BBC Radio 4 Sunday Worship will be broadcast from Worcester Chapel, for the third time in four years, to almost two million listeners on Sunday of 5th week. The service commemorates the beginning of Heaven Sent: The Beauty of Holiness, an exploration of Christianity through the Arts, and will be sung by both the boys’ and mixed choirs. The preacher will be Ben Quash, Professor of Christianity and the Arts at King’s College, London. The service will begin at 8.05 am, but those who wish to attend should arrive by 7.30. Breakfast will be served for the congregation afterwards in Hall.
Category: News
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Choristers sing Fauré Requiem at Christ Church Cathedral
The choristers of Worcester College greatly enjoyed taking part in a concert at Christ Church Cathedral together with the Cathedral choristers and a festival choir made up of former choristers, parents and friends.
The concert’s repertoire was Fauré’s Requiem and Vaughan Williams’ Five Mystical Songs. The choir was directed by Dr Stephen Darlington and James Gorick, a former Christ Church chorister.
It was fantastic to be part of this concert and support the work of the Christ Church Cathedral School Education Trust.
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Hilary Term 2013
The coming term promises to be very exciting. Alongside the regular pattern of choral services, our choirs are taking part in several notable events.
BBC Radio 4’s Sunday Worship will be broadcast live from the chapel on Sunday 10th February, featuring both the college choirs.
The Mixed Choir will be singing under James MacMillan at the University Church on Ash Wednesday (13th February), alongside Hertford, University and Lincoln College Choirs as part of the University Chaplaincy week on Christianity and the Arts.
The Boys’ Choir will be performing Faure’s Requiem alongside Christ Church Cathedral Choir on Saturday 2nd February, as part of a Chorister association event.
Download the term’s Music List
Further information about the term’s special events
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Happy Christmas from Worcester College Chapel, Oxford
We wish all our readers a happy Christmas and peaceful New Year.
Choral services resume on Sunday 13th January 2013.
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More fantastic reviews for 'This Christmas Night'
The Mixed Choir’s new release ‘This Christmas Night’ continues to receive outstanding reviews.The Observer commented that the recording was “a refreshing album of contemporary carols from this classy Oxford choir, packed with world premiere recordings … offering soothing balm for any family tensions amid the tinsel.”
The recording also featured twice on BBC Radio 3. On Saturday 22nd December, Andrew McGregor featured it on CD Review as he discussed the notable Christmas releases from Oxbridge colleges, commenting especially on the number of world premières on the album, “a fine selection of modern carols and world premières… [that serves as] an excellent reminder as to how strong the carol tradition is [in Britain]”.
The following day, Aled Jones played a track from the recording on The Choir and made reference to the numerous positive reviews that the album has gained, and the “impressive number, by anyone’s standards” of world premières.
This Christmas Night is available to download from resonusclassics.com
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'This Christmas Night' Reviews
The Mixed Choir’s latest release This Christmas Night has received universal praise from a range of reviewers, including BBC Music Magazine, Gramophone, International Record Review and the Daily Telegraph.We are proud to be named BBC Music Magazine’s Christmas Choice 2012.
BBC Music Magazine ‘Christmas Choice’ 2012: “A wonderful collection of carols… delectably sensitive performances… the sound is impeccable”
“Focusing on the English repertoire, Resonus has produced a winner for the Christmas market – 20 radiant carols… all worth hearing” – Financial Times
“Yes, much of the writing on this release is challenging for the singers but The Choir of Worcester College, Oxford rises to it and give a stunning performance, ably captured by producer/engineer Adam Binks. If you have any interest in contemporary choral music this is a must-hear and if you are looking for new music for Christmas this is an excellent choice.” – CrossRhythms
“In a world full of the conventional Christmas recording this comes as a breath of fresh air” – Lark Reviews
“This refreshing selection of contemporary carols is given capable performances by Worcester College Chapel Mixed Choir. With so much new repertoire, this is an album which invites multiple listenings. It certainly makes a change from the standard fare, and marks Worcester College Chapel Mixed Choir out as one to watch.” – Cherwell.org
“[…] they acquit themselves well in a varied programme devoted to music by recent and contemporary composers. Like Resonus’s Christmas offering last year, this is sufficiently different not to get lost in the welter of seasonal recordings.” – MusicWeb International
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Boys' Choir perform at St Paul's
The Boys’ Choir performed a short recital at St Paul’s Cathedral, London on Wednesday 12th November, as part of Opportunity International‘s Inaugural Gala Dinner. All choir members enjoyed this very special opportunity immensely, and we are delighted that the evening’s fundraising was a great success, raising more than £400,000.
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Worcester Choirs on Facebook and Twitter
Check out the choirs’ new Facebook page, or follow them on Twitter.
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Choir Tours
This summer the choirs toured abroad with the Boys’ Choir going to Brussels in July, singing at the Cathedral and Anglican Church.
In September the Mixed Choir sang in Beziers, Montpellier and the villages of Roujan and Fontes in the beautiful Languedoc region of France.
