22:
52:
1027:
954:
40:, it is one of the two most famous collegiate choirs in Cambridge, having had over 90 recordings published. The choir consists of fifteen Choral Scholars and twenty Choristers and Probationers, all of whom are members of St John's College, many of whom have proceeded to become distinguished musicians.
82:
The men and women of the choir are either undergraduates at the college or, occasionally, lay clerks (who have generally just graduated from St John's or another
Cambridge college). As well as singing with the choristers, they sing one service a week on their own and all services when the choristers
241:
carol. Legend has it that, in 1902, the then
Organist, Cyril Rootham was challenged to a bet that the choir could not be heard from the tower roof: the following Ascension Day, they ascended the 163-foot (50 m) tower and proved this to be wrong. The tradition continues; at noon after the sung
222:
as part of the station's regular broadcast of Choral
Evensong. The choir was also the first choir in the UK to webcast its services, releasing a new webcast each week throughout the year since 2008. An archive of recent live recordings taken from these webcasts, SJC Live, was launched in November
35:
is part of the
English cathedral tradition, having been founded to sing the daily liturgy in the College Chapel, though it is set apart from other English choirs of this tradition by the frequent inclusion of Continental works in its repertoire and its emphasis on polyphonic interpretations.
59:
Until 2022, the choir followed the
English cathedral tradition of men and boys. In October 2021 it was announced that, from 2022, the choir would admit girls and women. Such a decision has resulted in St John's being the only
111:
every day except Monday. Like the other elite cathedral and collegiate choirs, the repertoire extends far beyond the core
Anglican pieces. The efforts of organists over the centuries have broadened it further:
187:. In 2016 the college launched its own recording label 'St John's Cambridge', and imprint on Signum Classics. The first release, in May 2016, was a collection of music by the contemporary composer
43:
The early records of the choirs are obscure, but it is known that its origins can be traced to the original foundation of the
College in 1511. The present arrangement of the choir began in 1670.
75:
and academic gowns (or cloaks in the winter) over their uniforms. As well as the traditional church choir ranks of head and deputy head choristers, one treble a year is awarded the
139:, who was reputedly attracted by the renowned trompeta real stop on the organ. The College continues to commission new works from contemporary composers, particularly for the
927:
230:
service with carols, and, every few months, services in which the choir is joined by another
Cambridge collegiate choir. Every year, there is a joint evensong with the
880:
79:
medal, in memory of the former
Organist. Upon leaving the choir, many choristers take up music scholarships at the country's leading independent schools.
1016:
1011:
1006:
932:
912:
922:
91:, and many other engagements; they have also recorded many CDs ranging from close-harmony to renaissance music and tour regularly around the world.
71:, at the extreme west end of the College grounds. They travel to and from Chapel wearing a miniature version of the college's undergraduate dress —
1064:
1026:
651:
812:
873:
171:
The choir has an extensive discography, and tends to record two CDs a year. The series of recordings of
English church music, recorded under
853:
981:
1059:
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and beyond, and broadcasts frequently. The Advent carol service and Evensong for Ash Wednesday in particular are often broadcast by
1001:
866:
1054:
833:
373:
828:
231:
37:
226:
There are occasionally special services in Chapel which add variety to its liturgical life. There is a Lent meditation, an
724:
Entry for Lyons, Peter Stanley, Register of Twentieth Century Johnians, Volume I, 1900-1949. St John's College, Cambridge.
407:
437:
cathedrals. Former organ scholars George Guest, David Hill and Andrew Nethsingha have gone on to direct the choir.
369:
889:
682:
528:
172:
31:
964:
299:
624:
534:
385:(chorister) Eminent in television, theatre and screen - for example "Dr Mike Barratt" in BBC 1's "Casualty"
278:
21:
813:
St. John's College, Cambridge, "St John’s College announces Christopher Gray as its new Director of Music"
425:
Many recent choral scholars continue to sing in professional groups. Organ scholars have led the music in
959:
552:
68:
595:
986:
800:
487:
188:
242:
Eucharist, the congregation (and other visitors) gather in First Court to hear the choir, who, unlike
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495:
117:
108:
51:
483:
426:
398:
348:(chorister) Eminent film-score composer (Bridget Jones, Chicken Run, Shrek, Kingdom of Heaven etc.)
243:
113:
776:
949:
357:
152:
905:
345:
307:
295:
259:
403:
327:
200:
991:
970:
468:
377:
323:
191:. This entered the specialist classical charts at number two and won five star reviews in
8:
944:
801:
St. John's College, Cambridge, "Interim Director of Music to lead The Choir of St John’s"
136:
858:
546:
472:
430:
336:
227:
204:
196:
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ensemble, where they also sing lighter music, and are in frequent demand for concerts,
733:
Obituary of Lyons, Peter Stanley, Rutland and Stamford Mercury, Friday, 20 April 2007.
