Choir of Clare College, Cambridge
Vocal Ensemble
At a glance
Choir of Clare College, Cambridge
Vocal Ensemble
This really is exceptional singing - immaculately balanced and blended, with text always at its heart. Ross and his young singers have given us quite the gift in this series. I can't wait to hear what they do next.Alexandra Coghlan, Gramophone
Since the founding of a mixed voice choir in 1972, the Choir of Clare College has gained an international reputation as one of the leading university choral groups in the world.
Biography —
Since the founding of a mixed voice choir in 1972, the Choir of Clare College has gained an international reputation as one of the world’s leading university choirs. In addition to its primary function of leading services three times a week in the College chapel, the Choir keeps an active schedule recording, broadcasting, and performing. Former directors have included John Rutter and Timothy Brown. Under the direction of Graham Ross, Director of Music since 2010, it has been praised for its consistently ‘thrilling’ and ‘outstanding’ performances worldwide. Recent engagements include performances with the Orchestra of the Age of the Enlightenment, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Britten Sinfonia, Aalborg Symphony Orchestra, Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra and Orquesta Sinfonia Nacional de Mexico, as well as recitals in Barcelona’s Palau de Musica, El Escorial Madrid, Palacio de Bellas Artes Mexico City, St John’s Smith Square London, and across the USA and Canada.
In addition to live performances, the Choir has produced an impressive discography of more than forty recordings. Their recordings under Graham Ross on the Harmonia Mundi label have been released to great critical acclaim, earning praise for ‘exceptional singing’ and ‘immaculate performances’, a Le Choix de France Musique and a Diapason d’Or award, and garnering a Gramophone Award nomination. The Choir’s nine-disc series of Music for the Church Year has received numerous 5 star reviews in the national and international press, with recordings for Advent (2013), Passiontide (2014), Christmas (2014), Ascensiontide and Pentecost (2015), All Saints and All Souls (2015), Easter (2016), Epiphany (2017), Corpus Christi (2017) and Trinity (2018). The Choir’s album Remembrance featured as Classic FM’s Album of the Week, and other acclaimed recent recordings have included the first recording of choral works by Imogen Holst, and Reformation 1517–2017, a special album of music celebrating the quincentenary of the Reformation, STABAT, focussing on the music of Arvo Pärt and an album of traditional carols offered by twentieth-century composers, arranged around Benjamin Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols. The Choir’s latest album is Ice Land: The Eternal Music, a selection of Icelandic music of the last century, released by the Harmonia Mundi label in 2022 and once again featured as Classic FM’s Album of the Week.
The Choir has toured widely, including in the United States of America, Australia, Japan, China, Singapore, Malaysia, Russia, the Middle East, Iceland, and mainland Europe. It has collaborated with the OAE in performances of Handel’s Jephtha under the direction of René Jacobs, with the Australian Chamber Orchestra in Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, with the LPO at the Royal Festival Hall conducted by Sir Mark Elder and Vladimir Jurowski, and with many other ensembles including the Academy of Ancient Music, European Union Baroque Orchestra, Freiburger Barockorchester, Israel Camerata, Aurora Orchestra, the Schubert Ensemble and the Dmitri Ensemble. The Choir performs a wide range of repertoire throughout the year, and has commissioned and premièred works by many composers, including Herbert Howells, John Tavener, John Rutter, Giles Swayne, James Whitbourn, Andrew Carter, Jonathan Dove, Julian Phillips, Tarik O’Regan, Alexander Raskatov, Graham Ross, Brett Dean, Matthew Martin, Nico Muhly, Anna Semple, Emily Hazrati, Joshua Pacey and Toby Hession.
News —

Review round up of Palestrina album by Choir of Clare College, Cambridge
A round up of reviews of the latest Palestrina Revealed disc on Harmonia Mundi Read more

New Palestrina recording by the Choir of Clare College, Cambridge
The Choir of Clare College, Cambridge has released a new album to celebrate the 500th anniversary or Palestrina's birth with Harmonia Mundi. Read more

Review of Choir of Clare College, Cambridge
The Catholic Herald reviews the Choir of Clare College, Cambridge's Advent Carol Service Read more

Choir of Clare College, Cambridge ‘Bethlehem Star’ Tour
The Choir's Christmas tour starts this weekend Read more

Choir of Clare College, Cambridge on BBC Radio 3
Choir of Clare College, Cambridge, with director Graham Ross, broadcast on BBC Radio 3 Choral Evensong Read more
Photos —





