Chapel Choir

The Chapel Choir of University College, or more commonly, Castle Chapel Choir, is one of the finest collegiate choirs in Durham, consisting of 16 choral scholars and 2 organ scholars. We rehearse on Tuesday evenings for weekly Choral Evensong taking place on Thursdays and occasionally additional Eucharist or Compline services, all sung in the College’s 11th- and 16th-Century chapels. We sing a wide variety of choral repertoire, ranging from renaissance polyphony to 21st-Century compositions. 

Alongside regularly singing services at Durham Cathedral, the choir goes on an annual international summer tour, this past year to Sicily, and in previous years, Scandinavia, Rome and the Vatican, and Prague. The choir also has an annual summer residency in London, singing at Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral, and St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, and does frequent outreach concerts both in and out of County Durham throughout the year. This past year, this has included performances in HMP Durham, St Edmund’s Church, Sedgefield, and our annual engagement with the Freemasons at St Cecilia’s Hall. The choir also offers further scope for the development of solo singing, through events such as recitals and recordings. This past year saw the release of the choir’s latest album, Messages, featuring music by Castle alumni Sir Edward Bairstow and Francis Jackson, as well as a new commission from choir alumnus Ben Rowarth. 

The choir has two organ scholars who accompany the choir’s weekly pattern of services, including visiting evensongs where possible, and concerts, tours, and recordings. Outside of accompanying, organ scholars have typically sung with the choir in their desired voice part, and have opportunities to direct and conduct the choir. The 16th-Century Tunstall Chapel contains a modest instrument built by Harrison and Harrison of Durham which is capable of tackling repertoire across the canon. Organ scholars have the chance to perform on a range of instruments including those of Durham Cathedral and, in the past, York Minster, St Paul’s Cathedral, and others across Europe. 

The college offers 16 choral awards (4 per voice part) of £200pa each and 2 organ awards totalling £800pa. Auditions take place during Freshers’ Week; follow our Instagram page @CastleChapelChoir for updates, where further information and brochures can be found in the link in bio. If you have any questions, please contact Sofia Lang, Choir Manager (sofia.f.lang@durham.ac.uk), Alan Erdelyi, Director of Music (alan.m.erdelyi@durham.ac.uk), or the Chaplain (sam.hole@durham.ac.uk).