The Schola Cantorum is a specialist music school, with an emphasis on the training of future church organists and choir directors. The Schola Cantorum operates as a miniature music conservatoire within the College. Its purpose is to provide a specialised music education for boys and girls in parallel with their normal secondary school studies. Since its foundation in 1970, the Schola Cantorum has made a tremendous contribution to the liturgical life of the church in Ireland and to the musical life of the country and indeed internationally.
Following annual auditions in February of each year, scholarships funded by the Irish Catholic Hierarchy are awarded to talented young musicians to study in Mullingar. These are valuable scholarships which entitle the recipients to five years’ free music tuition at the Schola.
The award also entitles some girls and boys from further afield to accommodation grants so that they can reside with host families (Monday – Friday) beside the College.
While studying at The Schola Cantorum there is a strong emphasis on Church music. We have been providing a training ground for young organists and choral directors from all over the country since the establishment of this specialist school by the Irish Hierarchy in 1970. Our students take advanced studies in piano, organ, conducting and choral training, complimented with appropriate Associated Board Theory programmes. Students may also take an additional instrument or take individual singing tuition. All these supplementary music classes coincide with a normal secondary education in St Finian’s. Students are encouraged to participate in various choirs, instrumental and string ensembles within the school.