Music at the Chapel

Harris Manchester is a college where music is greatly valued and appreciated by the whole community. Much of the College's music takes place in the Chapel, which houses a large, romantic, 3-manual Nicholsons organ and Steinway concert grand piano.

Our Director of Music

dr stephen taylor

Stephen Taylor is the Sanders Director of Music at Harris Manchester College, a role which encompasses directing the Chapel choir, teaching singing, and organising concerts. He also holds teaching posts at Wadham and Brasenose, Eton and Radley Colleges and is the Director of Choral Music at Cothill House School, helping singers of all ages and abilities. He also teaches on the Rodolfus choral courses during the summer vacations. Stephen has enjoyed a career as a solo and ensemble singer with the likes of The Tallis Scholars, which has taken him to Australia, Japan, and Korea, as well as USA, Canada and much of Europe. He was a founder member of La Chapelle du Roi, which recorded the complete works of Thomas Tallis, including the solo lute songs for Signum Records. In Oxford, he sang as an alto lay clerk at Christ Church and latterly at New College for 33 years. He is a music graduate of Durham University and was a choral scholar in the cathedral choir. 

HMC Choir

The Choir of Harris Manchester College is a friendly chamber choir which sings for regular services and concerts in chapel, and for choral grace before selected formal dinners. The choral programme is a college offering run by the Sanders Director of Music, Stephen Taylor, who encourages consideration of the programme from all students with a musical background or interest, including those with no previous experience of choral singing. There is no religious requirement or assumption of those who join the choir, even though chapel services are usually the context for its performances.

Rehearsals, which take place on Fridays during full term (5.00-6.30pm) and on Wednesdays (4.30-5.30pm) before the 5.45pm choral service, are lively and enjoyable and are designed to introduce members to a range of beautiful sung music. The choral service is followed by a weekly formal dinner, which choir members attend. 

Choral Scholarships

The choir is led by Stephen Taylor, the Director of Music. Choral Scholars are required to attend the Wednesday rehearsal and service and the rehearsal on Fridays (times as above) during term. As well as formal dinners, at which the choir occasionally sings grace, the choir also sings at other events, such as carol services, singing from the tower on Ascension Day, and at the annual garden party. Applications can be made via the university’s intercollegiate scheme or by contacting the Director of Music. Choral Scholars receive a stipend of £300 per annum and regular singing lessons, as well as free dinners when singing on Fridays and Wednesdays.  

Choral scholars

Instrumental music

There are also performance opportunities for instrumental musicians and we are always glad to hear from those who wish to participate in the musical life of Harris Manchester College.

Organ Scholarships

The Organ Scholar’s duties centre around playing for Wednesday services and Friday rehearsals. At the Wednesday service, the Organ Scholar plays a prelude, interlude and postlude, accompanying the choir in anthems, psalms and hymns. There is an expectation that the Organ Scholar will be involved in other aspects of the college’s musical life and will work with the Director of Music to develop this, occasionally also conducting the choir. There is also a 2-manual pipe organ in the college’s dining hall, and the Organ Scholar is sometimes asked to play this at college dinners and events. Application can be made via the university’s intercollegiate scheme or by contacting the Director of Music (see below). The Organ Scholar receives a stipend of £1,200 per annum as well as four free organ lessons per term, plus free dinners after services and rehearsals.  

For further information or expressions of interest, please contact the Sanders Director of Music.