Choirs have their own classes at the Cheltenham Festival of Performing Arts, for infant school choirs right up to adult choral societies. Each choir sings a short programme of its own choosing on the Town Hall stage and gets feedback from an experienced adjudicator. Many classes come in two versions, so a choir can decide whether it wants a mark.
The festival runs from 6 to 15 May 2027 at Cheltenham Town Hall. Entries open on 1 December 2026 and close on 1 February 2027.
School choirs
School choir classes go by age. Girls’, boys’ and mixed choirs sing in the same classes.
- Infant choirs, 7 and under
- Junior choirs, 11 and under, with separate novice classes
- Village and other small primary schools with fewer than 100 pupils on roll
- Choirs of 13 and under, 16 and under, and 19 and under
- Choirs for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities, at primary and secondary age
Each school choir sings two contrasting pieces, with piano or a backing track. Infant schools can also enter a music making class for anything that isn’t a choir.
Youth and adult choirs
- Youth choirs, any combination of voices
- Choral societies and mixed voice choirs
- Male voice and female voice choirs
- Sacred music
- Folk song
- Songs from the shows
- Community and rock choirs
The choral society, male voice and female voice classes are for choirs of at least 20 voices. They sing at least three pieces, one of them unaccompanied.
Competitive or not
Most school choir classes come in pairs. One is competitive, with marks. The other gets the same adjudicator comments without a mark, which suits a choir that’s new to performing. Youth choirs get the same choice, and the community and rock choir class is non-competitive.
On the day
Class times are in the timetable, published on 1 March 2027. Classes can start up to 15 minutes early, so arrive in good time and sign in.
Hand the adjudicator a copy of each piece at the start of the class. Backing tracks go on a phone, tablet or laptop, downloaded beforehand, because there’s no public wifi in the Town Hall. Music and backing tracks explains the rest.
Choirs arrange their own accompanist. Songs from the shows can include movement, but no costume or scenery.
Family and friends are welcome in the audience. A day ticket costs £7. On the day has more on what to expect.
Next steps
Questions about choir entries? Email info@cfpa.org.uk.