Musicians from St John’s shine during ‘magnificent’ showcase of British talent at King’s Coronation
“It was an extraordinary and joyful experience to be chosen to direct the music for the Coronation”
An impressive array of former choristers, composers and clergy from St John’s College took part in the spectacular Coronation Service of HM King Charles III and Queen Camilla in Westminster Abbey.
People taking major roles include Andrew Nethsingha – Director of Music at St John’s from 2007 until December 2022 – who directed the music throughout Saturday’s service, watched by millions of people worldwide.
The descant for the hymn, Praise, my soul, the King of heaven, was composed by Christopher Robinson, Director of Music at St John’s from 1991-2003, who also wrote the trumpet fanfares for The Recognition and The Homage.
Iain Farrington (St John’s Organ Scholar 1996-1999) was commissioned to write the organ work Voices of the World, a celebratory, joyful musical offering that combines traditional tunes from across the family of nations. Iain also arranged works by Elgar and Holst for the Coronation Orchestra.
Former singers from St John’s include Thomas Butler (2018-2021), Julian Stocker (chorister 1975-1978) and Simon Wall (1995-1998) with Westminster Abbey Choir; Gopal Kambo (2015-2020) and Alexander Hopkins (Lay Clerk 2020-2022) with the Choir of His Majesty’s Chapel Royal; and Hugh Cutting (2015-2018) and Alex Ashworth (1995-1998) with the Monteverdi Choir.
Christopher Gray, who received the baton as the College’s new Director of Music this term, trained the girl choristers who sang at the Coronation from Truro Cathedral. Together with those from Methodist College Belfast, they were the first female choristers to perform at a Coronation service.
The Precentor of Westminster Abbey, Mark Birch, was once Assistant Chaplain at St John’s and also sang with the College Choir.
A life-long music enthusiast and champion of the arts, King Charles oversaw and influenced the organisation of the world-class music and performers for the service. Alongside new commissions, the musical programme was complemented by mainly British music spanning 450 years.
Andrew Nethsingha, who was himself an Organ Scholar at St John’s from 1987-1990, said: “It was an extraordinary and joyful experience to be chosen to direct the music for the Coronation. I’m told I am only the fourth Organist of Westminster Abbey to be given that honour since Henry Purcell in the 17th century.
“It was a very big responsibility to direct the music; at such a time it was a reassurance to me to have so many superlative Johnian musicians among the singers. I am extremely grateful to them and to the many others who contributed to the music of the service.”
He added that it was ‘a joy’ to have benefited from Christopher Gray’s training of the girl choristers from Truro Cathedral, where he was Director of Music before taking up his post at St John’s.
Iain Farrington, who composed the College Choir’s most recent Advent Commission Nova, nova, said: “It was a thrill to have composed an organ piece for the Coronation, and to have made some of the orchestral arrangements. The music making in the service was world class, and I was so moved by the strength, tenderness and beauty of the performances.”
Alex Ashworth, who also teaches current members of the Choir of St John’s, said the Coronation ‘was a surreal ceremony of wonder’. “The music in the service was truly happy and glorious, and it was fabulous to be part of such a strong bass section that one could bellow away in peace on the back row. Utterly marvellous.”
Published: 12/5/2023