540:
394:
180:
121:
100:
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447:
363:
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203:. Upcoming releases include a disc of Christmas music and recordings of masses by
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917:
516:
434:
418:
303:
208:
184:
128:
678:
620:
412:
388:
255:
124:, while George Guest was a great advocate of contemporary French choral music.
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953:
848:
504:
340:
332:
317:
283:
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264:
238:
176:
144:
838:
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366:(chorister, choral scholar), distinguished operatic baritone and recitalist
192:
183:, who became Director of Music in 2007, the choir recorded eleven CDs with
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76:
72:
577:
311:
258:(choral scholar), early music performer and conductor, Director of Music
219:
160:
596:"Girls and women to sing as members of The Choir of St John's | StJohns"
843:
351:
249:
652:"Search results for St John's College Cambridge, within Radio 3 pages"
510:
215:
132:
104:
88:
61:
763:
A History of the County of Cambridge and the Isle of Ely: Volume 2
625:"Jonathan Harvey: Deo CD review – ecstatic and richly challenging"
289:
360:(chorister, choral scholar), early music performer and conductor
214:
As well as this, the choir tours extensively, gives concerts in
179:, attracted particular critical acclaim. Under the direction of
234:; the venue alternates between King's and St John's each year.
140:
703:
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are on their half term holiday. They also form the a capella
64:
choir to have both boys and girls singing services together.
888:
656:
286:(chorister, choral scholar), International Countertenor
250:
Notable former choristers, choral and organ scholars
777:"College news | St John's College, Cambridge"
1041:
166:
815:, 15 November 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
302:; Master of Choristers and Director of Music,
874:
1030:Coat of arms of St John's College, Cambridge
803:, 7 October 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
765:. Oxford University Press. pp. 337–338.
421:(organ scholar), organist and choir director
397:(organ scholar), University Organist of the
298:(choral scholar). Tenor. Director of Music,
760:
199:as well as an Editor's Choice selection in
127:Many composers have written for the choir.
881:
867:
619:
237:Perhaps the most unusual tradition is the
748:The Choir of St John's College, Cambridge
582:The Choir of St John's College, Cambridge
486:(1833–1856) - simultaneously organist at
120:studied under Mozart) collaborated with
50:
20:
1065:University choirs in the United Kingdom
572:
570:
374:Organist & Master of the Choristers
1042:
406:(organ scholar), director of music of
940:Choir of St John's College, Cambridge
862:
440:
99:Services follow the tradition of the
567:
391:(choral scholar), Diplomat, organist
103:, generally consisting of a Sunday
67:The choristers are educated at the
13:
1025:
501:Edward Thomas Sweeting (1897-1901)
232:Choir of King's College, Cambridge
38:Choir of King's College, Cambridge
14:
1076:
822:
549:(interim Director of Music, 2023)
354:(chorister), Member of Parliament
246:, remain unaided by microphones.
952:
326:(choral scholar), Baritone with
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794:
769:
754:
116:, for example (whose godfather
1055:1511 establishments in England
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727:
718:
696:
671:
644:
613:
588:
300:Royal Naval College, Greenwich
1:
560:
167:Recordings and special events
147:services, including recently
94:
1060:St John's College, Cambridge
891:St John's College, Cambridge
683:St John's College, Cambridge
519:(acting organist, 1941–1945)
32:St John's College, Cambridge
7:
965:St John's Innovation Centre
839:Archived webcasts from 2007
415:(chorister), opera director
10:
1081:
844:The Gentlemen of St John's
471:(1799-1820) then organist
408:St Thomas Church, New York
320:(choral scholar), comedian
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898:
761:L F Salzman, ed. (1948).
679:"The Ascension Day Carol"
960:St John's College School
928:List of honorary fellows
854:St John's College School
849:St John's College Chapel
484:Thomas Attwood Walmisley
399:Stanford Memorial Church
277:), director of music at
69:St John's College School
55:St John's College Chapel
46:
25:St John's College Chapel
950:Lady Margaret Boat Club
829:St John's College Choir
292:(choral scholar), tenor
267:(choral scholar), tenor
131:wrote a set of evening
1031:
906:Lady Margaret Beaufort
346:Harry Gregson-Williams
308:Wells Cathedral School
175:and released on label
85:Gentlemen of St John's
56:
26:
1029:
492:Alfred Bennett (1856)
54:
24:
992:School of Pythagoras
750:. 27 September 2015.
