The centrality of music to college life is underlined in our Chapel’s striking “Days of Creation” stained glass window, which features an angel on the seventh day carrying an instrument.
The Chapel also contains a refurbished 1912 Model B Steinway 6’11” grand piano, a gift from David Cohen whose generosity also enabled refurbishment of two Bechstein pianos in College.
Our choir – comprised of students, staff, fellows, alumni and friends – delight all attending our weekly chapel services and special occasions such as carol concerts. Many students and staff also make informal music which is showcased in a termly concert.
Good music-making in college relies on excellent leadership to embolden the raw talent that arrives afresh with every new cohort of students. A significant gift from the Sanders family in 2024 now covers the salary of our Director of Music, and a gift from our Visitor Saphié Ashtiany and her husband Paul Davies, who is also Senior Research Fellow at the Commercial Law Centre, enables all choir members to have year-round singing lessons.
Harris Manchester is the only Oxford college with a working organ in its dining hall. The rebuilding of this organ, also funded by Colin and Rosie Sanders, has done much to enhance the place of music in the college, including at Christmas dinners when the organ accompanies the singing from the balcony.
The above is an extract from "Building On Our Past, Shaping Our Future", a publication celebrating the 30 years since we received our Royal Charter to become a full collegiate member of the University of Oxford. You can order a copy of the book, which features original photography and text, by visiting our donation site.
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