OUR HISTORY
How Scotland’s national music school was born
We can trace our history back to 1880, when St Mary’s Music School was founded for the education of the choirboys of the newly built St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, completed and consecrated in 1879. Designed in the Victorian Gothic revival style by the architect Sir George Gilbert Scott, it is now the only Cathedral in Scotland to maintain a tradition of daily choral services throughout the year.
The School was originally based at Old Coates House, within the Cathedral grounds, but in 1885 a Song School was build next to the Cathedral to provide choristers with a dedicated rehearsal space for their daily practice – beautifully decorated inside by Irish-born artist Phoebe Anna Traquair, this a space that continues to be used today.
Almost a century later, in 1972, the School began to make history as well as music as two key figures determined to both safeguard the future of the Cathedral Choir School and expand it into a ‘new and vibrant entity’. Under the guidance of Dennis Townshill (Organist and Choir Master at the Cathedral from 1961-91) and Provost Philip Crosfield, a specialist music school was born, modelled on the Yehudi Menuhin School in England. Lord Menuhin in fact became our first Patron, referring to our newly expanded school as ‘my younger sister-school in Scotland’.
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In 1976, the Cathedral Choir broke new ground by becoming the first to admit girls alongside boy trebles and, in 1986, we began to receive funding for pupils through the Scottish Government Aided Places Scheme, ensuring that outstanding young musicians would be able to access our specialist music education, whatever their background and family circumstances. In 1995, St Mary’s Music School moved to Coates Hall, enabling us – for the first time – to combine music teaching and practice, academic teaching, and boarding and catering facilities under one roof, surrounded by a glorious garden for outdoor activities and relaxation. Find out more about our wonderful location! |
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