October 6, 2021

Our next album has a special dedication

We're really excited to be releasing Christmas Carols with The King's Singers for Christmas later this month. It's a typically eclectic mix of Christmas music from around the world, including some traditional English carols. You'll hear music from the past thousand years in English, French, Italian, Catalan, Latin, German, Danish and Swedish. We have chosen to dedicate this album to our friend, the late Sir Stephen Cleobury. His contribution to music, particularly Christmas music, cannot be overstated. He served as Director of Music at King's College Cambridge for 37 years and during this time, each and every year, he conducted the Service of Nine Lessons and Carols broadcast to millions of people around the world. For many people, tuning in to this service on Christmas Eve marks the start of their Christmas celebration.

Stephen has left such a legacy to music. He has taught generations of musicians in his choir and across Cambridge University. He has also inspired countless people around the world with his music making. And from 1984 he introduced the now-tradition of commissioning a new carol to complement the traditional carols, bringing many new pieces of music into the world.

Stephen was a friend to the group from the start, and inspired a number of us in a personal capacity. I am lucky enough to have sung at King's from 2011 to 2012 as a Lay Clerk. I remember my time with him very very fondly. He was an inspiration to me as a young musician and singing in his choir taught me so much (it was a very steep learning curve!). I'll never forget that moment just before three o'clock on Christmas Eve in 2011 when the red light, suspended just above the choir amongst the many microphones, switched on and we were connected to (apparently) 120 million people around the world. Personally, I am very thankful to Stephen because it is down to him that I am in The King's Singers; I met Pat at King's and it was he that invited me to audition for the group!

Christmas Carols with The King's Singers is out worldwide on 22 October 2021. You can pre-order it here.