The Choir of St John's College, Cambridge

Thursday afternoon brought the welcome return of the motor for our Main Organ in Chapel (pictured left), and just in time for Noble in B minor which was sung at Evensong that night. The weekend was full of fixtures which could be called out of the ordinary. For starters the Choir was away on Friday singing Duruflé's Requiem in the Bedford Corn Exchange. Whilst the concert hall is not exactly the best acoustic for singers, our forces were given extra vocal presence, doubled in fact, by the Choir of Gonville and Caius College, one of Cambridge's top mixed choirs, which is directed by Dr Geoffrey Webber. The piece was performed in its full orchestral version, written by the composer at the same time as his more widely-performed reduction for organ – we were thrilled, once again, to be singing with the Philharmonia Orchestra.

The Girls Choir from St Catharine's College sang Evensong in St John's in the Choir's absence. Sunday morning was a boys' voices Eucharist where they sang Fauré's Messe Basse following a men's voices service the previous evening. The anthem was Cavalli's stunning setting of Salve Regina and they sang Victoria's sixth tone Magnificat – listen to the Choir singing this on SJC Live. The weekend routine will be less than regular this week as well, with our Lent Meditation Service on Sunday evening and Eucharist sung by other members of the College (the 'College Chorale') on Sunday morning.

We are also gearing up ever more to the St John Passion next Thursday – tickets are selling fast, so don't miss your opportunity to see the Choir's first ever performance of one of Bach's Passions – BOOK NOW!