Choir Association Newsletter: Lent Term 2014

St John’s College Choir

Choir Association

Welcome

Newsletter: Lent Term 2014

Greetings from the Choir Association. We are delighted to welcome you to the first edition of our brand new termly Newsletter, which will update you with the latest Members’ and Choir news. Each issue will contain an Events section listing dates for your diary, including forthcoming services and Association gatherings. If you are reading this issue on our website then you can click on the images and text written in bold, which have been hyperlinked for further information.

Chorister, Choral Scholar, Cellist and now...

Director of St John’s Voices Graham Walker (Chorister 1986-1991, Choral Scholar 1996-1999) is very familiar with Chapel routines but now he is seeing Choral Evensong in a whole new light from behind the Conductor’s stand - he has recently been appointed as Musical Director of St John’s Voices, the new mixed voice College Choir. Graham read Mathematics at St John’s and subsequently took up a scholarship at the Royal Academy of Music to study cello and baroque cello. He plays in various ensembles, including Classico Latino (a piano trio performing classic Latin American music).

Classico Latino gave an incredible performance at the May Concert in 2013 with Johnian Lizzie Ball (1999).

St John’s Voices sing Choral Evensong on Mondays at 6.30pm and this term they are tackling repertoire including Purcell’s ‘Rejoice in the Lord alway’ in their first Evensong with strings and ‘The Blues Service’

by Iain Farrington (Organ Scholar 1996-1999). Alongside his work with St John’s Voices, Graham is Choir Director of St Mark’s, Newnham, Musical Director of the Haslingfield Choir & Orchestra and Director of the New Cambridge Singers.

Renew your membership online Donations and renewal of annual Choir Association subscription fees can now be accepted online: www.sjcchoir.co.uk/choir-association/join

Christmas Tour to Germany and Amsterdam During the Christmas tour to Germany and Amsterdam, the Choir gave three concerts and performed at several high-profile engagements. Whilst in Munich, the Choir performed at a private reception at the Hotel Bayerischer Hof and sang a concert in the Herkulessaal. The Choir also performed at the launch of the €18million appeal to rebuild the Museum Mensch und Natur (pictured left). The event was hosted by Princess Auguste von Bayern, who studied for her PhD at the University of Cambridge.The Choir had plenty of excursions on tour, including a fascinating morning at BMW Headquarters in Munich where they were given a tour of the factory and the BMW Welt. They also visited Neuschwanstein Castle and the Allianz Arena, home of Bayern Munich Football club.

En route to Amsterdam, the Choir stopped off to give a sell-out concert to an audience of 850 at the Stiftskirche in Stuttgart. The Choir gave their final concert of their Christmas tour to a packed Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, which was broadcast live on AVRO Radio (pictured above). Find out more about the Choir’s activities on tour at www.sjcchoir.co.uk/latest and keep in touch with the Choir on Twitter @SJCCHOIR & on Facebook.

The New Chorister Fund The College has recently launched a new fund to support the Choristers. The Chorister Fund will primarily be used to provide means-tested bursaries, enabling more children the opportunity to become Choristers. If you would like to contribute to this Fund or would like to support the Choir in another way, please contact The Rev’d Duncan Dormor (01223 338633).

Ben Inman: from Choirboy to Gent Tenor Ben Inman joined the Choir in October 2013. He is taking a gap year from his undergraduate degree at the University of Leeds, where he is studying music.

Back in 2005, aged twelve, Ben was auditioned to become a part of the popular classical boy band ‘The Choirboys’. Little did he know that, when the producers from Universal Classics and Jazz came to Southwell Minster, he would become one third of a classical singing sensation.

‘The Choirboys’ made numerous television appearances from 2005-2006 including Blue Peter, Top of the Pops and Parkinson. Ben’s voice was also used on the soundtrack of the 2005 King Kong film. Ben hopes to pursue a professional career as a tenor and has found his year so far at St John’s an excellent stepping stone towards this ambition.

About the Choir Association

The Choir Association of St John’s College brings together Alumni and Friends with a shared appreciation of our rich choral tradition. Their invaluable financial contributions provide bursaries for current members of the Choir who hope to pursue a career in singing. Those who pay an annual subscription to the Association receive priority seating for special services in Chapel, invitations to various social events and the opportunity to keep in contact with former members of the Choir.

Appointment of new Honorary Patron Dr David Hill (1976), Organ Scholar and former Director of Music at St John’s has kindly accepted the post of Honorary Patron of the Choir Association from January 2014. He will be joining our esteemed Honorary Patrons Simon Keenlyside, David Pountney and Dr Christopher Robinson.

Introducing our new Chairman

Simon Robson Brown (Choral Scholar 1992-1995) read Archaeology & Anthropology, and was a Bass Choral Scholar. Simon particularly enjoyed his time as Manager of the Gentlemen of St John’s during the 1993-1994 Academic year. The highlight of his year of office was a tour of the US in 1994 with seven of the Gents, directed by Dale Adelmann. Simon reports that Choir tours were a little lean in those days, but there were frequent visits to Holland, and a memorable tour of South Africa in 1995. Post St John’s Simon continued singing occasionally with the Holst Singers, directed by Stephen Layton, whilst forging a career in Financial Services. He is currently employed as a Property Equities Portfolio Manager for CBRE Clarion in London. Simon lives in Cambridge with his wife, Laura, and three children, all of whom attend St John’s College School.

Chapel Services Members News Congratulations to Martin Denny and Harriet (pictured below), Aaron Saturday 15 February – 6.30 p.m.

Burchall, John Scott, Peter Morton, Richard Wilberforce, Tim Ravalde CANTATA EVENSONG and Sam Furness who all got married in 2013. with St John’s Sinfonia J.S. Bach: “Ich hab in Gottes Herz und Sinn,” BWV 92 This service will end at approximately 7.45 p.m.

Wednesday 5 March – 6.30 p.m.

ASH WEDNESDAY EVENSONG Allegri Miserere mei, Deus Tallis Short Service Tomkins Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom

If you would like to notify the Association of any future events or news regarding Members, please email: choir@joh.cam.ac.uk

RIP

The Association has been notified of the passing of the following Members: Terrence Clifford (Chorister 1960-1962), Doris Saturday 8 March – 6.00 p.m.

A MEDITATION ON THE PASSION Orr (widow of Robin Orr (Director of Music 1938-1951)), Alan Whitney (Choral Scholar 1948-1951), Douglas Argyle (Friend), Derek OF CHRIST Perry (Choral Scholar 1951-1954), Julian Phillips (Chorister 19551955) and John Bull (Chorister 1938-1944).

A service of readings and music including Poulenc’s Quatre motets pour un temps de penitence and works by Lotti, Purcell, Rossini, Nan Guest is compiling information for a book about the history of the Tallis and Weelkes.

Choir School. She would welcome contributions from Members about their memories of the Choir School, please contact Emma Crothers on For a full service list please 01223 768176. click here.

Get in touch

Choir Association Events

Monday 3 March 2014 – Choir Association London Drinks Saturday 7 June 2014 – Choir Association Garden Party

and Evensong Further information about forthcoming Choir Association Events will be sent out nearer the time.