shows exceptional musical achievement and potential and is keen to contribute to the musical life of the school. Dedicated choral and organ scholarships are also available at 16+.
Exceptional achievements & experiences
Our purpose-built Music School features 55 teaching rooms accessible to pupils every day.
We have several dedicated performance venues, regular use of Winchester Cathedral and strong connections with King’s College Cambridge and New College Oxford amongst many other prestigious institutions.
Currently, 35 pupils hold at least one music diploma, a Winchester trombonist is a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain and there is a regular flow of choral and organ scholars to Oxbridge.
The most recent winner of our Concerto Competition performed Shostakovich Cello Concerto No. 2 and Tchaikovsky’s Rococo Variations with the orchestra.
“I have been bowled over by the creativity and inspirational teaching of music at Winchester College. The high calibre of faculty and the individual attention they give their students is world class.”
Rooted in a choral tradition
Over 600 years old, the choral tradition permeates a Winchester education and singing of all kinds abounds.
The Quiristers form an integral part of the Chapel Choir and are boarders between the ages of 9 and 13 at The Pilgrims’ School, a boys-only prep school located next to Winchester College.
Most Quiristers continue to Winchester College, forming a core of expert musicians along with the many Cathedral choristers who choose Winchester.
Music by numbers
400
Pupils learn at least one instrument each week
7
Full-time music teachers
51
Visiting music teachers
460
pupils take part in 18 ensembles
10
choir rehearsals each week
50
purpose-built teaching rooms
39
performance diplomas held by current pupils
5
Steinway grand pianos
‘Best for Music’ – The Week Schools Guide 2024
Pupil Success
Sixth Form pupil, Laurie, recently earned his piano Fellowship Diploma from Trinity College London.
The diploma is only available to those who have worked through grades 1-8 on their chosen instrument and is equivalent in standard to a postgraduate course recital at a conservatoire or university.
For the last two years, Nye has been a part of the National Youth Orchestra participating in multiple tours across the UK and playing in venues such as the Barbican and the Royal Albert Hall, the latter as part of the BBC Proms.
