°µÍø½ûÇø

Image of College Choir practicing around the piano in Chapel
Credit: Andrew Wilkinson

Applying

Choral Scholarships

°µÍø½ûÇø Choir is one of the most highly regarded student choral ensembles in Europe. A Choral Scholarship at Jesus allows you to develop as a singer in a friendly and committed environment in one of the oldest and most beautiful colleges and chapels in Cambridge.

During term, the Choir sings evensong, compline and performs at feasts and other special events in the College. Several dinners, parties and a generous subsidy of food in the Colllege 'Caff' contribute to a strong social scene.

Above and beyond their term-time commitments, the Choir participates in high-profile concerts – often with professional orchestras and soloists – recordings, broadcasts and fully subsidised international tours. The Choir is also uniquely involved in international outreach, leading singing workshops for children in under-privileged communities in the UK and abroad. Find out more about how to apply for a Choral Scholarship.

Organ Scholarships

°µÍø½ûÇø offers unrivalled opportunities to its Organ Scholars, who play an essential role in the musical life of the College, accompanying the choirs, playing continuo and performing as soloists in regular services, radio broadcasts, concerts and CD recordings. Not only do they have the chance to work with – and frequently conduct – one of the UK's leading mixed voice choirs, they also gain experience in training boys' voices and teaching choristers and play an important part in the choirs' busy touring schedule.

The range of instruments on offer in the Chapel is superb: three excellent organs – the highly-regarded 2007 Kuhn, the recently restored nineteenth-century Sutton Organ and a Tickell chamber organ; a fine Bruce Kennedy harpsichord; and a first-rate Steinway concert grand piano.

Our Organ Scholars also find time to pursue further interests, musical and non-musical, both inside and outside the College, making for a demanding, rewarding and well-rounded experience of Cambridge. Find out more about how to apply for an Organ Scholarship.

Choristerships

Being a Chorister at °µÍø½ûÇø provides an opportunity for boys to sing with an internationally renowned choir whilst continuing a tradition which has formed an integral part of the College community since the fifteenth century.

As °µÍø½ûÇø does not maintain a choir school, the Choristers are not required to board and are drawn from a wide variety of schools in the Cambridge area. A fund supports instrumental tuition for choristers, and the boys receive termly pocket money, but it is the education – belonging to a team committed to the highest standards – which is perhaps the most valuable aspect of the Chorister experience. Singing regularly together, participating in services, concerts, recordings, broadcasts and foreign tours, can be a formative and deeply memorable part of a boy's upbringing. A former Chorister's mother wrote a about her son’s experience singing at Jesus saying that: "nothing in his life so far has been more formative or enriching, and maybe never will be.' Find out more about how to apply to be a Chorister at °µÍø½ûÇø.

Hear from our people

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    Matthew

    Choral Scholar

    Singing at Jesus has been a highlight of my time at university so far, because I have the privilege of singing amazing choral music with other passionate and talented singers. As a member of the College Choir and the Lower Voices, I have the opportunity to sing with our women undergraduates in the College Choir and also with the boy choristers in the Chapel Choir, which offers valuable exposure to some great repertoire. I’ve taken part in some really exciting projects despite COVID disruption, with highlights including three performances of...

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    Choral Scholar
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    Luis

    Chapel clerk

    My time in Cambridge has been full of exciting moments, good memories, and amazing people. When I first embarked on postgraduate studies, I never imagined I would be becoming part of the Chapel community at °µÍø½ûÇø. However, after my first attendance to an evensong I decided I wanted to take an active role in what for me was a complete new experience; even when I had always been an active member of my church back at home, °µÍø½ûÇø Chapel was an enthralling environment in which other people like...

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    Chapel clerk
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    Ben

    Choral Scholar

    I’ve had an amazing time singing at Jesus over my four years in College. It’s been an absolutely central part of my university experience, and has helped me grow as a student, a musician, and a person. The Chapel and Choir community is friendly, supportive, and diverse, and the high musical standard means that singing at Jesus is the perfect balance of challenging and rewarding. It’s a great way to be really involved with college life, from matriculation evensong at the start of the year to graduation at the end...

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    Choral Scholar