Reviews —
The Choir of Clare College is a choir of quality that, without doubt, had exceptional tuning at all points, a notable elegance in tackling the pieces, excellent balance between voice parts... and despite the young age of its members, clearly observed the choral tradition that has been on this planet for decades... vigorous, powerful and an extremely well balanced performance.
Codalario on Gijon Festival performance
A tour de force.
Classical Music Magazine
This really is exceptional singing - immaculately balanced and blended, with text always at its heart. Ross and his young singers have given us quite the gift in this series. I can't wait to hear what they do next.
Alexandra Coghlan, Gramophone on 'O lux beata Trinitas'
Choir and band – Clare Baroque – play and sing as though their lives depend on it.
Choir and Organ Magazine on "Reformation 1517-2017"
Taking inspiration from the seasons of the Anglican year – Advent, Passiontide, Pentecost, Easter – Graham Ross and the mixed-voice Choir of Clare College, Cambridge, have put together a thoughtful series of recordings that keep one foot in traditional Oxbridge Renaissance repertoire while also moving that tradition determinedly forwards into the 21st century. Their latest disc – ‘Music for Epiphany’ – is no exception, offering a collision of new and old that coalesces into a seasonal collection that works just as well as a recital as it does a reference recording.
Gramophone Magazine on "Mater Ora Filium"
This is a beautifully programmed and performed disc... Of recordings of the choir and organ version of Duruflé's Requiem, I've heard none better. This, though, is just the crowning point of an engaging and thought-provoking recital, including a perfectly poised and paced Harris Bring us, O Lord God and conductor Graham Ross's exquisite own arrangement of Abide with me.
BBC Music Magazine on "Remembrance"
extraordinary and captivating...In Pierre Villette's mouth-wateringly luscious Hymn To The Virgin and William Harris' ravishing Faire Is The Heaven, the sound it produced was almost mind-blowing in its opulence...a world-class choral group
The Straits Times
These are, all told, performances of real quality and intelligence, by a choir which has carved a highly distinctive niche for itself amid the Oxbridge scramble.
BBC Music Magazine on "Haec dies: Music for Easter"
Clare College Choir, founded in 1971, set the gold standard for mixed collegiate choirs and maintains its prowess in this disc of Easter music…
Fiona Maddocks, The Observer
Here is music with the power to transform your life.
The Times on 'Veni Emmanuel: Music for Advent'
Carefully chosen, elegantly sequenced and excellently sung: one of the most attractive new Easter recordings of the year.
BBC Radio 3 on The Choir of Clare College, Cambridge disc of ‘Stabat Mater dolorosa: Music for Passiontide’ for Harmonia Mundi
This is an outstanding disk... I find it hard to believe that the music has ever been better sung than in this searing performance by Clare College Choir.
Brian Wilson of MusicWeb International on The Choir of Clare College, Cambridge disc of ‘Stabat Mater dolorosa: Music for Passiontide’ for Harmonia Mundi
It is full of highly sentient, technically excellent performances, and is atmospherically recorded.
Classical Music Magazine on The Choir of Clare College, Cambridge disc of ‘Stabat Mater dolorosa: Music for Passiontide’ for Harmonia Mundi
...not only a collection of some of the most beautiful choral music to be heard but exciting evidence of the evolving and unique identity of the choir itself ...All the works on this disc [have] been extensively and intelligently crafted. The singing and, above all, direction are of such consummate musicianship.
Gramophone - Caroline Gill on The Choir of Clare College, Cambridge disc of ‘Stabat Mater dolorosa: Music for Passiontide’ for Harmonia Mundi
This is immensely beautiful singing, the Choir of Clare College under Graham Ross producing a sound which is neatly manicured and has been polished to an almost flawless shine. Balance and intonation are impeccable and every tiny nuance and inflection is lovingly nurtured. … One of the big successes is Gesualdo’s ‘Caligaverunt oculi mei’ – … with a choir which sings with such technical perfection as this, this is a performance which has real impact. At the climax of Bruckner’s ‘Christus factus est’ … Ross keeps his powder dry right up to the moment when it all bursts out with spine-tingling effect
International Record Review, Marc Rochester on The Choir of Clare College, Cambridge disc of ‘Stabat Mater dolorosa: Music for Passiontide’ for Harmonia Mundi
The Choir of Clare College has long been a personal favourite, and this performance did not disappoint ... Graham Ross’ outstanding training of these young singers produced a sound which it was hard to believe was coming from a group of students. ... this was choral singing which it would be difficult to equal anywhere. *****
Music OMH, Melanie Eskenazi on Choir of Clare College's Bach: St John Passion at King's Place, London
The choral singing … with the Choir of Clare College, Cambridge, supplying the semi-chorus – was unstintingly sumptuous and secure.
The Guardian
Selected Discography —

Palestrina Revealed
Presto MusicThe opening Magnificat introduces the choir’s relatively light sound, with a clarity that suits polyphony particularly well. There’s little or no vibrato here, but plenty of energy...For such relatively young musicians their assurance and poise is remarkable

Rolling River - American Choral
BBC Music MagazineA boldly expressive performance... grasped with a refreshing confidence.'

Ralph Vaughan Williams Pan's Anniversary
The Times39 voices from Clare College, Cambridge, weave wondrously radiant textures above the Britten Sinfonia strings. Most inspiring.

