Singing with New College Choir
An opportunity for singers considering a choral award at Oxford
If you would like to join New College Choir for an evening, here is your opportunity. Download and fill in this PDF format application form (opens in new window) and post it off. Get your application in at least two weeks before your first preferred date. In order to get the most out of the experience you need to be singing at grade 7/8 standard (ABRSM).
We can accept one guest singer per service, and we have to restrict the Choir to its permanent members for special events (such as carol services and broadcast evensongs). If your application is accepted, you’ll be sent the music beforehand.
A 6th-former who joined the choir for evensong recently wrote:
I had a tremendous experience at New College on Tuesday. It gave me a huge insight into what life as a choral scholar, and as a student, feels like.
I very much enjoyed singing Evensong, and I took much away with me in terms of how different the choir is from our School Chamber Choir. The whole attitude towards singing is completely different and there are many specific differences; for example the way in which the Psalms are sung.
The experience has definitely given me some goals to work towards with my singing. I am enrolled on an 'Eton Choral Course' this summer and I'm hoping that along with continuing work during the next two terms it will help me to improve further.
So I would like to offer my greatest thanks for the whole experience, and also to the choral scholar who looked after me during the service and for supper afterwards.
The Choir sings every day of the week except Wednesday during University Terms. There may be the occasional variation to this pattern. On Monday the service is sung by men’s voices; on Thursday we have a Sung Eucharist. You would need to be at the Song Room at New College by 5 pm for the pre-service rehearsal. The service is at 6.15 pm (6 pm on Sunday) followed by dinner in hall (except on Saturday, when people fend for themselves). Accommodation allowing, the College is happy to put up visitors for the night.
- Dates of University Term
- Michaelmas 2007: 5 October–2 December
- Hilary 2008: 11 January–9 March
- Trinity 2008: 18 April–15 June
Further information about choral awards may be found on the main New College website under choral awards (link opens in new window).
Information about the term’s music is posted on the Chapel Music List page at the beginning of each term. You will also find information about choir activities (concerts, touring and recordings) elsewhere on this site. If you have any further questions please feel free to phone Edward Higginbottom, on 01865 279519, or email: .
New College Choir in concert in Nashville, USA (photo David Crenshaw)
