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 65 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.
You can also read our
Data Protection Policy.
and
Safeguading Policy.
Collegium Laureatum is a member of
Making Music
(formerly the National Federation of Music Societies)
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