Christmas with King’s College Chapel Choir in Cambridge

FEW sounds are more evocative of Christmas than the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols from King’s College Chapel, Cambridge.

The almost imperceptible hush of the congregation, readings from the Old and New Testament and the mellifluous singing of King’s world-famous choir have made this one of the best-loved festive traditions.


The service is broadcast live on BBC Radio 4 on Christmas Eve at 1500 GMT, repeated on Christmas Day on Radio 3 and syndicated throughout the world. A different recorded service is shown on BBC 2 television on Christmas Eve.

The service was first held in 1918 and, since 1928, has been broadcast by BBC Radio every year except 1930.


King’s College Director of Music, Stephen Cleobury took up his post in 1982. Since 1983, a new carol has been commissioned every year for the service. This year the honour goes to Gabriel Jackson, whose music has been performed throughout Europe and the USA.

Jackson’s works have been presented at numerous festivals, and he has been commissioned by, among others, the BBC, the Tate Gallery and the National Centre for Early Music. He is widely regarded as being among today’s leading composers of choral music.


On the day of the broadcast, the choir is joined by several hundred members of the public, many of whom queue for hours outside the chapel to gain admission. The doors open at 1.30pm.

Those who miss the broadcast can hear the choir singing carols on a new CD called Christmas at King’s, which contains 50 of the best-loved carols, released by EMI. On 2 November EMI is releasing A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, the 2008 service that was broadcast live from King’s.


Also being released on 2 November is the DVD of the live performance of Handel’s Messiah which was transmitted live from the Chapel into cinemas across the UK, Europe and the USA as part of King’s Easter Festival in April. It was the first ever live, simultaneous screening of a choral concert in cinemas in different countries. The live CD recording of this performance is also on sale.

King’s Choir will be holding auditions for choristerships on 16 January 2010. Please contact Stephen Cleobury on choir@kings.cam.ac.uk or visit www.kings.cam.ac.uk/choir.

King’s College Chapel is one of the most important medieval buildings in Europe, and an architectural icon. Choral services have been an essential part of the daily life of the college since its foundation by King Henry VI in 1441, and the choir is one of the world’s best-known choral groups.

Photography by Gerald Place.

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