ICE LAND: The Eternal Music

STABAT
Financial Times****

O lux beata Trinitas: Music for Trinity
Reformation 1517-2017
Financial Timesthe buoyant performances by the Choir of Clare College, Cambridge, and Clare Baroque, conducted by Graham Ross, lift the spirits.

Pange Lingua: Music for Corpus Christi
Financial Timesradiantly sung...gloriously recorded...

Mater Ora Filium: Music for Epiphany
Financial TimesThis wide-ranging selection from Graham Ross and the Choir of Clare College, Cambridge, is their most imaginative so far

Remembrance
BBC Music MagazineThis is a beautifully programmed and performed disc... Of recordings of the choir and organ version of Duruflé's Requiem, I've heard none better. This, though, is just the crowning point of an engaging and thought-provoking recital, including a perfectly poised and paced Harris Bring us, O Lord God and conductor Graham Ross's exquisite own arrangement of Abide with me.

Haec dies: Music for Easter
MusicWeb InternationalI can’t think of a better collection of music for Easter

Requiem: Music for All Saints & All Souls
Financial Timesthe Choir of Clare College, conducted by Graham Ross, summons all its eloquence for a masterpiece of the genre.

Ascendit Deus: Music for Ascensiontide & Pentecost
Gramophone, April 2015Splendidly bright...vigorous...haunting effect...all beautifully performed by this accomplished choir. Let’s hope an Easter disc is on its way.

Lux de Caelo: Music for Christmas
Sinfini Music, December 2014Singing-wise, this might just be the best disc of the year. These young voices are game for anything, impeccably drilled and musically sensitive.

Stabat Mater dolorosa: Music for Passiontide
BBC Radio 3, April 2013Carefully chosen, elegantly sequenced and excellently sung: one of the most attractive new Easter recordings of the year.

Veni Emmanuel: Music for Advent
The Times, November 2013It’s heartening to find [Tavener's God is with us] sounding so exciting and magnificent in the Advent collection Veni Emmanuel from the excellent Choir of Clare College, Cambridge. ... Tavener’s five minutes act like a bolt of lightning. ... Here is music with the power to transform your life.
Related Media —
Palestrina revealed | Ad Te Levavi
Graham Ross and the Choir of Clare College, Cambridge celebrate the 500th anniversary of Palestrina’s birth in style, recording for the very first time an album of outstanding works by the Roman master that are still little-known View on YouTubeO lux beata Trinitas: Music for Trinity
Graham Ross introduces the Choir of Clare College, Cambridge's ninth and final disc in the Music for the Church Year series on Harmonia Mundi. View on YouTubeReformation 1517-2017
Introduction to the Choir's latest recording 'Reformation 1517-2017' on Harmonia Mundi, part of Clare College's Reformation500 series. View on YouTube'Mater ora filium: Music for Epiphany'
Album showcase for the choir's latest seasonal disc, part of their Music for the Church Year series on Harmonia Mundi. View on YouTube'Remembrance' from the Choir of Clare College
Introduction to the choir's release on Harmonia Mundi for Remembrance, featuring Durufle's Requiem View on YouTubeIntroducing 'Haec dies: Music for Easter'
The Choir of Clare College, Cambridge and director Graham Ross's latest release on Harmonia Mundi US for March 2016. View on YouTubeRecordings Showcase: 'Ascendit Deus: Music for Ascensiontide and Pentecost'
A showcase of the Choir's ongoing recording series with Harmonia Mundi USA of Music for the Church Year, with an introduction to their forthcoming release 'Ascendit Deus: Music for Ascensiontide and Pentecost', released on 9 March 2015. View on YouTubeChoir of Clare College, Cambridge live at Cadogan Hall
The Choir of Clare College, Cambridge with The Dmitri Ensemble, conducted by Graham Ross, perform Johannes Brahms arr. John Eliot Gardiner: Geistliches Lied Op. 30 (extract) and Dmitri Shostakovich arr. Barshai: Chamber Symphony: I. Largo, II. Allegro (extracts) View on YouTubeImogen Holst: Hallo my fancy, whither wilt thou go? (1972)
The Choir of Clare College, Cambridge performs Imogen Holst's (1907 - 1984) "Hallo my fancy, whither wilt thou go?" View on YouTube'For I am under the same accusation with my Saviour' - Choir of Clare College Cambridge
From Benjamin Britten's Rejoice in the Lamb: A Festival Cantata Choir of Clare College, Cambridge View on SoundCloudHymne to Christ - Choir of Clare College Cambridge
A Hymne to Christ, Benjamin Britten Choir of Clare College, Cambridge View on SoundCloudHandel: Te Deum 'Utrecht'
The Choir of Clare College, Cambridge with the European Union Baroque Orchestra perform Georg Frideric Händel's (1685-1759) Te Deum 'Utrecht' HWV 278 (1713) and Jubilate 'Utrecht' HWV 279 View on YouTubeDownloads —
Contact —
Name
- Ellie Lister