Christ Church Music Society

About Us

As one of Oxford's most active student-run music organisations, the Christ Church Music Society showcases some of the University's finest musicians, while also arranging for world-class professionals to perform on the same platform (see recent performers).

Concerts in Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford

Lunchtime and evening concerts, recitals, and other performances are held frequently during term in the beautiful surroundings of Christ Church Cathedral, by kind permission of the Dean and Chapter. The North Transept, with its unique acoustic, is an ideal venue for chamber music, yet it can also accommodate large choirs and orchestras. The Cathedral possesses an excellent Fazioli piano, a Goble harpsichord and a Rieger organ (see the organ specification).

College Music

CCMS Festival

The annual week-long Festival takes place in Hilary Term (usually in February), and is the highlight of the Music Society's calendar. In addition to the usual fare of professional chamber music concerts during the week, there has been a tradition of high-profile dramatic and orchestral projects.

The 2006 programme included a remarkable production of Benjamin Britten's church parable Curlew River, a collaboration with the Christ Church Festival Orchestra and a concert by the Oxford String Ensemble, all in the Cathedral.

The 2007 Festival included a performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony by the Christ Church Orchestra (conducted by Mark Gotham in the nearby Wesley Memorial Church), a lecture and recital on Oliver Messiaen by the pianist and Christ Church alumnus Peter Hill, and a highly atmospheric production of Sophocles' Oedipus Tyrannos (directed by Dhruv Malhotra and Kavita Mudan) complete with candles, incense and incidental music for a small ensemble by Oxford students Bruno Bower and Rachel Lockwood.

The 2008 Festival included a performance of Brahms's Requiem by outstanding University and young professional singers, a song recital by the baritone Njabulo Madlala, and a Christ Church Orchestra concert with Vaughan Williams's The Lark Ascending (performed by Matt Bain).

Christ Church Orchestra

The Christ Church Orchestra was formed in 2002 with the aim of providing opportunities for all college members to perform in a fun and informal atmosphere, although players from other colleges are welcome.

Since then, the orchestra has put on termly concerts, primarily involving Baroque and Classical symphonies and concertos. Past conductors include Ben Winters, Philip Mann, Clym Stock-Williams, Graham Griffiths, Mark Gotham, Benjamin Woodgates and Ross Cole. The current conductor is Heather Uren.

College Choir

The College Choir at Christ Church (as opposed to the Cathedral Choir or the Cathedral Singers) is an ensemble made up of male and female students drawn from Christ Church itself, as well as the wider university. About 20 in number, the choir sings evensong in Christ Church Cathedral on Mondays during term-time, and at college events such as the termly Corporate Communion. In addition to performing in services and concerts at Christ Church, over the last three years the choir has sung evensong at Westminster Abbey, Trinity College Cambridge, and the cathedrals at Winchester, Canterbury, Hereford, Salisbury, Coventry and St. Paul's.