This choir was officially founded in 1670 at St. John’s College, Cambridge, although can be traced to the College’s original foundation in 1511 and has built up a national and international reputation over the more than 300 years it has been performing. As of 2022 they have admitted women and girls to join as singers which made it the only Oxbridge choir to allow males and females to sing together.
It comprises 15 Choral Scholars from St. John’s College and in the region of 20 Choristers and Probationers from St. John’s College School, who sing at the Choral Evensong from Tuesdays to Sundays and the Sung Eucharist on Sundays. The choir sing every day in the College Chapel with it’s purpose being to enhance the worship, daily services and worship. It is accompanied by 2 Organ Scholars who also assist the music director.
Covering more than 500 years in their repertoire, they also commission new works and in recent years have included a Bach cantata with St. John’s Sinfonia at Evensong each term. It has been led by many Directors of Music over the years with just some of these being George Loosemore from 1661, John Clarke Whitfield from 1799 to 1820, George Garrett from 1857 to 1897, George Guest from 1951 to 1991, David Hill from 2003 to 2007, Andrew Nethsingha from 2007 to 2022 and most recently, Christopher Gray from 2023.
Known for it’s performances it has toured all over the world and in many venues in England. The choir has been accompanied by orchestra and ensembles that include Britten Sinfonia, Fretwork, His Majesty’s Sagbutts and Cornetts, the London Mozart Players and the Philharmonia and appeared on many radio and television broadcasts, including their annual Advent Carol Services recorded by BBC Radio 3. In 2011 it launched its SJC Live webcasts.
It has made over 90 recordings and in 2016 launched its St. John’s recording label in conjunction with Signum Records.
Recordings
Away in a Manger (William J Kirkpatrick/James Ramsey Murray)
London 421 022 (CD: Christmas Weekend -16 Favourite Carols)
Conductor – George Guest
Organ – Stephen Cleobury
Born on Earth (French traditional/words – Jacqueline Froom)
London Records 421-022-2 (Christmas Weekend – 16 Favourite Carols)
Conductor – George Guest
Arranger – John Rutter
Organ – Stephen Cleobury
The First Nowell (Traditional/Anonymous)
London 421 022 (CD: Christmas Weekend -16 Favourite Carols)
Conductor – George Guest
Organ – Stephen Cleobury
I Saw Three Ships (Traditional/Anonymous)
London 421 022 (CD: Christmas Weekend -16 Favourite Carols)
Conductor – George Guest
Organ – Stephen Cleobury
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (Traditional/Anonymous)
London 421 022 (CD: Christmas Weekend -16 Favourite Carols)
Conductor – George Guest
Organ – Stephen Cleobury
Good King Wenceslas (John Mason Neale)
London 421 022 (CD: Christmas Weekend -16 Favourite Carols)
Conductor – George Guest
Organ – Stephen Cleobury
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (Charles Wesley/Felix Mendelssohn)
London 421 022 (CD: Christmas Weekend -16 Favourite Carols)
Conductor – George Guest
Organ – Stephen Cleobury
O Little Town of Bethlehem (Phillips Brooks/Lewis Redner)
London 421 022 (CD: Christmas Weekend -16 Favourite Carols)
Conductor – George Guest
Organ – Stephen Cleobury
Up! Good Christen Folk (Traditional Finnish/George Ratcliffe Woodward)
London 421 022 (CD: Christmas Weekend -16 Favourite Carols)
Conductor – George Guest
Organ – Stephen Cleobury
Roberto Alagna recordings
Adeste Fidelis (Frederick Oakeley/John Francis Wade)
EMI 57017 (CD: The Christmas Album)
Arranger – Thomas Greatorex
Conductor – Robin Smith
Tenor – Roberto Alagna
London Symphony Orchestra
New London Children’s Choir
Smithills School Junior Choir
London Oratory School Choir
Choir of St. Johns College, Cambridge
Sources:
- https://www.sjcchoir.co.uk/about/choir
- https://www.joh.cam.ac.uk/chapel-choir
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Choir_of_St_John%27s_College,_Cambridge
- https://www.gentlemenofstjohns.co.uk/news/2021/10/15/girls-and-women-to-sing-as-members-of-the-choir-of-st-johns
- https://www.allmusic.com/artist/st-johns-college-choir-cambridge-mn0002175156/biography
- https://www.discogs.com/release/23815103-St-Johns-College-Choir-Cambridge-Christmas-Weekend-16-Favourite-Carols
- https://www.discogs.com/release/6456231-The-Choir-Of-Saint-Johns-College-Cambridge-Directed-By-George-Guest-Christmas-At-Saint-Johns
- https://www.allmusic.com/artist/st-johns-college-choir-cambridge-mn0002175156/discography