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Somerville
Chapel Choir, in its present form, was founded
by Francis Knights
and Sam
Bayliss in 2001. The choir sings evensong every
Sunday during term and performs regularly in
concerts organised by Somerville Music Society.
The choir has sung evensong at Southwark and
Worcester Cathedrals and performed in a choral
festival at St. Mark’s Church, Swindon. 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 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. The
choir meets every Sunday from 4.30-5.45pm 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
(david.crown@virgin.net).
The organ scholars are Joseph Burgess and
Tristan
Mitchard. 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 summer 2010 Somerville Chapel
Choir will tour Italy. Follow this link to see
this term's music list or visit our
YouTube channel
to see
our latest videos.
Thomas Attwood: Teach me, O Lord
Francis Knights: Steal Away
John Ireland: Greater Love
Thomas Morley: Nolo mortem peccatoris
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 excellenet 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.
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 excellenet 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.