The Choir of Merton College

“You can’t deny the fervour of the Choir of Merton College, Oxford, and their director Benjamin Nicholas. For as long as the recording lasted, all was right with the world.” The Times

Described by Gramophone as “one of the UK’s finest choral ensembles”, the Choir of Merton College is known as one of the most exciting University choirs in the UK. The Choir has been heard in concert halls from London’s Barbican to the Yokohama Minata Mirai Hall in Japan and in 2026 the choir was nominated for a Gramophone Award.

In addition to singing the services in the thirteenth century Chapel during the University term, an extensive touring schedule has seen the Choir perform in the USA, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, France, Germany, Italy, Denmark and Sweden. In 2016, the Choir sang the first Anglican service in St Peter’s Basilica, Rome, which was broadcast on BBC Radio 3. Merton College Choir has performed with many major ensembles, including recent concerts with The King’s Singers, The Tallis Scholars, The Cardinall’s Musick, the Britten Sinfonia and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. On recordings, the choir appears with the Britten Sinfonia and the BBC Concert Orchestra.

In 2020, the Choir won the BBC Music Magazine 2020 Choral Award for its recording of Gabriel Jackson’s The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ. Recent recordings on the Delphian label include two volumes of English Choral Music with the Britten Sinfonia and a disc of Edmund Rubbra’s Choral Music which was named a Gramophone ‘Editor’s Choice’. On Good Friday, 2023 the Choir made its debut at London’s Barbican with a performance of Bach’s St John Passion.

The Choir has worked with many of the major composers of our time, giving the first performance of new choral works by Harrison Birtwistle, Bob Chilcott, Jonathan Dove, Eriks Esenvalds, Cheryl Frances-Hoad, Gabriel Jackson, David Lang, James MacMillan, Matthew Martin, Cecilia McDowall, Nico Muhly, Roxanna Panufnik, John Rutter, Dobrinka Tabakova, John Tavener and Judith Weir.

Choral Scholarships for students at Oxford University were established in 2008 when Peter Phillips and Benjamin Nicholas became Directors of Music. Since then, many former choral and organ scholars have entered the music profession, performing with such groups as the Monteverdi Choir, The Sixteen, Tenebrae and the BBC Singers.

Commissions

You can view items commissioned for the College Choir and Merton Choirbook here.

Press

"the elite of Britain’s collegiate choirs" MusicWebInternational, June 2023
"You can’t deny the fervour of the Choir of Merton College...As long as the recording lasted, all was right with the world" The Times, 2023
"Tuneful, delicate, articulate, and attentive" Church Times, July 2018
"this choir is a 2008 creation, yet has quickly gained distinction" Sunday Times, December 2013
"the superb performances are characterised by a phenomenal sense of control and restraint, with every note carefully crafted and bathed in the radiant acoustic of the college chapel" Church Music Quarterly, March 2014
"one of the UK's finest choral ensembles" Gramophone, December 2011
"outstanding" Guardian, October 2011