529:Christopher Robinson
480:Samuel Matthews 1821
469:John Clarke Whitfeld
465:Jonathan Sharpe 1777
462:William Tireman 1777
456:Thomas Williams 1682
378:Winchester Cathedral
324:Christopher Gabbitas
173:Christopher Robinson
459:Bernard Turner 1729
296:Peter Stanley Lyons
260:St Paul's Cathedral
137:Sir Michael Tippett
1032:
744:"George Loosemore"
547:Stephen Darlington
477:William Beale 1820
473:Hereford Cathedral
441:Directors of Music
328:The King's Singers
197:BBC Music Magazine
57:
27:
1037:
1036:
1002:St John's College
600:www.joh.cam.ac.uk
541:Andrew Nethsingha
395:Robert Huw Morgan
372:(organ scholar),
181:Andrew Nethsingha
122:Felix Mendelssohn
101:Church of England
1072:
1050:Cambridge choirs
956:
945:St John's Voices
892:
883:
876:
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860:
859:
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584:. 1 August 2015.
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553:Christopher Gray
448:George Loosemore
364:Simon Keenlyside
339:associated with
271:Stephen Cleobury
244:Magdalen College
16:Collegiate choir
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1038:
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987:Bridge of Sighs
933:List of masters
918:Heather Hancock
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807:
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709:
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706:. Iestyn Davies
704:"Iestyn Davies"
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568:
563:
558:
517:Herbert Howells
488:Trinity College
453:Mr Hawkins 1681
443:
419:Jonathan Vaughn
304:Wells Cathedral
252:
209:Francis Poulenc
189:Jonathan Harvey
185:Chandos Records
169:
129:Herbert Howells
97:
49:
17:
12:
11:
5:
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923:List of alumni
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896:
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863:
857:
856:
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834:Choir webcasts
831:
824:
823:External links
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621:Fiona Maddocks
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496:George Garrett
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427:St Edmundsbury
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413:David Pountney
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389:John Margetson
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370:Andrew Lumsden
367:
361:
355:
349:
343:
330:
321:
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310:; Headmaster,
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279:King's College
268:
262:
256:Andrew Carwood
251:
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118:Thomas Attwood
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36:Alongside the
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781:Joh.cam.ac.uk
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505:Cyril Rootham
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344:
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341:Henry Purcell
338:
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333:John Gostling
331:
329:
325:
322:
319:
318:Jimmy Edwards
316:
313:
309:
305:
301:
297:
294:
291:
288:
285:
284:Iestyn Davies
282:
280:
276:
275:organ scholar
272:
269:
266:
265:Allan Clayton
263:
261:
257:
254:
253:
247:
245:
240:
239:Ascension Day
235:
233:
229:
224:
221:
217:
212:
210:
206:
205:Zoltán Kodály
202:
198:
194:
190:
186:
182:
178:
177:Naxos Records
174:
164:
162:
158:
157:Tarik O'Regan
154:
150:
146:
145:Ash Wednesday
142:
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134:
130:
125:
123:
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110:
106:
102:
92:
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86:
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73:mortar boards
70:
65:
63:
53:
44:
41:
39:
34:
33:
29:The Choir of
23:
19:
969:
939:
808:
796:
784:. Retrieved
780:
771:
762:
756:
747:
738:
729:
720:
708:. Retrieved
698:
686:. Retrieved
673:
661:. Retrieved
655:
646:
634:. Retrieved
630:The Guardian
628:
615:
603:. Retrieved
599:
590:
581:
523:George Guest
424:
383:Clive Mantle
236:
225:
213:
193:The Observer
170:
153:Philip Moore
149:Bob Chilcott
126:
98:
84:
81:
77:George Guest
66:
58:
42:
30:
28:
18:
982:Old Library
578:"The Choir"
543:(2007–2022)
537:(2003–2007)
531:(1991–2003)
525:(1951-1991)
513:(1938–1951)
507:(1901–1938)
498:(1857–1897)
358:Robert King
312:Witham Hall
220:BBC Radio 3
161:John Rutter
1044:Categories
998:Categories
663:6 November
605:15 October
561:References
535:David Hill
404:John Scott
352:Ben Gummer
201:Gramophone
95:Repertoire
978:Buildings
971:The Eagle
902:Foundress
688:16 August
511:Robin Orr
335:, famous
216:Cambridge
159:, and Dr
135:, as did
133:Canticles
114:Walmisley
105:Eucharist
89:May Balls
431:Carlisle
228:Epiphany
109:evensong
62:Oxbridge
1017:Masters
1012:Fellows
786:28 July
710:28 July
636:28 July
555:(2023−)
314:School.
290:Ed Lyon
1007:Alumni
913:Master
433:, and
223:2011.
141:Advent
435:Wells
47:Choir
788:2016
712:2016
690:2016
665:2007
638:2016
607:2021
450:1661
337:bass
306:and
207:and
195:and
143:and
107:and
657:BBC
1046::
779:.
746:.
681:.
654:.
627:.
623:.
598:.
580:.
569:^
429:,
376:,
211:.
163:.
155:,
151:,
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790:.
714:.
692:.
667:.
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609:.
273:(
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