Choir of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge

The Choir of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge is a Cambridge collegiate choir, under the direction of the musicologist and conductor David Skinner, with Senior Organ Scholar Laurence Carden and Assistant Organist Rachel Haworth.^[1] The composer Eric Whitacre spent three months in the College in 2010, later being appointed Composer in Residence for five years.^[2]

Choir

The choir usually consists of between six and eight sopranos, between six and eight altos, six tenors, three baritones, and three basses.^[3] It sings three services per week during term-time, on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Uniquely among the collegiate choirs of Oxford and Cambridge, it sings Latin Vespers on Wednesdays. In accordance with the Director's research interests, the choir has a particular focus on 16th century English and Continental music.

A new chamber organ was recently commissioned for the chapel, built by Taylor and Boody.^[4] Construction of a new main organ for the chapel will begin in the winter of 2016.

Recordings

The choir has recorded several CDs under the Obsidian label.^[5] Its collaboration with Fretwork and Alamire, in a CD of the music of Thomas Tomkins, won the Gramophone 'CD of the Month' and 'Editor's Choice' in February 2008.^[6] A 2012 release of the works of Renaissance composer Thomas Weelkes was nominated for the Gramophone Award, with critics praising the choir's "exemplary ensemble and intonation, beauty of tone, clarity of diction, and interpretive expressiveness".^[7]

Tours

The choir usually tours three times per year. Past destinations include California, Spain, and Dubai. The Choir toured the East Coast of America in the summer of 2015, where they performed at New York's Carnegie Hall.

Choir Tie

The Sidney Sussex College Choir tie was first designed in 2013 by Phil Franklin, the Senior Choral Scholar at the time. It incorporates the gold pheon of the College crest onto a dark blue background, identifying members of the Choir at formals and other such occasions.

References