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The Escolania

Seven hundred years singing at Montserrat

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The Escolania de Montserrat is a liturgical choir whose music project focuses on rendering service to the Sanctuary of Montserrat. At the same time, it is a centre for the Christian and moral education for the boys who perform in the choir. Based in the heart of Catalonia, it has revived the centuries-old tradition of a Benedictine school whose origins lie in the 13th century, and is one of the oldest institutions of its kind in Europe.

THE BOYS WHO ATTEND THE ESCOLANIA RECEIVE A VERY THOROUGH EDUCATION DURING THEIR STAY AT MONTSERRAT, BASED ON THEORETICAL STUDIES AS WELL AS THE PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE THEY ACQUIRE WHILE STUDYING, SINGING, AND TRAVELLING.
 

The Choir

THE CHOIR IS THE MOST DISTINCTIVE PART OF THE ESCOLANIA, THE CORE OF ITS IDENTITY.

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The unchanged treble voices of Montserrat’s choirboys are a universal language that touches the hearts of those who hear it around the world. Apart from fulfilling their main activity of participating in the daily liturgical services held at the Sanctuary, they also engage in other activities: performing concerts both across Catalonia and abroad, participating –when appropriate- in religious functions outside of Montserrat, conducting sound recordings, and divulging the wide Escola Montserratina repertoire so many composers have assembled throughout history for our choir.

«FROM MY TIME AT THE ESCOLANIA I WILL ALWAYS FONDLY REMEMBER, WITHOUT A DOUBT, THE FUN I HAD, THE TEAM WORK AND THE DAILY LIFE ALONGSIDE SCHOOLMATES AND ADULTS. I BELIEVE THE CHOIR WORKS WELL, PARTLY, THANKS TO THE GOOD RAPPORT AND THE WORK DONE TOGETHER.»
 

The School

AS A SCHOOL, THE ESCOLANIA IS AN INTEGRATED CENTRE THAT OFFERS GENERAL AND ARTISTIC EDUCATION.

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Given the fact that all the choirboys are of schooling age, the Escolania includes a school that offers them a general education as well as a musical one while staying in Montserrat. This integrated facility makes it easier for our students to balance their compulsory general studies and their music education, while still participating in the choir. The school provides a comprehensive education that allows for a smooth transition into any other school when the student’s time at the Escolania comes to an end.

«VARIOUS FACTORS MAKE THE ESCOLANIA A UNIQUE CENTRE. FIRSTLY, THE FOSTERING OF MUSICAL KNOWLEDGE, ESPECIALLY SINGING, MUSIC THEORY AND INSTRUMENTS; SECONDLY, THE ATMOSPHERE CULTIVATED BY THE FACULTY AND THE MONKS, THE GREAT FAMILY IT CREATES AND THE LESSONS AND VALUES THAT ARISE FROM THEIR TEACHINGS.»
 

The Residence

THE RESIDENCE AIMS TO PROVIDE THE WARMTH THAT EVERY GROWING CHILD NEEDS WHEN DISTANCE MAKES DAILY COMMUTES HOME DIFFICULT.

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The Residence is an educational facility staffed by a team of teachers who, while coordinating with the choirboys’ families, contribute to the development of the boys as people, helping them make wise decisions, act in an independent and sensible way, get along well with others and, ultimately, become responsible citizens. Because we understand the residential space as a place to cultivate values and good habits, it is very important that there be effective coordination and smooth communication between the teachers and the choirboys’ families, as during the years the boys are at Montserrat their education is a team effort. The Residence adapts to every child’s and family’s needs and offers a wide range of accommodations: from going home to sleep every night, to staying at Montserrat all week with full room and board.

«AT THE ESCOLANIA, OUR SONS HAVE LEARNED TO COHABITATE WITH OTHERS, TO MANAGE THEIR TIME AND WORKLOAD AND THEY’VE ACQUIRED AN EVER-EVOLVING GENERAL CULTURAL KNOWLEDGE AND CRITICAL WAY OF THINKING TOWARDS EVERYTHING THAT SURROUNDS THEM.»
 

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