About the Choir
The Choir of King’s College London is one of the leading university choirs in England. Consisting of twenty-five choral scholars and two organ scholars, it is directed by the College Organist, David Trendell, who is also a Senior Lecturer in the Music Department.
The choir performs a large and varied repertoire ranging from the fourteenth century to the present day and has made many celebrated recordings of 16th-century English and Spanish music, reflecting the research interests of its Director. The choir also sings regularly commissioned music, including recent works by Antony Pitts and Susan Lawrie.
The choir’s principal role is singing at services in the College Chapel during term time. In addition, the choir gives many concerts, both in England and abroad. In the UK the Choir has performed recently at the Spitalfields Festival and the Oundle International Festival.
The choir regularly broadcasts on BBC Radio 3 Choral Evensong, Radio 4 Sunday Worship and the World Service, and makes frequent recordings. The choir was established in its present form in 1945 and has had three directors since then, Harold Last (1945–1952), E.H. Warrell MBE, FKC (1953–1991) before David Trendell arrived at King’s in 1992.
Many choral scholars have gone on to pursue postgraduate vocal studies at a conservatoire and have subsequently developed successful professional careers as soloists or as members of such prestigious ensembles as Stile Antico, the Gabrieli Consort and Polyphony. These include Benedict Hymas; Amy Payne; Jonathan McGovern, who won 2nd Prize in the 2011 Kathleen Ferrier Awards (and whose accompanist, Timothy End – a former organ scholar – won the Accompanist's Prize), who recently made his début at English National Opera; the tenor Thomas Hobbs, who has also recently appeared at ENO; and Anna Stéphany, winner of the 2005 Ferrier Competition and the Guildhall Gold Medal and who recently starred in the title role of Charpentier's Médée in Chicago.