Winners of The King's Singers carol competition announced

24 November 2015, 14:49

Four winning carols will be performed at King’s College Chapel, Cambridge and published by Edition Peters. They will also be the subject of a broadcast by Classic FM.

Four new carols will be unveiled this Christmas at King's College Chapel as part of the climax to the annual 'A Carol for Christmas' composition competition.

A judging panel consisting of Stephen Cleobury CBE (Director of Music at King’s College), John Rutter CBE (composer, conductor and record producer), Christopher Gabbitas (The King’s Singers) and Richard Causton (composer) whittled down 200 entries to the four category winners. They are:

Composition for a community choir - Jo Nicholls 

Nicholls, a Bristol University music graduate, composer and music teacher, has previously won awards for her compositions, most notably at the Voice Festival UK.

SATB (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass) choir: composers under-18 - Toby Hession 

A Clare College music student originally from Peterborough, Hession has had works performed at venues including Peterborough Cathedral and the Royal Northern College of Music; in 2013, he was commissioned to compose a piece for the Commonwealth Observance Day in Westminster Abbey, which he conducted in front of an assembly of world leaders.

SATB choir: composers over-18 - Benedict Heneghan 

The Aberystwyth graduate has written several works for orchestra, chamber ensembles, solo voice and choir, he has also been involved in music for film and TV.

Composition for The King’s Singers - Clive Smith 

Smith is the Musical Director of ‘The Swift Singers’, and ‘Grammaticus’. His interest in the cello has also led to twice yearly workshops for over 60 young students and professional cellists performing as WHATALOTOFCELLOS. He said: “To hear my work performed by The King’s Singers at King’s is the best Christmas present I could possibly hope for.”

The King’s Singers will give a concert in King’s College Chapel on the evening of 4 December at which they will sing Clive Smith's composition. For tickets, visit the Concerts at King’s website.