The term “Choir School”, while today sometimes used to denote a private boarding school, is used here to recall the roots of an ancient Christian practice (ca. 590 AD) of educating children in music – called the “schola cantorum” or “school of singing.”

During the late Middle Ages through the Protestant Reformation in England, the Catholic schola cantorum evolved into a series of boarding schools attached to cathedrals. These schools provided a holistic and well-rounded education with a strong emphasis on music, characterized by a combination of intense study and practical application. The children enrolled in these schools were responsible for leading liturgical singing in the Anglican tradition and received a high-quality education throughout the course of their study.