Music at Pembroke College, Cambridge
Pembroke College Girls' Choir
"The girls’ choral tradition too often loses out to the boys’ in many of the UK’s religious and scholarly institutions, so it is really refreshing to see this initiative from Anna Lapwood, Director of Music at Pembroke College, which aims to encourage female choral singing and raise its profile."
Emma Johnson MBE, Patron
The Pembroke College Girls' Choir launched in September 2018. The Choir brings together girls between the ages of 11-18 from schools around Cambridge, helping them experience life as a chorister in a Cambridge College.
Based in the Chapel of Pembroke College, the Choir provides a comprehensive musical education, with two rehearsals every week and a service of Choral Evensong. The Choir focuses on musical excellence, performing at a professional level on a weekly basis alongside regular concerts and tours. They also regularly collaborate with the Chapel Choir for services, concerts and recordings.
The Girls' Choir have now released 3 commercial recordings; Celestial Dawn, All things are Quite Silent, and most recently A Pembroke Christmas. Other recent highlights include recording at Abbey Road studios with Grammy-winning composer Christopher Tin.
The Choir is grateful for the continued support of our patron, Pembroke alumna and clarinettist Emma Johnson MBE.
Choristerships
Pembroke College Girls' Choir has 24 places for girls between the age of 11 and 18. Auditions are held annually at the end of June, but can also be arranged through the Director of Music, Anna Lapwood.
The weekly schedule for the Choir is as follows:
Wednesday: Rehearsal 16:45-18:00, Evensong 18:15-19:00
Thursday: Optional Theory 16:15-16:45, Rehearsal 16:45-18:00
Outside of University term Evensong no longer occurs, but the Choir still rehearses on both Wednesdays and Thursdays until 18:00 within school term dates.
Vocal tuition is given free of charge on a rotational basis during rehearsals.
To enquire about joining the Choir, or to arrange an audition, please fill out the audition contact form, or email the Director of Music, Anna Lapwood, at arel2@cam.ac.uk
