St John’s College, Cambridge has named Christopher Gray as its new Director of Music, to succeed Andrew Nethsingha who is leaving to take over music at Westminster Abbey.

Gray is currently Director of Music at Truro Cathedral, a post he’s held since 2008. Recordings released during that time on Regent reveal Gray's skill across the repertoire spectrum from contemporary composers to the Renaissance. A recording of music by Gabriel Jackson was an Editor's Choice in 2016, while one of music by Dobrinka Tabakova was chosen by Malcom Riley as his album of the year in 2019; meanwhile, in 2017 Alexandra Coghlan praised a recording of music by Lobo, Guerrero, Victoria and Vivanco. The St John's label, meanwhile, has under Nethsingha earned regular praise in our pages. 

Reflecting on the appointment, Gray said: ‘I have long been an admirer of St John’s College and the Chapel Choir whose performances have such intense power to move listeners. I feel a real affinity with the distinctive ethos of St John’s and look forward to working with the extremely talented organists and singers who are the current custodians of its celebrated choral tradition, as well as with the Headmaster and staff at St John's College School.’

Heather Hancock, Master of St John’s, added: ‘Chris is an exceptional musician whose acclaimed choral direction has brought the Truro Cathedral Choir to international prominence, and whose innovation in musical education and outreach is widely admired. We have no doubt that, in Chris’s hands, the St John’s College Choir will sustain and enhance its reputation for breath-taking musicality and originality, enhancing daily worship, the life of the College, and delighting audiences worldwide.’

Growing up in Bangor, Northern Ireland, Gray became Assistant Organist at St George’s Parish Church, Belfast before, aged 18, becoming organ scholar at Pembroke College, Cambridge.

In a nice link, Nethsingha was also once a Director of Music at Truro, and the two had worked together when, in 2000, Gray was appointed appointed Assistant Director of Music at the Cornish cathedral. Nethsingha’s final Evensong at St John’s takes place on December 1; Gray will take up the post later this academic year, with Stephen Darlington acting as interim Director of Music in the meantime.