Services and Rehearsals
Our main service of the week is Evensong on Sunday, which starts at 6pm in our Chapel. This is a traditional, candlelit service where the choir will sing a setting of the Canticles, Psalm, Responses as well as an Anthem. There will usually be three hymns as well as organ voluntaries before and after the service. Our rehearsals are on Thursdays and Sundays.
Whilst we are a voluntary choir, excellent attendance, assured dedication and firm commitment is required to ensure we perform to the best of our ability. Previous experience is not necessary but would be very helpful - if you have none but still want to join then get in touch with either organ scholar and they will invite you to a rehearsal where you can see if it's right for you.
Unlike many college choirs in Oxford, we have no director of music - the running of the choir is entirely left to the two organ scholars and is overseen by the chaplain. The organ scholars work together to create music lists, take rehearsals, manage the library, organise tours and cathedral visits and many other activities. As organ scholars they are entitled to a room on site for the entirety of their course, equipped with a clavinova, and are allowed to claim money from the college for organ tuition.
As of 2012, Ralph Allwood MBE has been appointed Advisor to Chapel Music at Trinity College, Oxford. He will work closely in mentoring the organ scholars in matters concerning choral direction, as well as frequently visit the choir to check on progress and give choral workshops to aid the development of the choir as a whole.
As well as organ scholarships, the college offers choral awards. The choral scholars are given free singing lessons and are expected to lead their sections in both services and rehearsals. They should know a lot of the key repertoire well, or at least be able to sight-sing the majority of it, and should lead by example in rehearsals. There are also spaces for choral exhibitions for members of the choir, who will be offered the opportunity of receiving professional vocal coaching from our designated professional, Joanna Campion-Watt
The top few singers in the choir are invited to join Trinity Singers, a smaller group focused on developing ensembleship and advanced repertoire. They sing midweek Eucharists as well as Madrigals in the Summer, as well as recitals and concerts throughout the year.
The men from the choir also sing Compline every fortnight.
For more information about Organ and Choral Scholarships at Trinity, please click here.
Recent Visits
Every Summer the choir goes on tour, usually somewhere in Europe. Recent tour destinations include Dublin, Rome, Paris and Barcelona. These tours are undoubtedly one of the highlights of the choir's year, offering once in a lifetime opportunities to sing in amazing venues.
The choir also makes regular visits singing services in Cathedrals and other churches around the country, as well as visit Churchill College in Cambridge regularly to collaborate in concert.
Pictures of previous tours can be found here.
Recent tour destinations
2012 - Vienna (St. Stephen's Cathedral, St. Peter's Church, St. Charles' Church)
2011 - Barcelona (La Sagrada Familia, Barcelona Cathedral, Santa Maria del Pi)
2010 - Paris (Notre Dame Cathedral, St. Eustache, St Gervais)
2009 - Rome (Basilica Papale di San Paolo Fuori le Mura, Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore)
2008 - Dublin (St. Patrick's Cathedral)
Recent cathedral and church visits
2012 - Ripon College Cuddesdon
2011 - Ely Cathedral, Southwark Cathedral
If you would like to donate for a future tour, please contact either organ scholar or the chaplain for more details.
The choir also makes regular visits singing services in Cathedrals and other churches around the country, as well as visit Churchill College in Cambridge regularly to collaborate in concert.
Pictures of previous tours can be found here.
Recent tour destinations
2012 - Vienna (St. Stephen's Cathedral, St. Peter's Church, St. Charles' Church)
2011 - Barcelona (La Sagrada Familia, Barcelona Cathedral, Santa Maria del Pi)
2010 - Paris (Notre Dame Cathedral, St. Eustache, St Gervais)
2009 - Rome (Basilica Papale di San Paolo Fuori le Mura, Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore)
2008 - Dublin (St. Patrick's Cathedral)
Recent cathedral and church visits
2012 - Ripon College Cuddesdon
2011 - Ely Cathedral, Southwark Cathedral
If you would like to donate for a future tour, please contact either organ scholar or the chaplain for more details.