The Choir of Jesus College Cambridge, directed by Richard Pinel, has gained an international reputation for its music-making, based on performances around the globe, broadcasts, highly praised recordings and regular services in the College’s beautiful and ancient chapel.
It was nearly eight years ago that The Choir of Jesus College, Cambridge, toured the West Coast. That trip coincided with the commercial release of the Choirs’ disc of Anglo-American festive music, Journey into Light (Signum 2012). The Choir gave highly popular and sold-out concerts in Seattle, Portland, and San Francisco, with standing ovations at every performance.
Since then, the Choir has toured Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, Malta, India, and South Africa. This year the Choir returns to the West Coast, starting their Canadian tour in British Columbia.
“Exceptional voices” — The Oregonian ( Portland, Oregon )
“Impeccable intonation and perfect balance” — The Navhind Times ( Goa, India
https://www.sjmusic.ca/events/the-choir-of-jesus-college-cambridge-uk/2020-07-11
Choir of Jesus College, Cambridge, UK
The Choir of Jesus College Cambridge, directed by Richard Pinel, has gained an international reputation for its music-making, based on performances around the globe, broadcasts, highly praised recordings and regular services in the College’s beautiful and ancient chapel. Jesus College, founded out of the ancient nunnery of St Radegund in 1496, has a long and rich tradition of church music. It is unique in maintaining two choirs : the Chapel Choir, made up of boy choristers and adult male singers, and the College Choir – formed in 1982 – which has female voices for its top line. The adult male singers form the ‘back row’ for both choirs. Each choir has developed a distinctive reputation and repertoire, whilst combining for key events and large-scale projects. In addition to the weekly schedule of choral services, members of the Choirs enjoy concerts, recordings, broadcasts and foreign tours.
Richard Pinel took up the post of Director of Music at Jesus College, Cambridge in 2017. Prior to this he spent nearly eight years as Assistant Director of Music of St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, during which time he gained international recognition as an organist. He also held similar posts at Magdalen College, Oxford and Perth Cathedral, Australia and the organ scholarship of St Albans Cathedral and Magdalen College, Oxford. Beginning his musical life as a chorister at All Saints’ Church, Northampton, Richard was awarded the prestigious organ scholarship to Magdalen College, Oxford in 2002. Whilst reading music there, Richard worked under the direction of the composer former King’s Singer, Bill Ives. During this time, the Grammy-nominated college choir undertook several recording projects on the Harmonia Mundi USA label, on which Richard’s playing was hailed as ‘a force of nature’. He has enjoyed competition success on an international level, culminating in winning the First Prize, Ad Wammes Prize, and Haji Hakim Prize at the Breda International Organ Competition in The Netherlands. Recital engagements have taken him across the UK, to Europe and the United States of America and he has broadcast, as both organist and pianist, on BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio 4, Classic FM and Radio France Culture.
