Sing the Cambridge Colleges

Sing the Cambridge Colleges: an exceptional opportunity to sing in three of the Cambridge college chapels led by Jane Harris and John Harrison from Vermont, US. 

Sing in inspiring and beautiful settings, immerse yourself in glorious harmonies and experience the colleges from the inside.

Thursday 11 April 2:15pm to Saturday 13 April approx. 10pm

Led by Jane Harris, Director of Songways, with guest tutor, John Harrison, composer, choir director and singer from Vermont, US

Jane and John are delighted to be working together again following their successful collaborations in Cambridge and Italy in previous years. 

Comments from singers when Jane and John led Sing the Cambridge Colleges 2023:

“A truly wonderful experience”
“Jane and John are a superb partnership”
“Organisation and preparation were faultless”
“Richly nourishing”
“An absolute joy and privilege”

Sing the Cambridge Colleges includes

• Full programme of singing on Thursday (from 3pm), Friday and Saturday in three college chapels: Pembroke, Clare and St John’s
• Singing tuition led by Jane Harris and John Harrison from the US
• Specially produced songbook with words for all the songs and some scores
• Thursday evening two course self-service dinner with a glass of wine in St Catherine's College Hall
• Friday evening free to eat out in Cambridge
• Saturday evening dinner (including wine) and social evening in the Garden Room at the Gillespie Centre, Clare College
• Tea/coffee/biscuits refreshments in Corpus Christi College Hall on Thursday, and Clare College on Friday and Saturday

PRICE £285 per person, including all singing tuition, EXCLUDING accommodation, which needs to be booked separately - see below.
NON-REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT £75
BALANCE £210 due by 11 February

EVENT STARTS
Thursday 11 April 2:15pm Welcome & tea/coffee Corpus Christi College Hall

EVENT ENDS
Saturday 13 April approx. 10pm after our dinner & social evening at the Gillespie Centre, Clare College

TUTORS

The tutors will be Jane Harris, Director of Songways, and John Harrison, an accomplished composer, choral director and singer from Vermont, US. Ruth Sillers will be helping to host the weekend and ensure that everything runs smoothly.

Jane Harris is an experienced choir leader and Director of Songways, based in Bath, and an Old Member of Corpus Christi College. Jane teaches by ear and loves to explore songs in different ways to enrich and deepen the singing experience. She has a clear, inclusive and enabling teaching style, uncovers the best in singers’ voices and draws people together with heartfelt, resonant singing. Jane has a rich, vibrant voice and has released an album of her own songs, inspired by the natural world – One touch of nature. Jane also performs with her own vocal group, Rolling Harmony.

An exceptional teacher with a wonderful choice of songs

John Harrison is a composer, choral director, singer, and teacher who has been performing professionally since he was a lad. He performs and teaches in a variety of styles that reflect his eclectic background in music. He has worked for the last 24 years teaching music to teenagers and adults through Village Harmony, and leads workshops for school and community choirs throughout New England and abroad. His compositions and arrangements have been performed by The Boys Choir of Kenya, Rolling Harmony, Loud & Proud (Scotland’s LGBT choir), Revels North, Mystic Chorale, River Singers, and Social Band, as well as school and community choirs in New England and points beyond.

Ruth Sillers will be helping to host the weekend and ensure that everything runs smoothly. Ruth has performed in many plays and concerts in London's West End, has recorded several radio plays and readings for the BBC on Radio 4 and the World Service, and numerous audiobooks for the BBC and many other publishers.

REPERTOIRE

The repertoire will include original compositions by both Jane and John, and songs from a wide range of harmony singing traditions. For example, American folk hymns and spirituals, early canons, South African choral music and sacred songs. Songs will be taught by ear with some scores provided.

ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS
Some colleges have rooms available on the University Rooms website. Twin and double rooms may be available in some colleges. The University Rooms website is updated regularly by the colleges and more rooms may be available for booking nearer the time. Or you may choose to stay in a B&B or make other arrangements.

GETTING THERE
You are responsible for your own transport to and from Cambridge.

CANCELLATIONS

£75 deposit is non-refundable. 

If you cancel after you have paid your balance (including for Covid reasons) and we are able to fill the space with another person, we will refund 50% of your balance. If your place is not filled, no refund will be paid.

If the event cannot take place due to Covid or other reasons you will be entitled to a refund of your full balance. The deposit would be retained to cover the organisational and administration work that would already have been done.

We recommend that you organise your own travel insurance.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Do not attend if you have Covid symptoms or a recent positive test.
In booking your place, you agree to act in accordance with Covid safety guidelines as they are in place at the time.

DISCLAIMER

You are responsible for your own health and safety at all times. 

Corpus Christi College | © Sandra Humphrey (cc-by-sa/2.0)

Clare College Chapel

Clare College from the Backs

St John's College Chapel | By Diliff - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0,

The Backs

Jane leading singers in Clare College Chapel

John leading singers in St John's Chapel

John and Jane at Corpus