About the Choir
The Queen’s College has a strong musical tradition, and the mixed-voiced chapel choir of twenty-five singers is recognized as one of the finest in Oxford and Cambridge. The choir is directed by Dr Owen Rees, Fellow in Music and College Organist, and the choral establishment includes eighteen Choral Scholars and two Organ Scholars. There are also some places each year for volunteer singers.
The choir’s principal regular activity during term-time is the singing of Choral Evensong three times a week in the eighteenth-century chapel, which is one of Oxford’s most notable buildings, with fine acoustics for music. There are also special services, such as the Boar’s Head carol concert and procession before Christmas (the Boar’s Head Carol originated at Queen’s) and an open-air service on the morning of Ascension Day. The main termly concert at Queen’s includes major works performed with the college orchestra in Michaelmas Term and with a professional ensemble in Hilary Term. The summer concert is in the beautiful surroundings of the Fellows’ Garden.
Queen’s choir has recently undertaken tours in the U.S.A., Sri Lanka, Spain, Portugal, and France. It also sings concerts and services at cathedrals and other venues in the UK - performing annually in Westminster Abbey in August, for example. In addition to broadcasts (including Radio 3 Choral Evensong), the choir records CDs regularly on the Guild label.
The choir’s repertory is wide-ranging and imaginative. Its most recent CD, Paradisi portas (Guild GMCD 7296) presents the first recordings of works from seventeenth-century Portugal and Spain, and the choir also performs a good deal of modern repertory.
Choral rehearsals are before each services and on Monday lunchtimes. Choral Scholars receive, in addition to the £200 Scholarship each year, substantial free singing tuition with professional teachers.
The Organ Scholars assist with the running of the choir, gain regular conducting experience, play for services and concerts, and help to organize the prestigious series of weekly recitals on the Frobenius organ, one of the finest instruments in the U.K. In addition to their £200 annual Scholarship, they receive substantial funding for organ lessons, and guaranteed rooms in main college throughout their time at Queen’s.