News

We are saddened to hear of the passing of Tim Pride, former choral scholar at St John's College 1982-85.

USA Tour Cancellation

Owing to the emergency restrictions in place during the current Coronavirus pandemic, St John’s College regrets that the Chapel Choir is unable to tour to the United States of America at this time.

St John's College Chapel

The concert that was to be held at St John's College Chapel on Monday 16th March has been cancelled

The Choir of St John's College, Cambridge

Auditions for the posts of Tenor and Bass Lay Clerks will be held on Monday 16 March

Ash Wednesday

We have released an album featuring the live broadcast recording of the 2019 Ash Wednesday Evensong, which includes works by Bach, Byrd, Weelkes as well as the Allegri Miserere mei.

Mathias Choral Music

Our sister choir has recorded an album of music by William Mathias in collaboration with the Gentlemen of St John's

BBC Carol Competition

Congratulations to former chorister Tom Dobney, whose carol has been shortlisted for the public vote of the 2019 BBC Radio 3 Carol Competition

Sir Stephen Cleobury

We are saddened to hear of the loss of Stephen Cleobury, Director of Music at King's for 37 years and former St John's Organ Scholar (1967-71)

Magnificat_Choir_of_St_John's_College_Cambridge

The Choir's new album, Magnificat, is now available to buy, download and stream. Celebrating the Evening Canticles that play a significant part in the Choir's Evensong services, it is an Editor's Choice Pick from Gramophone magazine.

Andrew Nethsingha discusses the story of Leighton's 'Second Service', commissioned in memory of former St John's Organ Scholar Brian Runnett. Read along whilst listening to Leighton's 'Nunc Dimittis' from the Choir's forthcoming album below.

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.

Tenor Ed Lyon (Choral Scholar 1998-2001) has released his first solo recording project called 17th Century Playlist.

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

The Choir of St John’s' new album - Magnificat - celebrates their daily tradition of Evensong and is released on 25 October 2019.

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.

Andrew Nethsingha, Director of Music for St John's College, directs rehearsals and Evensong for the Cambridge Choral Course in St John's College.

Organised by the Rodolfus Foundation, this Choral Course is aimed at young people aged 16-21 who have a talent and passion for singing and choral music.  Andrew will rehearse the 95-strong Choir of young, talented musicians, in preparation for a service of Evensong in St John's College taking place on Thursday 29 August 2019.

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.

St John's College Organ

We are delighted to welcome back so many former St John’s Organ Students during a 15-month celebration of the Chapel’s 150th anniversary.

They have gone on to a variety of distinguished careers which include Church Music, Teaching, Opera, Composing and Arranging, Academia, Orchestral and Choral Conducting, Organ and Piano playing.

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 began work today on a recording of Michael Finnissy's Anthems and Voluntaries, to be released on the St John's label in 2020.

First premiered by the Choir at a special service in June 2019, the work has been three years in the making, Composer-in-Residence Michael Finnissy collaborating closely with the Choir on each of its nine movements.

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.

The Choir of St John’s continues its commitment to new music by premiering a new cycle of works by Composer In Residence Michael Finnissy.

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 of St John's premieres works by emerging and established composers during its Easter Term services.

In May, the Choir gave the first performance of Julian Anderson's 'St John's Service', commissioned to mark the 150th anniversary of the Consecration of St John's College Chapel.

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.

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Latest webcast

Recorded on
19 October 2023
  • Introit - Parsons: Ave Maria
  • Responses and Preces: Radcliffe
  • Psalm 25.1-8
  • Readings: Isaiah 40, 1-11, Luke 1, 57-66, 80
  • Jackson in G
  • MacMillan: Christus Vincit
  • Voluntary: Langlais, Acclamations (Suite Medievale)
The contribution of Andrew Nethsingha and St John's College, Cambridge to the Evensong tradition - both in the chapel and on record - deserves great praise

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