Award in choral singing

The Academy’s most intensive training course is the one offered for girls and boys aged between 7 and 14 years. During this course, children are given a musical formation focused on sacred choral singing, as well as a liturgical and spiritual formation to support the chorister’s ministry.

The course is divided in two parts:
• Propaedeutic Course (children aged 7 to 11 years), and
• Accredited Course (children aged 12-14 years).

During term time, weekly sessions are held every Wednesday between 18:00h and 20:00h at the Archbishop’s Seminary, Tal-Virtù, and shall consist of:
• 30 minutes of theory & solfège
• 30 minutes of voice training
• 60 minutes of choral training

Students in the Accredited Course shall also be required to attend 1 / 2 seminars per semester held on weekends that will focus on liturgy and spirituality.

During summer time, all students will follow a reduced schedule that will also include extracurricular activities.

Choral practice is based on participation in the Pueri Cantores Cathedralis Jubilate Deo that, during the year, animates around 10 liturgical services, that may include services in the Cathedral and Co-Cathedral of the Archdiocese, and also takes part in around 3 concerts.

The Propaedeutic Course leads to a Certificate of Achievement issued by the Academy of Sacred Music Francesco Azopardi in collaboration with the Pastoral Formation Institute (AFF Level 3). Students who wish to apply for the Propaedeutic Course need to:
• be 7 years old (by the end of the start year of the course); and
• pass an audition that assesses the musical, vocal and aural qualities of the students.

The Accredited Course leads to an MQF VET Level 3 qualification (accredited by the Malta Further and Higher Education Authority). Students who wish to apply for the Accredited Course need to:
• be 12 years old (by the end of the start year of the course);
• have successfully done at least one year of propaedeutic training; and
• pass an audition that assesses the musical, vocal, and aural qualities of the students.

A minimum of 80% of all contact hours as well as a pass mark in any theoretical and practical examinations is required in both courses.