Jesus College Chapel Choir
The College Choir is open to all members of the College, both undergraduate and postgraduate, as well as singers from other colleges and institutions in Oxford. The only requirement is a willingness to commit to the regular schedule of rehearsals and services during term. We’re a lively, hardworking and welcoming team, and we look forward to meeting you.
There is no audition process, and you can benefit from free singing lessons with a professional teacher, a free Sunday formal hall, a summer tour, and social activities throughout the year.
You can hear samples of the choir performing on our recent tour to the Netherlands below:
The Choir is open to all members of the College, both undergraduate and postgraduate, as well as singers from other colleges and institutions in Oxford. The only requirement is a willingness to commit to the regular schedule of rehearsals and services during term. We’re a lively, hardworking and welcoming team, and we look forward to meeting you.
Our main focus is the weekly Sunday Evening service, which takes the form of Choral Evensong. A religious service, it provides us with an opportunity to sing a large range of music, as well as time afterwards to socialise together as a community.
The choir sings at various special services throughout the year, and it often collaborates with other musicians from the College in presenting works such as Cantatas and Oratorios. Michaelmas Term highlights include Carols by Candlelight (repeated at a major London church). Hilary Term includes Evensong on St David’s Day service sung entirely in Welsh, as well as the Turl Street Arts Festival Evensong when we join forces with the choirs of Exeter and Lincoln Colleges. Finally, at the beginning of Trinity Term, there is the Service for the Commemoration of Benefactors and, just after the end of term, the annual tour.
Other than the joy of singing (which is brilliant for your mental and physical health and for combatting stress) there are many rewards for your commitment. Tea and cakes are served before the service on Sundays and, afterwards, sherry and Formal Hall, free of charge. The College also provides free singing tuition for all members of the Choir, currently with David Crown. Our lovely social reps make sure that we spend time together away from the choir stalls with a variety of Choir Socials throughout the year.
The Choir rehearses 6.30 pm-8.00 pm on Thursday evenings and 4.00 pm-5.15 pm on Sundays before Evensong. Regular singing lessons are offered to all members of the choir, free of charge.
The college funds eight auditioned singers (two each of soprano, alto, tenor and bass) who form the backbone of the chapel choir.
As section leaders, they attend all rehearsals and services, helping to mentor and support the less–experienced members of the team. In return, members of the Consort receive a payment of £300 per year, plus up to five singing lessons each term, free Sunday formals and the opportunity to perform as a distinct group from time to time. This year, we have vacancies in all voice parts (Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Bass). Contact peter.parshall@jesus.ox.ac.uk if you’d like more information or to fix an audition time.
The Jesus College Chapel Choir CD is now available and is available for purchase from the Lodge.