About Us: The Choir of Somerville College Oxford, in its present form, was founded by Francis Knights and Sam Bayliss in 2001. The choir sings evensong every Sunday during term and performs in concerts organised by Somerville Music Society. Somerville Choir is curr... moreThe Choir of Somerville College Oxford, in its present form, was founded by Francis Knights and Sam Bayliss in 2001. The choir sings evensong every Sunday during term and performs in concerts organised by Somerville Music Society. Somerville Choir is currently being conducted by David Crown. He is assisted by the two organ scholars, Douglas Knight and Robert Pecksmith (http://www.robert-smith.org.uk ), and choir manager Stefan Schwarz.
Since David Crown took over as Director of Chapel Music in 2007, the choir has been involved in two opera productions (Purcell's 'Dido and Aeneas ' and Gluck's 'Orfeo ed Euridice') as well as concerts in Oxford, Brighton, Wells, Swindon, Upton upon Severn and Steeple Aston. In recent years the choir has also sung evensong at Southwark, Worcester, Winchester, Wells and Berlin Cathedrals.
In 2005 and 2009 the choir toured Germany under the patronage of Sir Peter Torry, the British ambassador to Germany, and sang services and concerts in Berlin, Potsdam and Brandenburg.
In 2009/2010 the choir appeared in a memorial concert for Iris Murdoch, performed Händel's Messiah in Oxford, gave a performance of John Tavener's 'Song for Athene' in the presence of the composer and toured Italy (Milan, Lodi, Crema, Caravaggio).
Last year the choir gave several performances Bach's St John Passion for eminent conductor Nicholas Cleobury and recorded its first commercial CD at Douai Abbey (Maurice Duruflé's Requiem and Robin Milford's 'Mass for Five Voices'). The CD which features international soloists Mark Stone (baritone), Christine Rice (mezzo-soprano) and Guy Johnston (cello) will be released in August 2012. In 2011/2012 the choir collaborated with an Oxford-based professional orchestra and sang the Accession Day service at St. Paul's Cathedral to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth's accession to the throne. less
Location: Somerville College Chapel, Woodstock Road, OX2 6HD, Oxford, United Kingdom [map]
3,302 views - added October 31, 2011 - admin of this choir page is Stefan Schwarz
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