The Choir owes its name and existence to King Henry VI of England, who founded the College, which is part of Cambridge University, in 1441. Central to the king's plan was the daily singing of services in the College chapel. This remains the Choir's raison-d’être.
There are sixteen boy choristers, all educated at the College's own school. As well as engaging in the usual school lessons and activities, each learns two musical instruments. There are also fourteen choral scholars ( four altos, four tenors and six basses ), who are undergraduates of the college, reading a variety of degree subjects.
Entry to the Choir is by auditions and each chorister receives a scholarship which covers some seventy percent of his boarding and tuition fees. Choristers are carefully selected each year from hundreds of applicants for places in the school. They need to have excellent general musicianship, as well as a voice with a quality that will blend well into the established ensemble.
The unique sound of KingΓÇÖs College Choir is characterised by superb tuning, and a purity and consistency of tone, that represents for its many fans, the essence of English music-making.
The Choir has become internationally famous through the broadcasting of the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at Christmas, begun on radio in 1928. It also gives live concerts, in Britain and throughout the world.
