Choir of St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle
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The Choir of St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle exists to sing services in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.
It has been in existence since 1348 and, with the exception of the Commonwealth period (1649-1660), has sung services in the Chapel continuously ever since.
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[edit] The choir today
The choir comprises 23 boy choristers (5 of whom are probationers or training choristers) and 12 professional Lay Clerks, singing Countertenor, tenor and bass. The Choir sings daily during term-time.
The boys are educated at St George's School, Windsor Castle which is situated in the Castle grounds. The Lay Clerks live in the Horseshoe Cloister and on Denton's Commons.
The choir sings regularly in the presence of the Queen and other members of the Royal Family. Significant recent events have included:
- the annual service for the Order of the Garter, Britain’s highest order of chivalry
- the marriage of Peter Phillips and Autumn Kelly in 2008
- the baptism of James, Viscount Severn in 2008
- the thankgiving service for HM The Queen's 80th birthday in 2006
- the Service of Prayer and Dedication on the marriage of Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, The Duchess of Cornwall in 2005
- the funeral of Princess Margaret in St George's Chapel and the thanksgiving service for her life held in Westminster Abbey in 2002
- the marriage of Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and Sophie Rhys-Jones in 1999
Concerts are also given from time to time, some collaborating with ensembles such as the London Concert Orchestra, the London Handel Orchestra, Southbank Sinfonia and the London Mozart Players. The choir also broadcasts regularly on BBC Radio 3 and BBC Radio 4.
The choir is directed by the Director of Music and accompanied an Assistant Organist, plus an organ scholar who is selected by audition on an annual basis.
[edit] Tours
- 2007 - United States (the Choir sang in Boston and Washington DC)
- 2006 – United States (the Choir sang in New York at the official opening service of The British Memorial Garden on the fifth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. The Choir also sang at a Gala Dinner at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel to raise money for the New York Downtown Hospital, where many of the casualties were taken following 9/11 as well as singing Evensong at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, New York. This was the first appearance of the Choir in the US for over 20 years.)
Other overseas appearances include Norway, France, Holland, Poland, Spain and Switzerland
[edit] Recordings
Recent recordings include:
- 2006 - O How Glorious is the Kingdom
- 2006 - W H Harris Anthems
- 2005 - Music for a Royal Celebration
- 2005 - Abide with Me
- 2003 - Carols from Windsor Castle
- 2002 - Carols from Windsor Castle
- 2001 - Tomkins Cathedral Music
- 2001 - Carols from Windsor Castle
- 2000 - Magnificat & Nunc Dimittis Vol 21
- 2000 - The Glory of St George’s
- 1999 - Mathias: Lux Aeterna
- 1996 - Fanshawe: African Sanctus (with Bournemouth Symphony Chorus)
- 1994 - Parry Cathedral Music
- 1994 - Taverner Sacred Works
- 1993 - Saint Nicolas & Hymn to Saint Cecilia (with Corydon Singers)
[edit] List of Organists and Master of Choristers
- Walter Whitby 1406-1415
- Laurence Dreweryn 1415-1441
- John Wederby 1441-1461
- Thomas Rolfe 1461-1469
- Robert Cotyngham 1469-1473
- William Browne 1473-1476
- Thomas Rolfe 1476-1489
- Tuke, Bell, Bowyer, Bednall and Rede (acted jointly)
- Richard Wood 1496-1531
- John Marbeck, 1531-1547
- George Thaxton 1547-1559
- Preston 1559-1563
- Robert Golder 1563-1564
- Richard Farrant, 1564-1580
- John Mundy 1581-1585
- Nathaniel Giles 1585-1632
- William Child 1632-1697
- John Golding 1697-1719
- John Pigott 1719-1756
- Edward Webb 1756-1788
- Theodore Aylward, 1788-1801
- William Sexton 1801-1824
- Karl Friedrich Horn 1824-1830
- Highmore Skeats 1830-1835
- George Job Elvey, 1835-1882
- Sir Walter Parratt, 1882-1924
- EH Fellows, 1924-1927, with GS Kitchingman and later Malcom Boyle, as organist
- Sir Henry Walford Davies, 1927-1932
- Charles Hylton Stewart, 1932
- Sir William Henry Harris, 1933-1961
- Sidney Campbell 1961-1974
- Christopher Robinson 1974-1991
- Jonathan Rees-Williams 1991-2002
- Timothy Byram-Wigfield, 2003-date
[edit] Notable Alumni
- Sir Henry Walford Davies
- Francis Grier, classical composer
- David Fanshawe, classical composer
