Choral and Chapel Music
Chapel Choir
The Chapel Choir, currently comprised of around 65 auditioned singers from all year groups, is one of the most high-profile pupil groups in College. Many members of this choir have gone on to win choral scholarships at various universities, including Oxford and Cambridge. The foremost responsibility of the Chapel Choir is to lead the worship in our beautiful Neo-Gothic Chapel, singing at the weekly College Eucharist or Morning Prayer on Sunday mornings, as well as on major occasions such as the Advent and Christmas Carol Services, Prize Day and Commemoration services, Confirmation, Remembrance and Old Marlburian Club Day. The repertoire is varied in style and genre, from plainsong to music from the present day.
The choir enjoys frequent performance opportunities outside College, including an annual recital at St Paul’s Cathedral, London, as well as highly anticipated tours in the UK and abroad. Parents and guests are always welcome to join us at Chapel services when the choir sings.
Schola Cantorum
Schola Cantorum is a group formed of the College’s finest singers in the Remove, Hundred and Sixth Form, strictly by invitation. Many of these singers are ex-cathedral choristers and the repertoire aims to challenge and reward the brightest and the most talented. They sing additional services of compline throughout the year marking particular liturgical feasts, and have the opportunity to sing services alongside Oxbridge College choirs, perform at the Royal Academy of Music, and sing for additional services in the College Chapel (such as memorial services) . One of the highlights of the calendar is the early-morning performance of madrigals on May Day atop the Bradleian Arches in the College Court. Most past members have gone on to win choral scholarships at universities.
Junior Consort
The Junior Consort comprises of over 30 boys and girls in their first year at Marlborough and is by invitation. They sing a wide variety of contemporary arrangements (pop, rock, and music theatre) and sacred pieces. Rehearsals take place once a week and recent performances have included Memorial Hall concerts and the annual Advent Carol Service.
Rock Choir
This choir is an open and unauditioned choir for all pupils to take part in – singing an accessible range of music, from pop and rock, to musicals, gospel, and world. It is a light-hearted opportunity for pupils to take part in an eclectic range of repertoire and have fun through singing.
Choral Society
In 1934 the College Musical Society performed a large-scale choral work with orchestra in Chapel, establishing a tradition that continues today. Now made up of nearly 300 members, the Choral Society has performed major works such as Requiems by Verdi (2015), Mozart (2014), Brahms (2013), Fauré, Dvorak and Rutter, as well as Handel’s Messiah, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Haydn’s Creation and Bach’s St John Passion and Mass in B Minor. The Choral Society is looking forward with great excitement to performing a new musical work, commissioned by the College, from world-renowned composer Paul Mealor.
Contact Us
For further information about choral music at the College, or to join the Choral Society, please contact Katie Dick, Honorary Secretary, at choralsociety@marlboroughcollege.org
