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The Choir of Somerville College, Oxford
Somerville Choir, in its present form, was founded by Francis Knights (Director of Chapel Music) and Sam Bayliss (Organ Scholar/College Organist) in 2001. The choir sings evensong every Sunday during term and performs regularly in concerts organised by Somerville Music Society. We meet every Sunday from 4.00-5.45pm to rehearse for the evening service at 6pm. There are additional rehearsals every Thursday at 5pm. Everyone is welcome to join the choir; auditions can be arranged with David Crown. The organ scholars are Douglas Knight and Robert Smith.
In recent years the choir has sung services and concerts at Worcester, Southwark, Winchester and Wells cathedrals. In 2005 and 2009 the choir toured Germany under the patronage of Sir Peter Torry, the British ambassador to Germany, and sang services and concerts in Berlin, Potsdam and Brandenburg. A third tour took the choir to Italy where we sang in Milan, Crema and Lodi.
Since David Crown took over as Director of Chapel Music in 2007, the choir has been involved in two opera productions (Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas and Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice) as well as concerts in Oxford, Brighton, Swindon and Upton. In 2009/2010 the choir appeared in a memorial concert for Iris Murdoch, performed Händel's Messiah in Oxford and gave a performance of John Tavener's Song for Athene in the presence of the composer. In 2010/2011 Somerville Choir performed Bach's St John Passion and recorded its first commercial CD (Maurice Duruflé's Requiem and Robin Milford's Mass for Five Voices) which will be released by Stone Records in February 2012. The album features internationally acclaimed soloists Christine Rice (mezzo-soprano), Mark Stone (baritone) and Guy Johnston (cello). Plans for this year include performances of Bach's cantata Christ lag in Todesbanden and Schubert's Mass in G as well as evensong at St Paul's Cathedral and a summer tour.
Somerville Choir, in its present form, was founded by Francis Knights (Director of Chapel Music) and Sam Bayliss (Organ Scholar/College Organist) in 2001. The choir sings evensong every Sunday during term and performs regularly in concerts organised by Somerville Music Society. We meet every Sunday from 4.00-5.45pm to rehearse for the evening service at 6pm. There are additional rehearsals every Thursday at 5pm. Everyone is welcome to join the choir; auditions can be arranged with David Crown. The organ scholars are Douglas Knight and Robert Smith.
In recent years the choir has sung services and concerts at Worcester, Southwark, Winchester and Wells cathedrals. In 2005 and 2009 the choir toured Germany under the patronage of Sir Peter Torry, the British ambassador to Germany, and sang services and concerts in Berlin, Potsdam and Brandenburg. A third tour took the choir to Italy where we sang in Milan, Crema and Lodi.
Since David Crown took over as Director of Chapel Music in 2007, the choir has been involved in two opera productions (Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas and Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice) as well as concerts in Oxford, Brighton, Swindon and Upton. In 2009/2010 the choir appeared in a memorial concert for Iris Murdoch, performed Händel's Messiah in Oxford and gave a performance of John Tavener's Song for Athene in the presence of the composer. In 2010/2011 Somerville Choir performed Bach's St John Passion and recorded its first commercial CD (Maurice Duruflé's Requiem and Robin Milford's Mass for Five Voices) which will be released by Stone Records in February 2012. The album features internationally acclaimed soloists Christine Rice (mezzo-soprano), Mark Stone (baritone) and Guy Johnston (cello). Plans for this year include performances of Bach's cantata Christ lag in Todesbanden and Schubert's Mass in G as well as evensong at St Paul's Cathedral and a summer tour.
Thomas Attwood: Teach me, O Lord
Francis Knights: Steal Away
John Ireland: Greater Love
David Hughes: Nunc Dimittis
David Crown, Director of Chapel
Music
David started singing as a choral scholar in the choir of King's College, Cambridge, under Stephen Cleobury with whom he has returned several times as soloist. From there he began his singing career winning several prestigious competitions including the National Federation of Music Societies Award and the Wagner Society Bayreuth Bursary. His career as an operatic soloist flourished. He has sung with companies such as Scottish Opera and at the Covent Garden Festival, roles including Don Giovanni, Mephistopheles (Gounod's Faust), Guglielmo (Così) and the title role in the The Flying Dutchman as well as performing across Europe, America and Canada, working as soloist with many distinguished musicians including Graham Johnson, Simon Rattle, Richard Hickox, Martyn Brabbins, David Parry and Martin Isepp. He also studied lieder with Olaf Bär and Elly Ameling.
During this time he also conducted several choirs, choral societies and orchestras and playing in a string quartet with members of the leading London orchestras. David has given many recitals at festivals and major venues countrywide including the Wigmore Hall, St. John's, Smith Square, the Cheltenham Town Hall and the Pump Room in Bath as well as oratorio performances at most of the cathedrals around the UK.
He has built a considerable reputation as a singing teacher and teaches choral scholars and others from across Oxford University. As a conductor he studied with among others Colin Metters (Professor at the Royal Academy of Music) and has received excellent reviews for his work (including in The Times). He was delighted to be asked to take over as Director of Music at Somerville College in Oxford.
