Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

This page contains a number of frequently asked questions and their answers. Do let us know if you have a question which isn't on the list by using our contact page.

Who are you ?

"Cantus" are a group of twenty (or so) choral singers drawn from all over the UK who come together to sing at cathedrals and in quarterly concerts in central London. We sing under the direction of our Musical Director, Phil Cowling.

What do you sing ?

We perform a wide repertoire of choral music carefully selected to be enjoyable and challenging to sing. This ranges from ecclesiastical music from Purcell to Howells to folk songs and even (on one notable occasion) a specially arranged a-cappella version of Slade's "Merry Christmas Everybody". You can find further information on our repertoire page.

Where and when do you rehearse ?

When he founded Cantus Phil Cowling was keen to ensure that a wide range of singers could perform with us - even if they had regular commitments to other performing groups. We therefore do not rehearse regularly but "blitz" the music over the weekend of the performance. This approach has worked well in enabling us to produce fresh and lively performances without impacting upon our singers commitments elsewhere. Rehearsals normally take place in or around the performance venue . Contact us for details.

How much does it cost ?

Membership of Cantus is free of charge.

Would I have to be able to read music to sing with Cantus ?

Yes - because our rehearsals only take place on the weekend of each performance they have to focus on technique and musicianship. There is rarely time for "note bashing" and so ability to sight read music is essential.

Is there an audition ?

We do not normally hold formal auditions provided you have previously sung to an appropriate standard with our Musical Director or an existing member of the choir. Otherwise there will normally be a simple vocal test and sight reading test to demonstrate your singing ability to the required level.

How do we book you to sing for us ?

Cantus sing at weddings, corporate hospitality events and church and cathedral services. Fees range from £300 upwards plus travelling expenses if we are performing outside of London. Contact us for further details.

Can anybody join ?

We are always delighted to meet prospective new members provided their performance is up to an appropriate standard. We are also delighted to welcome non-singing supporters especially if they can help us out with catering and publicity. Do contact us for further details.

What are your rehearsals like ?

We normally rehearse in or around cathedrals on the weekend of our performances. Rehearsals are quite disciplined and demanding - however we normally relax afterwards with a few pints in the pub round the corner. We're a friendly and welcoming bunch who get along well socially - come along and find out for yourself.

Are there any other rules for members ?

Because Cantus is a small choir that makes big commitments it is vital to us that you do make the effort to attend if you commit to performing with us (unless prevented by a genuine illness or emergency). We have to take a hard line on this in order to maintain the standard of our performances. If, having committed to perform with us, you drop out at the last moment due to anything other than a genuine illness or emergency it is unlikely that we'll ask you to sing with us again. We regret if this sounds harsh but it is an important measure to ensure that we give cathedrals the performances that they deserve and have come to expect.