South London Community Develops Pioneering Scholarship Choristers
The South London area, particularly around St John the Divine, Kennington (SJDK), has become known for developing pioneering scholarship choristers despite facing significant local challenges. SJDK has built one of the UK’s largest youth choral programmes in a community marked by deprivation and social difficulties.
Building a Successful Youth Choral Programme in South London
St John the Divine, Kennington serves an area in Lambeth with high levels of deprivation and youth violence. Many families in the community come from migrant backgrounds and have experienced anxiety related to immigration policies and the Windrush scandal. The local church primary school, which supplies many choristers, was once threatened with closure but was saved by a strong campaign from parents and the community.
Since 2013, about 1,000 children have participated in SJDK’s choirs. The parish has worked to remove barriers that often prevent working-class children from accessing classical music education. Joe Tobin, the director of music at SJDK, explained that the church created a model tailored to the needs of the local area. Unlike traditional church choirs with rigid schedules, SJDK offers practical support such as picking children up from school, providing snacks, and making rehearsals accessible for families.
Scholarship Success and Overcoming Barriers
Several choristers from SJDK have won fully funded scholarships to prestigious musical institutions, including St Paul’s Cathedral School, Westminster Abbey, King’s College Cambridge, and St John’s College Cambridge. Some former choristers have performed at national events such as the coronation of King Charles III.
Ed Picton-Turbervill, an award-winning composer and former scholarship pupil, highlighted the decline in specialist music teachers in local primary schools over the past decade. He expressed concern that access to music education is increasingly linked to privilege. The SJDK programme demonstrates that even brief weekly singing sessions can help bridge this gap.
Picton-Turbervill shared a memorable story of a young chorister from South London attending an audition in Cambridge. Despite never having traveled outside the city before and feeling nervous, the child confidently entered the audition alone, symbolizing the powerful opportunities the programme creates.
Some children have also faced racial prejudice. Picton-Turbervill recalled encountering stereotypes about black children’s singing abilities but described the scholarship choristers as “pioneers” opening new pathways for integration and opportunity.
Community Impact and Personal Stories
N’raeah, a seven-year-old chorister from South London, recently won a scholarship to St Paul’s Cathedral School. Her mother, Shauna-Rae, described the achievement as a rare opportunity for their community and acknowledged the challenge of breaking down historical barriers to such institutions.
Although classical music is different from the music Shauna-Rae grew up with, she values the doors it opens for her daughter. N’raeah encourages others who might be shy to sing, saying, “Don’t be scared. It’s really nice to sing. And if you sing, everybody will look at you and think that you’re great.”
