- Choir of Clare College Cambridge
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The Choir of Clare College, Cambridge is a mixed voice choir whose primary function is to lead services in the College's Chapel. In addition, the choir keeps an active schedule of recording, broadcasting, and performing. The Choir has toured throughout Europe, the United States, Japan, China, Russia, and the Middle East. The Choir also has an extensive discography and currently records for the Harmonia Mundi Label. [1]
Contents
History
The first Chapel Choir was formed in 1866. For the next one hundred years the Choir consisted of undergraduate lower voices and a treble line provided by boys from city schools. In 1966, the use of boys was discontinued and for a brief period there was no upper line. The current mixed voice choir was established in 1971 by Peter Dennison, a music Fellow of the College. He was succeeded in 1975 by the College's first Director of Music, John Rutter. Rutter left in 1979 to focus on composing but retains a close connection with the College as an Honourary Fellow. Timothy Brown directed the choir for 31 years until 2010 when he was succeeded by the Choir's current Director of Music, Graham Ross.
Repertoire
The Choir has an extensive and diverse repertoire. Many composers have been commissioned to write for the choir, including Sir John Tavener, Jonathan Dove, Herbert Howells, Tarik O'Regan, John Rutter, Giles Swayne (the College's Composer in Residence) and James Whitbourn.
Notable former choral and organ scholars
- Ivor Bolton
- William Denis Browne
- Nicholas Collon
- Richard Egarr
- Stephen Farr
- Martin How
- Elin Manahan Thomas
- Sir Roger Norrington
- John Rutter
- Richard Stilgoe
References
External links
Categories:- English choirs
- Music from Cambridge
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