Overview
Wolfson College Choir will be welcoming new members on Monday 13 and 20 October. Contact Music Assistant for further information and to register your interest.
The Choir is a friendly and inclusive ensemble of around 40–50 singers, drawn from across the College community and it's free! The choir rehearses each Monday night during term from 19.30-21.30 in the Lee Hall. Weekly attendance is expected.
Current students are not required to audition for the first term, provided they are able to sing in tune and have at least a basic ability to read music.
Other members of College are warmly invited to contact the Director of Music to enquire about vacancies and to arrange an audition.
We would be particularly pleased to hear from prospective tenors.
Wolfson College Choir
Wolfson College Choir usually performs at least one concert and one service per term as well as singing at the College summer garden party and occasional external events such as the University Sermons. In Michaelmas term we also sing at the Advent Carol Service at St Mark's Church in Newnham.
Our repertoire is a mix of sacred and secular, ranging from the Renaissance through to the twenty-first century, including lighter music for garden parties and dinners. Recent works performed include: Don Gillthorpe's Jazz Missa Brevis, an Abba medley, a programme of Scandinavian music, Chilcott The Making of the Drum, Ramirez Misa Criolla, Purcell Dido & Aeneas, Fauré Requiem, Britten Hymn to St. Cecilia, Purcell Ode on St. Cecilia's Day, Haydn St. Nicholas Mass, Handel Messiah, Mozart Requiem, Brahms Ein deutsches Requiem and Liebeslieder Waltzer, Finzi In Terra Pax and Rutter Gloria. Most of the larger scale works are performed with a chamber ensemble, or brass ensemble.
Generous Choral Scholarships are available, however we do not participate in the University Choral Awards Scheme.
Occasional summer tours have included tours to Hungary, France, Thessaloniki and Rome. In 2023 the choir celebrated Lynette Alcántara's 30th anniversary conducting a combined alumni choir with a joyful alumni performance of Rutter's Gloria with local ensemble Prime Brass. 2024/2025 performances included a Gospel Christmas, Myths and Legends including works by Fauré and Gjeilo, and the European premiere of Requiem for Colour at Cadogan Hall in London.
Other past events include singing on BBC Songs of Praise, congregational hymns in the BBC TV programme 'Easter from King's, performing in Mahler's Symphony of a Thousand at Ely Cathedral, and joining a massed university chorus to accompany Simon Keenlyside in a performance of Vaughan Williams's Five Mystical Songs at the BBC Proms to celebrate the University's 800th anniversary. We have also joined forces in a 'massive' performance of Handel's Messiah at the Royal Festival Hall in London with The Sixteen choir and orchestra, conducted by Harry Christophers. Guest speakers have included the world-famous Medieval vocal group, Gothic Voices, and Grammy-award-winning music educator and gospel conductor, Dr Jeffrey Murdock.
Details
The Wolfson College Choir Taster Sessions are open to all and free to attend.
Access
This event will take place in the Lee Hall which has step-free access and an accessible toilet.
Contact
If you have any questions, please contact the music assistant - musicassistant@wolfson.cam.ac.uk
Music at Wolfson
Under the direction of Lyn Alcántara, Wolfson has a thriving Music Society and College Choir with a full programme of concerts - please sign up to their mailing list to keep up to date with their upcoming events.
Photograph by Alex Lau