Choral and Organ Scholars

Our Choirs

King's College has two choirs: the male voice King's College Choir and the mixed voice King's Voices. 

We offer Choral Scholarships for the Choir and Choral Exhibitions for King's Voices.

King's College Choir is one of the world's best known ensembles. It comprises six basses, four tenors and four counter-tenors, as well as the choristers (trebles). The Choir sings services regularly in the Chapel as well as giving concerts worldwide, doing radio and TV broadcasts and making CDs.

The lower voices of King's College Choir are made up of undergraduate singers at the College known as Choral Scholars. Despite the Choir’s renown, its Choral Scholars come from many different backgrounds, and it is always worth making an enquiry or application, whatever you (or your school!) think of your own ability.

King's Voices sings Evensong in the Chapel every Monday during the University term. There are also concerts, performances at dinners, and an annual tour. As one member comments, 'I would recommend King's Voices to anyone keen to join a high-quality choir with amazing opportunities but without the intense commitment of some other chapel choirs.'

All Choral Awards at Cambridge are awarded after candidates have received an academic offer to study at Cambridge. The Cambridge Colleges hold joint choral auditions in March to assess the vocal potential and musicianship of applicants for Choral Awards. There is also an informal choral event in late September (Vocal Assessments), prior to Cambridge application via UCAS. This event allows interested candidates to sing to the Director of Music and to ask about the nature of choral commitments at King's. Overnight accommodation is available for those who need it.

As a Choral Scholar you can expect:

Performance at the heart of your experience:

• Seven services a week during term time, with a day off on Monday and two services on Sunday
• Regular television and radio broadcasts
• Concerts with leading orchestras and high profile solo opportunities

A high standard of training and development:

• Free singing lessons and consultations with leading singing teachers
• Expenses and fees for concerts and tours
• Free lessons in the Alexander Technique
• Masterclasses on many aspects of solo and choral performance
• A piano in your room and a grant to assist in the purchase of sheet music

A close-knit network that extends across Cambridge and beyond:

• You can become a member of The King's Men (formerly 'Collegium Regale'), who have a concert, touring and recording programme of their own
• You join a close-knit group of people with a great social life
• You become part of the University music scene, where you can direct shows and put on concerts in a wide variety of musical styles

The Organ Scholars at King’s are undergraduate students at the College who have a range of roles and responsibilities in assisting the Director of Music. Principally these involve playing for choral services in the Chapel, but the Organ Scholars help too with the training of the choristers and probationers, as well as rehearsing and conducting the full choir from time to time.

Life as an Organ Scholar

The Organ Scholars at King’s are undergraduate students at the College who have a range of roles and responsibilities in assisting the Director of Music. Principally these involve playing for choral services in the Chapel, but the Organ Scholars help too with the training of the choristers and probationers, as well as rehearsing and conducting the full choir from time to time.

Choral services take place six days a week during the eight-week University terms, and the two Organ Scholars share the playing for these services, as well as some of their other duties in assisting the Director of Music. As with the Choral Scholars, the Organ Scholars receive fees for ‘extra’ performing duties. Additionally, the College pays for lessons in organ playing and improvisation, singing and Alexander Technique, as well as regular programme of masterclasses.

Touring Opportunities

The Organ Scholars accompany the Choir on its touring programme, which affords the opportunity of playing many interesting instruments across the world. Recent Organ Scholars have played the instruments at the Sydney Opera House, the great organ in Riga Cathedral, the famous Müller organ at St Bavo in Haarlem, the new Mander organ at St Ignatius Loyola, New York City, and the newly restored instrument at the Royal Albert Hall.

The scholarship also provides opportunities for continuo-playing, notably with the Academy of Ancient Music and the Philharmonia Orchestra.

Keyboard Instruments at King’s

The organ at King’s is a four manual Harrison & Harrison organ, and is essentially the instrument built by Arthur Harrison in the 1930s, alongside his projects at Westminster Abbey and the Royal Albert Hall. Since then only minor tonal alterations have been made, although a number of performance aids have also been added. During the first nine months of 2016 the organ underwent a major restoration.

There is a small chamber organ in the Chapel and a tracker-action instrument (two manuals and pedals) available for practice at the College School. Additionally there is a harpsichord and a number of fine grand pianos available for use in the College. Both Organ Scholars are provided with a piano in their College rooms.

Life after King’s

The organ scholarship at King's is an excellent preparation for many different career paths, particularly those in the musical profession. In the field of cathedral and church music, former Organ Scholars currently direct the music at Durham, Gloucester and Norwich Cathedrals, Trinity College Cambridge, Magdalen College and New College Oxford, and the Temple Church in London.

A number, such as Sir Andrew Davis and Richard Farnes, have pursued conducting careers, while others, such as Simon Preston, Thomas Trotter, David Briggs and David Goode, have forged international careers as solo players. Some of the most recent holders are to be found in assistant positions at Westminster Cathedral and Durham Cathedral.