schola cantorum

noun

scho·​la can·​to·​rum ˌskō-lə-kan-ˈtȯr-əm 

plural scholae cantorum ˌskō-ˌlē-kan-ˈtȯr-əm 

-ˌlā-,

-ˌlī-

1

: a singing school especially for church choristers

specifically : the choir or choir school of a monastery or of a cathedral

2

: an enclosure designed for a choir and located in the center of the nave in early church buildings

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin, school of singers

First Known Use

1728, in the meaning defined at sense 1