News

Andrew Nethsingha discusses the significance of Tippett's 'St John's Service', a work which demonstrates a fresh, vivid and original take on the Evening Canticles. Read along whilst listening to Tippett's 'Magnificat' from the Choir's forthcoming album below.

We are delighted to welcome George Herbert as our new Junior Organ Scholar for the 2019-20 academic year.

It is with sadness that we announce that the Master of St John's College, Professor Sir Christopher Dobson, died on Sunday 8 September.

He is survived by his wife, Dr Mary Dobson, their sons, Richard and William, and his beloved dog, Jimbo. He was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year and died at the Royal Marsden Hospital, Surrey. A full tribute to Sir Christopher can be viewed on the College website.

Talented young musicians from across the UK are visiting St John’s College for a week-long summer school to learn from leaders in the field of choral music.

The Gentlemen of St John's performed to almost 600 children from Thorndown Primary School, St Ives and led a vocal workshop with their Year 4 pupils.

The ‘Gents’ are a vocal ensemble made up of Choral and Organ Scholars from the Choir of St John’s College, Cambridge. Kate Medlow – a teacher at Thorndown – wrote this account of The Gents’ visit:

'The children and staff at Thorndown Primary School were extremely lucky to have a visit from The Gentlemen of St John’s to perform during our Music Week from 1-5 July 2019.

The Choir of St John's took part in St John's College's annual May Week Concert, celebrating another fantastic year of music-making by the College community.

Stephen Cleobury, Director of Music at King’s College and former Organ Scholar at St John’s College (1967-71) has been knighted in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for his services to choral music.

"I am profoundly honoured to have received this award. I have sought to nourish and support the precious choral tradition that we have in this country, and to be an advocate for the innumerable benefits of singing and choral music.” - Stephen Cleobury

The Choir's new album - Locus Iste - reached Number 6 in the Official Specialist Classical Chart Top 30. 

The album - celebrating the 150th anniversary of St John's College Chapel - was the chart's highest new entry, sharing the Top 10 list with artists such as Einaudi and Lang Lang. 

We would like to thank all of you who have bought, downloaded or streamed Locus Iste so far and for supporting the Choir's valuable work.

We're delighted that Glen Dempsey - Herbert Howells Organ Scholar of St John's College - has been appointed as the new Assistant Director of Music at Ely Cathedral.

Glen will take up the role in September, working with the Cathedral's newly appointed Director of Music, Edmund Aldhouse. 

We are delighted to share the news that John Robinson - former Organ Scholar at St John's College - has been appointed Director of Music at Blackburn Cathedral.

John is currently Director of Music at St. Paul’s Choir School, Harvard Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts, and will take up the position during the summer.