Explore our Choirs
Chamber Choir
Durham University Chamber Choir is one of the finest university choirs in the country. With varied, interesting and technical programmes, DUCC rival professional choirs in sound. Consisting of 24 of the university’s best singers, they have recently performed concerts in Durham Cathedral’s Chapter House, Durham Castle’s Great Hall and St Oswald’s Church. Alongside their concert programme, they have recorded some of Rubbra’s Tenebrae Motets in Newcastle.
Conducted by current students, DUCC promises an outstanding year of musical and social experiences, culminating in an annual tour. Previous singers have gone on to lay clerkships around the United Kingdom, Genesis Sixteen and more!
Manager: Emma Kerrigan
Email: chamber.choir@durham.ac.uk
Choral Society
Durham University Choral Society is the largest and oldest musical society at Durham University. Formed in 1947, it has performed each year since in venues such as Durham Cathedral, Elvet Methodist and Sage Gateshead. Recent programmes include Vaughan Williams’ ‘A Sea Symphony,’ Elgar’s ‘Dream of Gerontius,’ and a UK premiere of Elfrida Andree’s Swedish Mass.
They are the only professionally conducted music society at Durham University, under the baton of John Forsyth. They regularly collaborate with Durham University Orchestral Society, with a concert including Beethoven’s 9th Symphony in June 2024.
President: Lucy Allan
Email: choral.society@durham.ac.uk
Gospel Choir
Gospel Choir are consistent finalists at the the Universal Gospel Choir Competition, and are one of the most exciting societies at Durham. Alongside their own concerts, they perform at college formals, charity concerts and Student Music events.
They perform music from Kirk Franklin to Cynthia Erivo in their own arrangements and are directed by students. They enjoy a strong social schedule and are one of the closest knit student music groups.
Co-Presidents: Chloe Graham-Major
Email: gospel.choir@durham.ac.uk
St John’s College Chapel Choir
St. John's Chapel Choir serves St. John’s College community, singing weekly Evensong services in the college chapel, contributing to College events, and representing the College across the wider University and Region. It is a high-end ensemble situated at the very heart of Durham, renowned both within this University and further afield. Each year sixteen Choral Scholarships are offered across the four voice parts, alongside a Senior and Junior Organ Scholarship. These positions are financially supported, offering an honorarium that is distributed termly.
Uniquely among Durham College Chapel Choirs, St. John's Chapel Choir has a professional Director of Music. The current holder of this position is the esteemed Louise Reid, who studied at Oxford University and The Royal Academy of Music, prior to a career in Cathedral Music. Under her direction the choir sings weekly Choral Evensong in the beautiful 12th-century Chapel of St. Mary the Less every Wednesday at 17.15 for the whole community to enjoy.
The choir also works towards varied projects throughout the year. Last year, for example, the choir recorded a CD featuring Joanna Marsh's All Shall Be Well whilst this year, the choir will be working towards a tour abroad, for which the location is yet to be revealed!
Director of Music: Louise Reid
Chaplain: Revd Dr Liz Kent
Operations Manager: Ben Lee
Personnel Manager: Beth Mitton
Hatfield College Chapel Choir
Hatfield Chapel Choir is generally regarded as one of the best choirs in Durham, with eight choral scholarships. Recently the choir has sung at St Paul’s Cathedral, St George’s Chapel Windsor and Westminster Abbey.
Directors of Music: Arielle Loewinger & Dana Moustafa
University College Chapel Choir
'University College Chapel Choir, affectionately known as 'Castle Choir', is a 16-strong auditioned chapel choir that sings regular Evensong, Eucharist and Compline services in the historic chapels in Durham Castle. It provides a yearly stipend of £200 a week to it's members, and strikes a balance between traditional Anglican services, and exploration of new music from more diverse groups. The choir regularly go on tour internationally, and take up residencies at UK cathedrals, including recently Westminster Abbey and St Paul's Cathedral.
Our two chapels date from the 16th and 11th centuries and the oldest, the Norman chapel, happens to be the oldest surviving room in Durham. Today the chapels are spaces of stillness and prayer at the heart of a busy academic community, and offer a warm welcome to all walks of faith. As members of the chapel community, the chapel choir benefit from integration into the wider college's events, including concerts, formals and dinners. The choir welcomes any who are enthusiastic about music and choral singing, and has a vibrant social life.'
Director of Music: Tom Parker
St Chad’s College Choir
St Chad’s College Chapel Choir is a semi-auditioned choir made up of 24 singers, of whom are 12 choral scholars (who receive singing tuition and a modest stipend). Singers come from lots of different colleges, creating a unique and close-knit community.
The choir’s primary function is to provide music for worship in all weekly services at the college – these include weekly Choral Evensong and Sung Eucharist on Sunday mornings, usually taking place in the college’s newly restored Chapel. However, there are a number of additional services throughout the year, including various visits and residencies in other areas of the UK, such as Lichfield, Newcastle and St Paul’s Cathedral. The choir also enjoys a close relationship with Durham Cathedral, singing Evensong once or twice a term as well as an annual service of Advent Procession with the college and at the celebration of St Chad’s Day in March.
The choir enjoys a high standard of music-making throughout the year, with a particular focus on experimental music and works from minoritized composers. They are also heavily involved with a strong outreach program within the college, be it singing carols at the local church or wider-scale projects like a student and school collaboration in the Gala Theatre. There is also an annual tour as well as a concert at the end of term.
Director of Music: Cameron Davies
Hild Bede Chapel Choir
The Chapel Choir of St Hild and St Bede College, Durham, is a 24-32 mixed voiced auditioned choir which sings weekly services in The Chapel of the Venerable Bede. In recent years, the choir has enjoyed a number of cathedral tours in the North of England, as well as an annual summer service at St Paul’s Cathedral. Recent tour destinations include Bucharest, Dublin, Florence, Vienna, and New York.
Director of Music: Robin Shakespeare
St Cuthbert’s Society Chapel Choir
St Cuthbert’s Society Choir is an auditioned choir, constituting of around 20 singers, performing both secular and sacred music in a supportive and sociable environment.
Having previously sung at both Newcastle Cathedral and York Minster to appreciative congregations, the next year will bring similar performance opportunities. Our repertoire is broad and encompasses music for Eucharist, Evensong, and Compline, with pieces drawn from the best of choral repertoire. Beyond the sacred and liturgical music we sing in services, we are regularly invited to sing at Cuth’s formals and at other college events.
Director of Music: Piers Holden
St Mary’s College Chapel Choir
The Chapel Choir is a group of singers from both within St. Mary's College, Durham and other colleges in the university.
Director of Music: Vacant
Grey College Chapel Choir
We are the choir of Grey College, Durham University. The choir sings both sacred and secular music.
Director of Music: Louis Allen