From public concerts to student performances, and from choral scholarships to our community choirs, Worcester is a place brimming with music. With our thriving Music at Worcester programme, you can make music, try something new or just sit back and listen in.
Worcester is one of Oxford’s most musical colleges. Many students take part in music-making – whether they study Music or not – and our aim is for music to happen at every level and for all abilities. In any given week, musical events in College might include a student-run rave, orchestra rehearsal, choral evensong in Chapel or a recital by a world-renowned ensemble or soloist. Our students benefit from free or discounted tickets and the opportunity to work alongside professional composers, conductors and artists.
The College also has a reputation for musical excellence, from our current Professor of Composition Jennifer Walshe, to alumni and former tutors including Sholto Kynoch, Kenneth Leighton, Rachel Portman, Deborah Pritchard, Edmund Rubbra, Robert Saxton and Robert Sherlaw Johnson.
Choir & chapel music Choral & Organ Scholarships The Oxford Choral Experience
Meet our Director of College Music
Caius Lee read Music and was Organ Scholar at St Catharine’s College, Cambridge, during which time he founded the Florence International Singing Programme. Since 2019, he has been a trustee for Awards for Young Musicians, supporting talented young musicians from low-income families. He has worked with choirs, festivals and played solo recitals in Europe, Asia and South America. Returning to the Diocese of Leeds in 2021 as a Choral Director, Caius led choirs in his native Bradford before joining Worcester in September 2023. His passion for community engagement and choral excellence has been recognised with a Royal Society of Arts Fellowship (FRSA).
DISCOVER MORE…
From our opportunities for musical scholarships and practice to community music-making, find out more about Music at Worcester.
Our people
Senior Research Fellow & College Lecturer in Music
Dr Thomas Hyde
Director of College Music
Caius Lee
Honorary Fellow
Rachel Portman
Assistant Chaplain & College Lecturer in Music
The Revd Dr Matthew Cheung Salisbury
Emeritus Professor of Composition
Professor Robert Saxton
Senior Research Fellow
Dr Emanuela Vai
Fellow & Tutor in Music
Professor Jennifer Walshe
The Oxford Choral Experience
The Oxford Choral Experience is a unique access programme offered free of charge to UK state school students looking to do ambitious singing at university. We’re delighted that the programme is supported by professional musicians and world-class practitioners who share their expertise with the participants.
We prioritise places for academically promising students from backgrounds under-represented at Oxford, offering them the opportunity to experience high-level music-making and make informed decisions about university applications.
Worcester College Music Society
All students at Worcester are invited to join the music society, whether they’re reading Music or not. We organise concerts once or twice a term, with each event being welcome to all. The Music Society strives to create relaxed environments in which instrumentalists and singers can perform with little pressure. Laid-back performing opportunities are important for musicians, especially in a place as demanding as Oxford.
At Worcester, we’re also determined to support our peers in musical endeavours both within College and outside. Each term, we make an effort to share dates on an interactive calendar, so that every student’s talents can be shared and celebrated. Our activities span the JCR, MCR and SCR, and there are regular points throughout term at which students can sign-up and get involved.
What’s happening?
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