Countertenor and Bass Lay Clerks at Westminster Cathedral

Key information

Closing date: 12pm, Monday 2 June 2025

£29,361.83 per year

Part-time, 13.5 hours per week

Permanent Contract

Based in London, SW1P

First Round auditions: In person, w/c 16 June 2025

Second Round auditions and interview: w/c 23 June 2025

 

Positions Available:

 

Westminster Cathedral, the mother church of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, is one of London’s three historic professional choral foundations, alongside Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s Cathedral. We are seeking two exceptional musicians to join our internationally acclaimed choir as a Countertenor and a Bass Lay Clerk.

Please specify whether you are applying for the Countertenor or Bass Lay Clerk position at the beginning of your supporting statement on the application form.

If you are a Bass, please also specify whether you would like to be considered for the 4th Bass Lay Clerk position in your supporting statement.

 

About the Choir

Our choir is celebrated for its daily liturgical singing, high-profile recordings, broadcasts, and international tours. Eight professional Lay Clerks sing alongside our talented boy choristers, who are boarders at the Westminster Cathedral Choir School.

As part of this small, elite team, you will contribute to the spiritual and musical life of the Cathedral by performing in daily services, major feasts, concerts, and special occasions.

 

What We’re Looking For

We welcome applications from experienced choral singers who:

  • Are outstanding musicians with excellent sight-reading skills
  • Have a strong command of Gregorian chant and the classical polyphonic repertoire
  • Are sensitive, organised, professional, and aligned with the mission of Westminster Cathedral
  • Are prepared to sing at a wide range of liturgical and concert events, including key feasts such as Christmas, Holy Week, and Easter

 

Additional details

The salary for this role is currently £29,361.83, which is reviewed annually. Special services, broadcasts, concerts, tours and recordings are subject to additional fees. The salary and terms permit for certain services to be livestreamed.

There are two days off per week, one of which is generally fixed and the other flexible.  From time to time the choir may be required to sing on a day normally deemed a day off. A day off in lieu may be accrued if a Lay Clerk is prevented from being able to take two days off by such a schedule change. Such changes may only be requested with a notice period of six weeks.

Overtime accrues in blocks of 15 minutes wherever a service, event or session needs to be extended.

 

Holiday is taken outside of term-times. Term-times are as follows:

  • The first Sunday of September until Christmas Day, with a six-day break in October
  • The vigil of Epiphany* until Easter Day
  • The Thursday following Low Sunday until the Sunday after the final Sunday of the chorister term (usually the 2nd or 3rd Sunday in July)

*when Epiphany or its transferal falls on a Sunday, then term begins on the Sunday.

 

It is accepted that you will undertake additional paid work or employment for other employers or organisations.

In the case of a national event taking place in Westminster Cathedral at short notice, you may be asked to return from overseas venues and, if necessary, curtail other work engagements. In the event of travel expenses being incurred, these will be reimbursed.

 

Why Join Us?

You will be part of a close-knit and supportive professional team maintaining a centuries-old musical tradition of excellence. The Cathedral offers a deeply rewarding artistic and spiritual environment where your talents will enrich the worship of countless visitors and parishioners.

As a diocese, we are guided by values of Competence, Reliability, Honesty, Perseverance, and Love. We seek to reflect the truth, justice, and compassion at the heart of Catholic social teaching in all we do.

 

Application details

Our people are incredibly important to us, and we value and respect diversity in all its forms (seen and unseen). We particularly welcome applications from those from Black and Asian backgrounds, as well as candidates with disabilities and from the communities in which we work. We would like to increase representation of these groups among our staff as we know greater diversity will lead to an even greater impact for our work.

To be considered for the role, please complete an online application. CVs will NOT be considered, therefore, please do not send them. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted. Please note that you will need to be eligible to work in the UK to apply for this position. You must provide proof of Right to Work in the UK.  We reserve the right to remove the vacancy before closing date.

 

Anyone wishing to discuss the post with the Master of Music, Simon Johnson, should contact the Music Administrator, William Waine: musicadmin@rcdow.org.uk