Choir of Merton College, Oxford

Merton College Choir, Oxford in Concert

“It is clear why Merton under Nicholas has so quickly entered the big league. Tuneful, delicate, articulate, and attentive, their passionate performance of this mighty oratorio could in no way have been bettered.” Church Times

Join the Choir of Merton College, Oxford for a program of music celebrating the English Choral tradition at its finest. Works by Tallis, Gibbons and Bairstow trace the flourishing of Anglican choral music across the centuries, culminating in contemporary works by living composers commissioned by this forward-looking choir. The choir also marks the 25th anniversary of 9/11 with a performance of Herbert Howells’ masterpiece Take him, Earth, for cherishing, written in 1963 in memory of John F. Kennedy.

The Choir of Merton College is Oxford’s premier mixed-voice choir and has gained an international reputation through its tours, recordings and broadcasts. In 2020, the choir won the award for best choral album at the BBC Music Magazine Awards for, and many of its recordings have been named ‘Editor’s Choice’ by Gramophone magazine. The choir recently completed a residency with the Britten Sinfonia which included concerts in London’s Barbican and recordings and broadcasts for BBC Radio 3.

Photos by John Cairns

Choir of Merton College, Oxford University
Benjamin Nicholas, conductor
François Cloete, organ

“You can’t deny the fervour of the Choir of Merton College, Oxford, and their director Benjamin Nicholas. For as long as the recording lasted, all was right with the world.” The Times

Described by Gramophone as “one of the UK’s finest choral ensembles”, the Choir of Merton College is known as one of the most exciting University choirs in the UK. In addition to singing in the thirteenth century Chapel during term, an extensive touring schedule has seen the choir perform in the USA, Hong Kong, Singapore, France, Germany, Italy, Denmark and Sweden. In 2016, the choir sang the first Anglican service in St Peter’s Basilica, Rome, which was broadcast on BBC Radio 3. Merton College Choir has performed with many major ensembles, including recent concerts with The King’s Singers, the Britten Sinfonia and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. During the 2025 the Britten Sinfonia has held a residency at Merton collaborating with the choir and students in concerts, recordings and chamber-music coaching.

In 2020, the choir won the BBC Music Magazine 2020 Choral Award for its recording of Gabriel Jackson’s The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ. Recent recordings include two volumes of English Choral Music with the Britten Sinfonia. On Good Friday, 2023 the choir made its debut at London’s Barbican with a performance of Bach’s St John Passion.

Benjamin Nicholas is Reed Rubin Organist & Director of Music at Merton College, Oxford and Music Director of The Oxford Bach Choir. He has held posts at Chichester and St Paul’s Cathedrals and was Director of the Edington Music Festival. Prior to moving to Merton College, he was Director of Tewkesbury Abbey Schola Cantorum.

As a conductor, Benjamin Nicholas has appeared with the Philharmonia, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and The BBC Singers, and has premiered the works of numerous composers including Birtwistle, Dove, MacMillan, McDowall, Rutter and Weir. His recording of Elgar’s organ music was an Organists’ Review Editor’s Choice.’

François Cloete is an organist and musicologist based in Oxford. Currently Assistant Organist at Merton College, he plays for the College Choir’s schedule of services, concerts, tours, recordings, and broadcasts. François performs with Britain’s leading ensembles including the Philharmonia Orchestra, Britten Sinfonia, London Mozart Players, and Instruments of Time and Truth. He gives organ recitals at various cathedrals across the UK and serves as accompanist to the Oxford Bach Choir.

François grew up on the island of Guernsey before receiving a bursary to attend Wells Cathedral School. He subsequently held organ scholarships at Wells Cathedral and Hereford Cathedral. Aged 19 François became a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists, receiving three prizes for highest marks in every component of the examinations. He then read Music as Organ Scholar at Merton, graduating with a First and receiving the Gibbs Prize for highest marks in his cohort. Upon graduating he took up the organ scholarship at Westminster Abbey, where he played for national services in the presence of state ministers and members of the royal family.

Alongside his post at Merton, François pursues doctoral research under the supervision of Professor Daniel Grimley. His scholarly interests lie in the political aesthetics of musical modernism; papers on Berg and Schoenberg appear in conferences of the Royal Musicological Association. He is a recipient of the Society for Music Analysis’ Graduate Research Award and a recent MMus graduate of King’s College, London. François’ work is funded by an Oxford-Leon E and Iris L Beghian Graduate Scholarship at Magdalen College.

Pictured below: Benjamin Nicholas, director; François Cloete, organ.

Repertoire

Choir of Merton College, Oxford University, UK
Benjamin Nicholas conductor

Matthew Martin
Christiani plaudite*

Orlando Gibbons
O clap your hands together

Dobrinka Tabakova
Alma redemptoris mater*

Organ Solo

Thomas Tallis
Loquebantur variis linguis

J.S.Bach
Der Geist Hilft BWV 226

Organ Solo

Herbert Howells
Take him, earth, for cherishing

Edward Bairstow
Blessed City, heavenly salem

*written for the Choir of Merton College, Oxford