St John’s Cambridge is launching its own label with Signum Classics. The imprint will feature all forthcoming recordings by the choir, as well as those by other musicians in the college in recital and chamber music, and some of St John's leading alumni. 

St John’s College has a distinguished history on record, including a fine series of 20th century English choral music under Christopher Robinson released by Naxos in the late '90s, and more recently a relationship with Chandos under their current Music Director Andrew Nethsingha.

The new label – which features a logo based on the college’s famous Bridge of Sighs – will release approximately three discs per year and will begin in May with a recording of choral and organ works by Jonathan Harvey. The composer – who died in 2012 – had close links to St John’s, having studied there and subsequently being awarded an Honorary Fellowship. Works on the disc will include Toccata for organ and tape, the organ solo Laus Deo, the anthems Come, Holy Ghost, and I love the Lord, and two works written for St John’s, The Annunciation and The Royal Banners.

This will be followed in the autumn by a recording of traditional and contemporary works for Advent and Christmas, including another St John’s commission, Michael Finnissy’s John the Baptist. 

‘With the creation of the St John’s Cambridge imprint with Signum, we are able to showcase both the repertoire of the choir and also the astounding musical talent of the college,’ said Nethsingha. ‘I’m looking forward to presenting a diverse range of ambitious choral and recital repertoire on the label.’

Signum’s relationship with St John’s follows the launch of two similar imprints: with Paul McCreesh’s Gabrieli Consort, who launched the Winged Lion imprint with Signum in 2011, and the choir Tenebrae, whose imprint is called Bene Arte.