News

Jonathan Vaughn appointed Associate Director at Christ Church, Greenwich

11 August 2017

Congratulations to former Organ Student Jonathan Vaughn, who has been appointed Associate Director of Music at Christ Church, Greenwich CT

"Subito" by Julia Hwang released by St John's

10 June 2017

Subito – the debut album by Music finalist and violinist Julia Hwang – is the first soloist recording to be released on the St John's label

First Michael Finnissy Commission as Composer in Residence

12 May 2017

St John's College Composer in Residence, Michael Finnissy, has written Dum transisset Sabbatum as his first commission as Composer in Residence to be performed at Evensong on May 13th

Decca releases Box Set of George Guest recordings

2 May 2017

Decca Classics has released a 42 CD Box set of George Guest's seminal 'Argo Records' recordings with the Choir of St John's

'Deo' wins a BBC Music Magazine Award

20 April 2017

We're delighted that Deo - our disc of Jonathan Harvey's music - has won a BBC Music Magazine Award in the Choral category. Thank you so much for your support!

Two successful performances of Haydn's Creation in Denmark

11 April 2017

The Choir had a fantastic time in Denmark this April, where we twice performed Haydn's Creation with the Herning Boys Choir and the Aarhus Symfoniorkester

Runnett Competition Winners announced

7 March 2017

Congratulations to Mr Richard Gowers and Ms Polina Sosnina who are the joint winners of the 2017 Brian Runnett Competition.

Two St John's organ students appointed to cathedral positions

30 January 2017

We're thrilled that St John's Assistant Organist Joseph Wicks has been appointed Assistant Director of Music at Truro Cathedral, and former Organ Student Paul Provost as Rector Chori of Southwell Minster.

Vote for 'Deo' to win the BBC Music Magazine Award

20 January 2017

Voting is now open for the 2017 BBC Music Magazine Awards, and Deo - our recent recording of Jonathan Harvey's works - has been nominated in the Choral category

John Challenger returns to St John's as Acting Director of Music

17 January 2017

As our Director Andrew Nethsingha takes a sabbatical during the Lent Term, we are very pleased to welcome back former St John's Organ Scholar John Challenger as Acting Director of Music.

A fantastic festive tour to Germany and France

13 January 2017

Our Christmas concert season - taking us from London, across Germany and to the south of France - was a tremendous experience for the Choir

The Choir of St John's College, Cambridge

Gentlemen of the Choir take to the operatic stage

11 January 2017

An unprecedented number of the Gentlemen of the Choir - 13 in all - are involved in both Britten's The Rape of Lucretia and Stravinsky's The Rake's Progress, both of which are performed in Cambridge this term.

Iestyn Davies receives MBE in New Year's Honours List

31 December 2016

Congratulations to former St John's Choral Scholar, Iestyn Davies, on being awarded an MBE in the 2017 New Year's Honours List

Choir's Christmas Video with Classic FM receives over 50,000 views

9 December 2016

Last week Classic FM released a video of the Choir performing Bob Chilcott's 'The Shepherd's Carol,' which has already received over 50,000 views! Have a watch on Facebook.

Choir Tour to Germany and France

2 December 2016

This festive season, the Choir is setting out on a tour of many fantastic venues across Germany and France, where we'll sing repertoire including many of the tracks featured on our latest CD, 'Christmas with St John's.'

'Christmas with St John's' reaches no. 8 on first week of release

2 November 2016

We are delighted that 'Christmas with St John's has made no. 8 in the Specialist Classical Charts in its first week of release!

'Christmas with St John's' released in the UK

21 October 2016

'Christmas with St John's' is available today!

Following on from the Choir’s success in promoting new and exciting repertoire, its most recent festive recording features works from composers including Michael Finnissy, who’s piece John the Baptist was commissioned for the Choirs’ well-known Advent broadcast on BBC Radio 3. Bob Chilcott’s The Shepherd’s Carol was commissioned by Stephen Cleobury, who along with John Scott – composer of Creator of the Stars of Night – were once Organ Scholars at St John’s.

Choir announces new CD 'Christmas with St Johns'

15 September 2016

St John’s College Choir is pleased to announce that Christmas with St John's, a brand new recording of traditional and contemporary music for the Advent and Christmas seasons, will be released this year.

The Choir is well-known for its annual Advent broadcast on BBC Radio Three and the recording includes Michael Finnissy’s John the Baptist, written especially for this service in 2014.

'Absolutely outstanding' - Deo reviewed on BBC Radio 3

18 July 2016

BBC Radio 3 presenter Andrew McGregor pronounced the Choir's recently released collection of music by Jonathan Harvey, "absolutely outstanding" on his BBC Radio 3 programme on Saturday 16 July.

The programme also played a track from the disc, Harvey's Nunc Dimittis and went on to describe the “staggeringly accurate and polished performances” as “stunningly theatrical”.

Recording sessions begin for new disc of Poulenc, Kodaly and Janacek

11 July 2016

Recording sessions began in the College Chapel on 11 July for a new disc due for release in 2017.

Including masses by Poulenc and Kodaly and music by Janacek, the disc will be the third by the Choir to be released on St John's College's newly-launched recording imprint on Signum Classics.

Stanford University Chorale pays a return visit to St John's

20 June 2016

Stanford University Chorale visited St John's College in June for a well-received weekend's residency, including two Evensongs, on Friday and Saturday 17 & 18 June, and a concert in Chapel on Sunday 19.

Hailing from Palo Alto, California, the Chorale is an acclaimed mixed voice ensemble, whose organist is former St John's Organ Scholar Robert Huw Morgan. As well as a homecoming visit for him, the residency was also a chance for the singers to renew acquaintances with the College Choir after the two groups' joint concert in California earlier this year.

Deo receives an Editor's Choice recommendation in Gramophone

17 June 2016

The Choir's new recording, 'Deo' has received an Editor's Choice recommendation in Gramophone, after an excellent review.

The disc, which came out in May, has already earned much critical acclaim, including a five-star review in The Observer and CD of the Month in Choir and Organ, and forms the first recording for the College's new recording label, an imprint on Signum Classics.

You can read the full review here

New commission by Benjamin Comeau given first performance

9 June 2016

Benjamin Comeau, recent Organ Scholar of Girton College, has been commissioned to write a new work for men's voices. This piece, entitled 'Vanity of Vanities' received its first performance at Evensong on Wednesday 8 June.
The commission, by the Master and Fellows of St John's College, has been generously supported by Paul and Joanna Lindsell and Jeremy Podger.

Deo enters classical charts at #2!

31 May 2016

The Choir's brand new recording of music by Jonathan Harvey has gone straight into the classical charts at #2 in its release week!

It has also garnered wide critical acclaim, including this selection of excellent reviews:

***** The Observer “ecstatic” “richly challenging” “The Choir tackles it all woth confidence and clarity”

***** Planet Hugill “a terrific disc” “These are performances to treasure, of great intensity and remarkable power”

New Canticles by Nico Muhly given first performance