Schola Cantorum of Oxford
Encyclopedia
Schola Cantorum of Oxford is the longest running chamber choir of Oxford University, and one of the longest established and widely known chamber choirs in the UK. It was founded in 1960 by the British-Hungarian conductor Laszlo Heltay as 'The Collegium Musicum Oxoniense' before adopting the name Schola Cantorum of Oxford in 1964. The choir has been conducted by a long line of eminent conductors including Andrew Parrott
, Nicholas Cleobury
, Ivor Bolton
and Jeremy Summerly
. The current conductor is Jamie Burton.
Schola Cantorum has worked with many highly respected musicians, including former patrons Sir Michael Tippett and Yehudi Menuhin
, as well as Leonard Bernstein
, Gustav Leonhart, Sir Colin Davis and Sir Neville Marriner. Current patrons of the choir include Emma Kirkby
(a former member), John Mark Ainsley
and the choir’s former conductor Andrew Parrott
. Other distinguished former members include Ian Bostridge
and Jane Glover
.
Schola Cantorum comprises around thirty singers, most of whom sing with the choir while they are students at Oxford University. Studying a wide range of academic subjects, including music, the choir members rehearse during university term-times, perform regularly in Oxford and give concerts all over the UK. In addition to its long recording history, the choir has developed a formidable international reputation and in recent years has given concert tours of Mexico, Argentina, Italy, Israel and Spain. In 2007 they became the first choir from a British university to tour in China, giving concerts in the Forbidden City Concert Hall
in Beijing and the new Oriental Arts Centre in Shanghai. The following year they appeared as guest artists at the 43rd International Festival Wratislavia Cantans
in Wroclaw, Poland.
In 2010 Schola celebrated its 50th Anniversary season, which began with a concert tour of the UK in September and culminated in a gala concert in the Sheldonian Theatre
on 1st May 2010 with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
, which included the world première of a specially commissioned work by James MacMillan. The choir welcomed back all of the former conductors of the choir and many former members, including Dame Emma Kirkby, and Christine Rice.
Andrew Parrott
Andrew Parrott is a British conductor, perhaps best known for his pioneering historically informed performances of pre-classical music. He conducts a wide range of repertoire, including contemporary music. He conducted the premiere of Judith Weir's A Night at the Chinese Opera...
, Nicholas Cleobury
Nicholas Cleobury
Nicholas Cleobury is an English conductor.He was organ scholar at Worcester College, Oxford, conductor of Schola Cantorum of Oxford and held assistant organist posts at Chichester Cathedral and Christ Church, Oxford before turning to orchestral and operatic work...
, Ivor Bolton
Ivor Bolton
Ivor Bolton is an English conductor and harpsichordist. He studied at Clare College and at the Royal College of Music...
and Jeremy Summerly
Jeremy Summerly
Jeremy Summerly is a British conductor. He was educated at Lichfield Cathedral , at Winchester College and at New College, Oxford . While at Oxford he conducted the New College Chamber Orchestra and the Oxford Chamber Choir...
. The current conductor is Jamie Burton.
Schola Cantorum has worked with many highly respected musicians, including former patrons Sir Michael Tippett and Yehudi Menuhin
Yehudi Menuhin
Yehudi Menuhin, Baron Menuhin, OM, KBE was a Russian Jewish American violinist and conductor who spent most of his performing career in the United Kingdom. He was born to Russian Jewish parents in the United States, but became a citizen of Switzerland in 1970, and of the United Kingdom in 1985...
, as well as Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American conductor, composer, author, music lecturer and pianist. He was among the first conductors born and educated in the United States of America to receive worldwide acclaim...
, Gustav Leonhart, Sir Colin Davis and Sir Neville Marriner. Current patrons of the choir include Emma Kirkby
Emma Kirkby
Dame Carolyn Emma Kirkby, DBE is an English soprano singer and one of the world's most renowned early music specialists. She attended Sherborne School For Girls in Dorset and was a classics student at Somerville College, Oxford, and an English teacher before developing a career as a soloist...
(a former member), John Mark Ainsley
John Mark Ainsley
John Mark Ainsley is an English lyric tenor. Known for his supple voice, Ainsley is particularly admired for his interpretations of baroque music and the works of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart...
and the choir’s former conductor Andrew Parrott
Andrew Parrott
Andrew Parrott is a British conductor, perhaps best known for his pioneering historically informed performances of pre-classical music. He conducts a wide range of repertoire, including contemporary music. He conducted the premiere of Judith Weir's A Night at the Chinese Opera...
. Other distinguished former members include Ian Bostridge
Ian Bostridge
Ian Bostridge CBE is an English tenor, well known for his performances as an opera singer and as a song recitalist.-Early life and education:...
and Jane Glover
Jane Glover
Jane Glover CBE is a British-born conductor and music scholar.-Early life:Glover attended Haberdashers' Monmouth School for Girls. Her father, Robert Finlay Glover MA TD,was headmaster of Monmouth School and it was through this connection that she was able to meet Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears...
.
Schola Cantorum comprises around thirty singers, most of whom sing with the choir while they are students at Oxford University. Studying a wide range of academic subjects, including music, the choir members rehearse during university term-times, perform regularly in Oxford and give concerts all over the UK. In addition to its long recording history, the choir has developed a formidable international reputation and in recent years has given concert tours of Mexico, Argentina, Italy, Israel and Spain. In 2007 they became the first choir from a British university to tour in China, giving concerts in the Forbidden City Concert Hall
Forbidden City Concert Hall
Forbidden City Concert Hall is a multi-purpose venue in Beijing. The name of the venue came from the fact that it is located within in the grounds of the Beijing Zhongshan Park, a vast former imperial garden and now a public park located to the west of the Forbidden City.Aside from its acoustics,...
in Beijing and the new Oriental Arts Centre in Shanghai. The following year they appeared as guest artists at the 43rd International Festival Wratislavia Cantans
Wratislavia Cantans
Wratislavia Cantans, also referred to as the International Festival of Oratorio and Cantata Music, is held every September in Wrocław...
in Wroclaw, Poland.
In 2010 Schola celebrated its 50th Anniversary season, which began with a concert tour of the UK in September and culminated in a gala concert in the Sheldonian Theatre
Sheldonian Theatre
The Sheldonian Theatre, located in Oxford, England, was built from 1664 to 1668 after a design by Christopher Wren for the University of Oxford. The building is named after Gilbert Sheldon, chancellor of the university at the time and the project's main financial backer...
on 1st May 2010 with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment is a British period instrument orchestra. The OAE is a resident orchestra of the Southbank Centre, London, associate orchestra at Glyndebourne Festival Opera and has its headquarters at Kings Place...
, which included the world première of a specially commissioned work by James MacMillan. The choir welcomed back all of the former conductors of the choir and many former members, including Dame Emma Kirkby, and Christine Rice.