Jesus College Choir

Between the University of Oxford and its constituent colleges there is a HUGE amount of choice for things to do here. There are so many clubs, societies, sports teams and performing groups that you really could make it a full-time job just attending all of the groups you signed up for at Freshers' Fair. On a side note, Freshers' Fair is such an event that you have to go at a particular time to which you are assigned, and wear the wristband given to you by your college that allows you entry into that particular session. At Leeds I suppose they managed things differently by having different types of group on different days.

This is all preamble to tell you that we joined the Jesus College Choir. The college was established in 1571 by Queen Elizabeth I and I suppose the choir has been singing since then (or perhaps since the chapel was completed in the early 1600s). The choir rehearses once mid-week and then takes most of our Sunday evening with a rehearsal, pre-service tea and cakes, evensong (a church service consisting of a lot of music, several prayers and a sermon), post-service sherry (and soft drinks!) and free formal hall (3-course dinner). So it's a lot of fun. Tonight was the beginning of 3rd week at the University, so it's the third service that we have sung in. Last week I (Joel) had a solo in the anthem - Jess says it was very nice. It was a song that was sung at the then Princess Elizabeth's (now Queen Elizabeth II's) wedding. Honoured.

What with church on Sunday morning, ward choir afterwards, cycling back to the college and having lunch our Sunday is mostly gone once you then add on the college choir events. But it's fun and we enjoy the social events that come with it. We also joined the University College Chorus, which will be performing the Mozart Requiem in a few weeks' time at the Sheldonian Theatre. We're both pretty excited for it.

Here is a picture of the front quad of Jesus College (the chapel is actually just off to the right of the photo) and a picture of us in our gowns just prior to the evensong of 1st week.