Choir

The internationally acclaimed, 24-voice Choir of Trinity College is the flagship of Trinity’s musical life.

The Choir of Trinity College has built a reputation for its fine singing of music of the Anglican Cathedral tradition, from the Renaissance to the modern day. Its major weekly commitment is the singing of Evensong at 6.00pm in the College Chapel every Sunday during term.

The Choir also undertakes a busy program that includes:

• concert performances

• broadcasts

• recording sessions

• performances in regional Victoria

• national and international tours

• carol services in the Chapel of Trinity College and St Paul’s Cathedral, Melbourne

• a wide variety of corporate and private functions.

Comments about the Trinity Choir

When and wherever the Trinity Choir performs, it receives an enthusiastic response from audiences with standing ovations and many favourable comments, including some from renowned musicians of international standing.

‘I very much enjoyed hearing and meeting the members of your choir. I was very impressed by them. It was really lovely to hear the Choir singing so well in tune and with good balance. I am sure that all your members will remember your eventful tour with great pleasure.’ Sir David Wilcocks, former Director of Music of King’s College, Cambridge.

‘Dann der Gesang: wunderbar! Geradezu himmlisch . . .’ Chrismon. (The singing was wonderful, bordering on heavenly…)

The Choir ‘sang chords of such exquisite beauty, balance and taste that one ached to have the music captured on tape and played as a continuous loop.’ Houston Chronicle.

Recent Choir activities

During its 2012 international tour, the Choir will visit Russia, Germany and the Baltic States. 

In 2010, the Choir visited:

• St Thomas's Church, Leipzig and Berlin Cathedral in Germany
• Gloucester and Blackburn Cathedrals, Westminster Abbey, York Minster and the Cheltenham Festival in the United Kingdom
• St John's Cathedral in Hong Kong

Within Australia, the Choir has recently performed:

• live broadcasts on ABC FM

• at church services in regional Victoria

• at the Melbourne Recital Centre with the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, Ludovico's Band, and conductor Stephen Layton

• recordings for ABC Classics

• special Chapel services for the College.

Director of Music

Michael Leighton Jones has held the position of Director of Music at Trinity College at the University of Melbourne since 1997. Michael has a wealth of choral and solo singing experience and expertise and is a very experienced teacher.

His mother was a professional singer and he has been involved with music all his life. He was born in New Zealand and completed postgraduate studies in England, where he sang in the choirs of King’s College, Cambridge (with Sir David Willcocks), and Westminster Abbey.

He was a member of the London-based vocal quintet, The Scholars, for 10 years and sang more than 1,000 concerts in more than 40 countries, before joining the music staff at the University of Queensland.

In Brisbane, he formed the vocal sextet Jones & Co, which toured both nationally and internationally. Michael has always maintained an active solo career, performing operatic roles and singing in oratorios and recitals, including many first performances in leading festivals.

Michael has regularly performed with Australia’s symphony orchestras and leading chamber music groups. He is also prominent as a composer, arranger and conductor.

Contact the Director of Music.

Choral and organ scholars 2012

Emeritus Choral Scholars

David Barmby, Kristy Biber, Peter Campbell, Thomas Drent, Benjamin Namdarian,
Philip Nicholls, Tim Reynolds, Suzanne Shakespeare, Siobhan Stagg, Megan Warner

College Organists and/or Senior Organ Scholars

John O'Donnell (2011-)

Joshua van Konkelenberg (2010-11)

Jonathan Bradley (2002–10)

David Black (2001)

Calvin Bowman (1998–2001)

Hugh Fullarton (1996-98)

Dominic Perissinotto (1995) 

Calvin Bowman (1994)

David Ogilvie (1992–93)

Calvin Bowman (1990–91)

David Agg (1981)

John Beaverstock (1977-81)

Douglas Lawrence (1968-69)

Michael Wentzell (1965-68)

Daryl Daley (1957–59)

Former Directors of Music

Michael Fulcher (1994–97)
Director of Music at St Paul's Cathedral, Wellington

Dr Christopher Dearnley, LVO (1992–93)
Former Organist at St Paul's Cathedral, London

Emeritus Professor Peter Godfrey, CBE (1990–91)
Former Chorister and Choral Scholar (and later Guest Director of Music) at King's College, Cambridge

Bruce Macrae (1985–89)

Geoffrey Cox (Acting) (Semester 2, 1979)

Professor Peter Dennison (1976–84)
Ormond Professor of Music at Melbourne University