King's College Choir

The King's College Choir is one of today's most accomplished and renowned representatives of the great English choral tradition. It was created by King Henry VI, who founded King's College, Cambridge, in 1441, to provide daily singing in his Chapel, which remains the main task of the choir to this day.

Today the choir is directed by Stephen Cleobury and derives much of its fame from the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, broadcast worldwide to millions on Christmas Eve every year, and the TV service Carols from King's which accompanies it. The choir commissions a carol from a contemporary composer for each year's Festival.

The statutes of the College provide for sixteen choristers. These are boys who are educated at King's College School. From the beginning of the 20th century fourteen undergraduates have also sung in the choir as Choral Scholars.

Former members of the Choir (including Directors of Music and Organ Scholars) are able to join the King's College Choir Association.

The Choir of King's College, Cambridge maintains a strong recording and touring schedule, in addition to its performances at King's College Chapel, in Cambridge. In recent years, the choir has toured throughout Europe, the US, South America, Australia and Asia. The choir regularly performs in the United Kingdom, giving concerts in the major London concert halls, as well as at numerous festivals around the country. In 2013, the Choir of King's College, Cambridge sang at the Prime Minister's Easter reception held at 10 Downing Street.

The choir also performs with symphony orchestras, such as the BBC Symphony Orchestra at the BBC Proms in 2005 and 2009, the London Symphony Orchestra, and performs an annual Christmas concert with the Philharmonia Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall.

The Choir of King's College, Cambridge has recorded more than 100 albums, on the EMI and Decca labels, and, in 2013, formed its own eponymous label. Releases on this label include Nine Lessons and Carols, with a selection of music from its Christmas Eve service, Mozart Requiem: Realisations, containing Mozart's Requiem, as well as full movements completed by other composers, and Britten's St Nicolas.

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