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About the choir

Collegium Laureatum (Society of Graduates) was founded in 1974 by Don Neville as an informal madrigal group of graduate students, fellows and friends of Corpus Christi College. Despite the fact that the choir has largely become town rather than gown, this distinctive name has been retained. From 1977 to 1980 the choir's Musical Director was Wendy Phillips.

In 1980 Ian Cobb was appointed as Musical Director. The choir's membership increased rapidly, outgrowing its college basis. The repertoire was enlarged and St. Edmundsbury Cathedral and the University Music Centre became the regular performance venues.

In 1989 the choir gave the world premiere of Fiat Lux, a specially commissioned work by Ian Kellam, in St. Edmundsbury Cathedral. Performances in St. Albans Abbey and St. Martin's-in-the-Field followed.

The choir have performed many of the large-scale choral works, including Bach's B minor Mass, St. John Passion, Christmas Oratorio, Handel's Messiah and Israel in Egypt, Mozart's Requiem, Beethoven's Choral Symphony, Missa Solemnis, Mendelssohn's Elijah, St. Paul, Brahms' German Requiem, Elgar's Dream of Gerontius as well as many choral works by Purcell, Vivaldi, Haydn, Beethoven, Berlioz, Cherubini, Schumann, Bruckner, Honeggar and Walton.

In April 2001 the choir made a successful tour to Prague, performing in the Hall of Mirrors in the Clementinium, St. Nicholas Church and the Anglican Church, Marienbad. On their return, they introduced the music of Zelenka to their repertoire.

In April 2004 the choir visited Italy, giving concerts in the Cathedrals of Orvieto, Perugia and Pienza. In March 2008 the choir sung in Siena Cathedral, San Gimignano, Pisa Baptistry and Florence.

The choir repertoire continues to be wide-ranging, and concerts often contain music of less well-known composers. Details of all our past concerts are available here

Membership of the choir currently stands at about 110 people and it performs a wide range of classical choral music achieving high quality performances. The choir is open to singers of all abilities.

The current choir committee is listed here

The choir is run according to our constitution as amended by the current Rules document.