Westminster Abbey Choir School

Westminster Abbey Choir School
Address
Map

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SW1P 3NY

Coordinates51°29′55″N 0°07′46″W / 51.49864°N 0.12934°W / 51.49864; -0.12934
Information
TypePrivate boarding prep school
Choral foundation school
Cathedral school
Religious affiliation(s)Church of England
Establishedc.1560
1848; 176 years ago (1848)
Local authorityWestminster
Department for Education URN101159 Tables
Chairman of GovernorsThe Very Rev David Hoyle, Dean of Westminster
HeadteacherDr Emma Margrett
GenderBoys
Age8 to 13
Enrolment30 (2015)
HousesBlow, Purcell and Gibbons
Websitewww.westminster-abbey.org/choir-school

Westminster Abbey Choir School is a boarding preparatory school for boys in Westminster, London and the only remaining choir school in the United Kingdom which exclusively educates choristers (i.e. only choirboys attend the school). It is located in Dean's Yard, by Westminster Abbey. It educates about 30 boys, aged 8–13 who sing in the Choir of Westminster Abbey, which takes part in state and national occasions as well as singing evensong every day (except Wednesday) and gives concert performances worldwide. Recent tours include to America, Hungary and Moscow. Other tours have included Australia,[1] America and Hong Kong. The school is one of only three choir schools that educate only the male trebles of the choir, the others being Saint Thomas Choir School in New York City and Escolania de Montserrat in Spain. The headteacher is Dr Emma Margrett who became the first female headteacher of Westminster Abbey Choir School on 1 January 2024. The organist and master of the choristers is Andrew Nethsingha, former Director of Music at St John’s College Cambridge.