The Choir of King’s College London
is one of the leading university choirs
in England, and has existed since its
founding by William Henry Monk in
the middle of the nineteenth century.
The choir today consists of some thirty
choral scholars reading a variety of
subjects. The choir’s principal role at
King’s is to provide music for chapel
worship, with weekly Eucharist and
Evensong offered during term, as well
as various other services. Services
from the chapel are regularly broadcast
on BBC Radio. The choir also
frequently sings for worship outside
the university, including at Westminster
Abbey and St. Paul’s Cathedral.
In addition, the choir gives many
concert performances. Recent festival
appearances in the UK include the
Barnes Music Festival, Cowbridge
Music Festival, London Handel Festival,
Oundle International Festival, Presteigne
Festival of the Arts, Ryedale Festival,
St Albans International Organ Festival,
Spitalfields Festival, and the Christmas
and Holy Week Festivals at St. John’s
Smith Square. The choir enjoys a
longstanding relationship with the
English Chamber Orchestra, which in
2025 became Ensemble in Residence
at King’s. The choir tours widely, with
recent destinations including Canada,
France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy,
Nigeria and the USA.
The choir has made many recordings,
in particular for Delphian Records.
Recent recordings include portrait
discs of music by contemporary
composers Kristina Arakelyan, Kerensa
Briggs and Edward Nesbit (the latter
recognised as Gramophone ‘Editor’s
Choice’). Their recordings have also
championed the music of twentieth-
century British composers such as
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Gustav
Holst and Kenneth Leighton. These
recordings have received wide critical
acclaim; one was described as
‘a performance of astonishing intensity
and musicality’ (Marc Rochester,
Gramophone). The choir was the
partner choir for Choir & Organ
magazine’s 2023 New Music Series.
Following some twenty years under
the leadership of David Trendell, the
choir has been directed since 2015 by
Joseph Fort.