The University Choir
A choir is first mentioned singing at a University service during the ceremony for the laying of the cornerstone on Oct. 10, 1860, when Psalm 100 was sung.
Since that time the University Choir has continued to play an important role in the musical life of the University and All Saints' Chapel. The Choir is formed from undergraduate students in the College and sings every week during term for the Sunday Eucharist in All Saints' Chapel as well as singing a monthly Choral Evensong and numerous other services, concerts and tours during the school year.
Membership in the Choir is open to any undergraduate student, and the members of the Choir are not auditioned in the formal sense. They represent a broad spectrum of the student body at the University. English majors sing alongside Chemistry majors, Medieval Studies majors with Math majors, all united by a common love of music and an interest in singing, studying, and performing the finest liturgical music.
The Choir usually numbers from 50-60 students each year. The Choir has toured extensively throughout the southeastern United States as well as Colorado, New York and Canada. Since 1979, the Choir has made eight tours of England, singing the service of Choral Evensong in 23 cathedrals and abbey churches including Winchester, Salisbury, Wells, Gloucester, Worcester, Hereford, Bristol, St. George's Chapel-Windsor Castle, Bath, Tewkesbury and Westminster Abbeys and one week residencies at York MInster and Wells Cathedral. In May of the 2007, the Choir will be returning to York Minster in York, England, for a one week residency.
One of the highlights of the school year at Sewanee is the Annual Advent Festival of Lessons and Carols, which regularly attract nearly 3,000 people to campus for one of its three services. A video recording of the service was released in 1997 and the Choir's first CD recording, I Look from Afar, which contains music from Lessons and Carols as well as choral evensong, was released in the fall of 2000. Since then the Choir has released four recordings, I was glad: Hymns, Psalms, and Anthems from All Saints' Chapel (2001), Alleluya, a new work is come on hand - Music and Readings from the Seasons of Advent and Christmas (2003), And did those feet.....? Sewanee at York Minster - music from Choral Evensong and Anthems from All Saints' Chapel (2003), and O Lord, open thou our lips - Choral Mattins and Evensong from Wells Cathedral (2005). These recordings are available from All Saints' Chapel Office.
