Choir at Montserrat: L'Escolania Choir, Concerts and Music

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The Famous Boys Choir at Montserrat

The boy's choir at Montserrat are called L'Escolania. They are renowned around the world for the high standard of music that they produce. During your trip to Montserrat, chances are that you will want to see the Boy's Choir perform. Even if you are not a religious person, it is worth trying to see them sing - you will have the unique opportunity of seeing performances from some of the most talented young voices in Spain.

This page will provide you with everything that you need to know about the choir at Montserrat: background to the choir, performance times, how to buy their music, how to join the choir and details on when they are not available to see at Montserrat.

L'Escolania Choir in Montserrat - a background

The first account of there being a Boy's Choir at Montserrat dates right back to 1223. Around the seventeenth and eighteenth century the music school at Montserrat really began to gain in importance and recognition.

Today there are about 50 boys in the Boy's Choir at Montserrat. They are also educated in other areas of academia whilst they are schooled at Montserrat. Not only do they perform in Montserrat, they have also given concerts in several countries around the world. They have recorded over 100 albums (see below for how to buy the albums).

They still believe that their most importance task is singing daily in Montserrat Monastery's basilica (see below for the times of their performances). They sing counterpoint and Gregorian chanting - their most famous form of expression which is a type of singing typical to masses in Western Christianity.

Concerts at Montserrat

The Boy's Choir have two main daily performances:

13:00 - Salva and Virolai
18:45 - Salve montserratina

The singing takes place in the Basilica of Montserrat.

If you would like to find out about other special concerts that might be taking place on the day of your visit to Montserrat, it is best to check the Official Montserrat Monastery website's L'Escolania Choir page.

Are there any times when I can't see the Choir at Montserrat?

The Boy's Choir are not present at Montserrat Monastery in July or during the Christmas holidays.

If you want to be absolutely sure that the Boy's Choir will be performing on the day when you plan to come to Montserrat, it is best to check on the Official Montserrat Monastery website's L'Escolania Choir page

Can I buy music CDs at Montserrat?

Whilst you are at Montserrat you will be able to buy CDs of the music produced by the Boy's Choir. They have produced over 100 CDs that are available in the Montserrat gift shops. For details on where to buy music at Montserrat, see our Montserrat Music page.

Can I become a member of the Boy's Choir?

There are strict entrance requirements for joining the l'Escolania Choir.

You should apply when the child is seven years old or more.

The child must have a naturally good voice and musical ear - the Monks ask for no more training than this as it will be their job to hone the skill.

The child and his parents must be keen for him to be involved in the spiritual side of life at Montserrat Monastery.

If the child is accepted into Montserrat school, he will begin there at the age of 10, having completed primary school.

If you are curious about the L'Escolania School and what the education consists of, it is worth taking a look at the Official L'Escolania de Montserrat website.

The Montserrat Boy's Choir (L'Escolania de Montserrat) is one of the most popular attractions at Montserrat. If you are visiting for the day it would be a shame not to listen to one of their performances whilst you are there - you will be witnessing one of the world's best renowned boy's choirs.

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