Merton College Girls' Choir sings for the first time

Merton College Girls' Choir will give their first public performance today, 12 October, when they sing Evensong at 6:15pm in the Chapel.

The Girls' Choir—the first to be established at an Oxford college—gives girls in school years 5 to 10 from the city and the surrounding area the opportunity to take part in Merton's strong musical tradition. Auditions for the choir were held in April and May, and the twice-weekly rehearsals began last month. The choir will sing one service each week during University terms, and will eventually take part in concerts both in Oxford and further afield. The girls come from eight different schools and have impressed Benjamin Nicholas, the Director of Music at Merton, since their first rehearsal:

"very quickly they have become a team, and already the collective sound is full of promise. I am really looking forward to their debut performance".

This evening's service, which lasts 45 minutes, will be led by the Chaplain, The Revd Canon Dr Simon Jones, and members of the public are welcome to attend.

The Warden of Merton, Sir Martin Taylor, said:

"I am thrilled that we are enhancing our Chapel music programme by setting up the Merton College Girls' Choir. This is an historic moment in our long history and provides a wonderful opportunity for girls to take part in the musical life of Merton College. I am very grateful to Dr David Harvey (1957) for his generosity which has enabled us to develop our music in this way".