David started singing as a choral scholar in the choir of King's College, Cambridge, under Stephen Cleobury with whom he has returned several times as soloist. From there he began his singing career winning several prestigious competitions including the National Federation of Music Societies Award and the Wagner Society Bayreuth Bursary. His career as an operatic soloist flourished. He has sung with companies such as Scottish Opera and at the Covent Garden Festival, roles including Don Giovanni, Mephistopheles (Gounod's Faust), Guglielmo (Così) and the title role in the The Flying Dutchman as well as performing across Europe, America and Canada, working as soloist with many distinguished musicians including Graham Johnson, Simon Rattle, Richard Hickox, Martyn Brabbins, David Parry and Martin Isepp. He also studied lieder with Olaf Bär and Elly Ameling.
During this time he also conducted several choirs, choral societies and orchestras and playing in a string quartet with members of the leading London orchestras. David has given many recitals at festivals and major venues countrywide including the Wigmore Hall, St. John's, Smith Square, the Cheltenham Town Hall and the Pump Room in Bath as well as oratorio performances at most of the cathedrals around the UK.
He has built a considerable reputation as a singing teacher and teaches choral scholars and others from across Oxford University. As a conductor he studied with among others Colin Metters (Professor at the Royal Academy of Music) and has received excellent reviews for his work (including in The Times). He was delighted to be asked to take over as Director of Music at Somerville College in Oxford.
Current Members 2011/2012
Alice Cross, Alis Lewis, Amelia Walsh, Andreas Kyrris, Christoph Schnedermann, Daniel Reeve, David Bowe, David Hughes, Douglas Knight (Senior Organ Scholar), Ellen Border, Francesca Germinario, Ian Buchanan, Isabel Sinagola, Kate Piddington, Laura Schack, Matthew Kerr, Michael Brendan Brett, Orly Watson, Rebecca Nohl, Robert Smith (Junior Organ Scholar), Ruby Riley,
Samuel Talalay, Simon Grange, Stefan Schwarz (Choir Manager), Stephen O'Driscoll, Tal Katsir
Alice Cross, Alis Lewis, Amelia Walsh, Andreas Kyrris, Christoph Schnedermann, Daniel Reeve, David Bowe, David Hughes, Douglas Knight (Senior Organ Scholar), Ellen Border, Francesca Germinario, Ian Buchanan, Isabel Sinagola, Kate Piddington, Laura Schack, Matthew Kerr, Michael Brendan Brett, Orly Watson, Rebecca Nohl, Robert Smith (Junior Organ Scholar), Ruby Riley,
Samuel Talalay, Simon Grange, Stefan Schwarz (Choir Manager), Stephen O'Driscoll, Tal Katsir
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Douglas Knight, Senior Organ
Scholar
Douglas is currently the senior organ scholar at Somerville and studies with Katharine Pardee, in addition to receiving lessons from Daniel Moult and Ann Elise Smoot. He has performed at St. Lawrence Jewry Lane, St. Giles Cripplegate, Union Chapel and other London churches, and as a member of the St. Giles Junior Organ Conservatoire he has played in masterclasses to Dame Gillian Weir, Hans Fagius, David Goode and Robert Quinney. Douglas is also studying the clarinet with Elizabeth Drew having obtained his DipABRSM last summer under his first teacher Nicholas Shipman, with whom he began receiving lessons ten years ago. He has taken part in the North London Music festival, winning prizes in woodwind classes, and enjoys playing contemporary repertoire.
Douglas is currently the senior organ scholar at Somerville and studies with Katharine Pardee, in addition to receiving lessons from Daniel Moult and Ann Elise Smoot. He has performed at St. Lawrence Jewry Lane, St. Giles Cripplegate, Union Chapel and other London churches, and as a member of the St. Giles Junior Organ Conservatoire he has played in masterclasses to Dame Gillian Weir, Hans Fagius, David Goode and Robert Quinney. Douglas is also studying the clarinet with Elizabeth Drew having obtained his DipABRSM last summer under his first teacher Nicholas Shipman, with whom he began receiving lessons ten years ago. He has taken part in the North London Music festival, winning prizes in woodwind classes, and enjoys playing contemporary repertoire.
Robert Smith, Junior Organ
Scholar
Currently Somerville’s junior organ scholar, Robert began his musical life aged 5 when he began
learning the piano, achieving Grade 8 Distinction aged 13. Thereupon he also took up the organ
under the tutelage of Henry Fairs at the Birmingham Conservatoire, where he remained for five
years. During this time he performed regularly and participated in several masterclasses, notably at
Lincoln’s Inn and at St Chad’s Cathedral, as well as accompanying several vocal groups associated
with the Birmingham Conservatoire. He also played regularly for his parish Church in Bournville,
Birmingham, and upon reaching Oxford he now receives lessons from William Whitehead. Robert
also maintains his piano studies with Margaret Newman, achieving a DipABRSM aged 16, winning
numerous prizes in music competitions, both for his solo playing and as part of a piano trio.
Currently Somerville’s junior organ scholar, Robert began his musical life aged 5 when he began
learning the piano, achieving Grade 8 Distinction aged 13. Thereupon he also took up the organ
under the tutelage of Henry Fairs at the Birmingham Conservatoire, where he remained for five
years. During this time he performed regularly and participated in several masterclasses, notably at
Lincoln’s Inn and at St Chad’s Cathedral, as well as accompanying several vocal groups associated
with the Birmingham Conservatoire. He also played regularly for his parish Church in Bournville,
Birmingham, and upon reaching Oxford he now receives lessons from William Whitehead. Robert
also maintains his piano studies with Margaret Newman, achieving a DipABRSM aged 16, winning
numerous prizes in music competitions, both for his solo playing and as part of a piano trio.