The Choir of Somerville College, one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford, is mixed voice and is led by a Director of Chapel Music, currently William Dawes,[1] incumbent since 2017.[2] In conjunction with the organ scholars, the choir is central to the musical life of the college and, in its present form, was founded by Francis Knights and Sam Bayliss in 2001.[1][3] Previous Directors of Chapel Music include David Crown,[4] who directed the choir between 2007[5] and 2015.[6] The choir sings in Somerville College Chapel every Sunday during term and performs regularly in concerts organised by Somerville Music Society.[1][7] The organ of the college chapel is a traditionally voiced instrument by Harrison & Harrison.[8] Somerville offers up to five Choral Exhibitions each year to applicants reading any subject.[9]
In 2009/2010 the choir appeared in a memorial concert for Somerville alumna Iris Murdoch, performed Handel's Messiah and gave a performance of John Tavener's Song for Athene in the presence of Tavener himself and his wife, a Somerville alumna.[10][11]
Engagements in 2012/2013 included further performances at St Paul's Cathedral, a concert at the Liberal Jewish Synagogue in London as well as the release of a second CD, 'Advent Calendar', in Autumn 2013[3][12][16] which was featured in the in-flight programming of selected British Airways flights.[17] The choir also made an appearance on BBC Radio 3.[12]
On 14 June 2015 the choir hosted a special evensong, attended by many choir alumni, to bid farewell Director of Chapel Music, David Crown, who had been in post for eight years.[6] In January 2017, William Dawes was appointed Director of Chapel Music.[2]
In December 2018, the choir enjoyed a successful tour to India, becoming the first Oxford college choir to perform in the country. The tour involved a mixture of performances at prestigious venues including the NCPA and Mehboob Studio in Mumbai and the Church of St. Francis of Assisi in Old Goa, as well as outreach work with charities including Songbound and the Karta Initiative.[19]