Choral Scholarships at St John's

Our Director Andrew Nethsingha and Lay Clerk Simon Grant introduce our series with an overview of life as a Choral Scholar, beginning our journey around the College in First Court.

Music you have heard:

Elgar 'Give unto the Lord': https://bit.ly/2ZQbCfc
Harris 'Faire is the heaven': https://spoti.fi/2BmIume or https://apple.co/39tLeeo
Guerrero 'Ave virgo sanctissima': https://bit.ly/39o5kGY
Janáček ‘Chléb náš’ Otčenáš: https://spoti.fi/2WQ43mS or https://apple.co/2OMnk48

Choral Scholar Will O'Brien takes us into the Chapel to review the musical opportunities within the Choir as well as across the university. Andrew Nethsingha details the music that takes place in College, and Lay Clerk Matthew Gibson tells us of his experiences as a conductor with SJCMS, the College's Music Society.

Music you have heard:

J.S. Bach 'Lobet Gott in seinen Reichen': https://bit.ly/3hrK6KW
Harvey 'Magnificat': https://spoti.fi/2Cy16AB or https://apple.co/3jyIPDK
Swayne 'Adam lay ibounden': https://spoti.fi/3jxFncm or https://apple.co/30CCSwQ
Vaughan Williams 'The lark ascending': https://spoti.fi/3jyJoNS or https://apple.co/32U0X4S
Beethoven 'Coriolan Overture': https://youtu.be/Y-6UE_9OBmA

Tom Butler and Louis Watkins, the current Manager and Musical Director of the Gentlemen of St John's, explain what goes on within the Gents' close harmony group. Simon Grant reviews the mainstay annual events for the Gents from New Court.

Music you have heard:

'Part time lover': https://spoti.fi/30EhhUX or https://apple.co/3eUHAek
'If I were a boy': https://bit.ly/2ZQfsoC
'With a little help from my friends': https://spoti.fi/3js7Pwt or https://apple.co/2CwIQaM

Whilst the Gents perform 'Fever' from one of the Cripps bedrooms, Tom Butler goes through how accommodation is allocated throughout undergraduate study at St John's College.

Music you have heard:

'Fever': https://youtu.be/WPEebw4MP68

Simon Grant, Alex Semple, and Louis Watkins discuss their experiences of studying at Cambridge whilst singing in the Choir and taking part in a variety of opportunities within the university. Simon explains how Choral Scholars prepare for the music scheduled for the term, and Louis touches on what goes on during the holidays.

Music you have heard:

Franck 'Panis angelicus': https://bit.ly/2ZQbCfc
Mozart 'Ave verum': https://bit.ly/2ZSZeuZ
Durante 'Magnificat': https://bit.ly/39nlnEX
'The Lady is a Tramp': https://spoti.fi/2ZTP5OI or https://apple.co/3fZ99ok
Vaughan Williams 'Lord, thou hast been': https://spoti.fi/3fTTzdN or https://apple.co/3huKhoR

Whilst the Gents punt along the River Cam singing 'Blue Moon', Simon Grant – who studied at Robinson College – touches on how some of the Gents study at other colleges whilst singing in the Choir at St John's.

Music you have heard:

'Blue Moon': https://spoti.fi/2CUPxDb or https://apple.co/3fXzyTE

George Vines is a first year who sings with the Choir whilst studying Natural Sciences at Robinson College. Here he gives an overview of his time with the Choir so far from his home in rural Wales.

Music you have heard:

Stanford 'Magnificat in A': https://spoti.fi/3hrNQfs or https://apple.co/3huPCwg
Byrd 'Ne irascaris': https://spoti.fi/2WQKxqf or https://apple.co/39kurtY
Poulenc 'Salve Regina': https://spoti.fi/2WO4NJe or https://apple.co/2OM3h5Q
Biebl 'Ave Maria': https://spoti.fi/2ORZELE or https://apple.co/2ONR4gS
'Santa Claus is coming to town': https://spoti.fi/2ZT7uLp or https://apple.co/2CJJH7M
Tallis 'Videte miraculum': https://spoti.fi/3jxK9qi or https://apple.co/2ZRSzRx

Our Director Andrew Nethsingha rounds off our series from the Backs of St John's. He would be very happy to meet you either in person or online, hear you sing, and offer any advice and guidance that he can. Do get in touch with us if you are interested so that we can arrange something for you.

Contact us if you have any questions at: choir@joh.cam.ac.uk or +44 (0) 1223 338 718

Music you have heard:

Howells 'Magnificat Collegium Regale': https://bit.ly/2ZSqABc