Sing at King’s

There are many opportunities for choral singing at King’s, each with a different time commitment and suited to those of different levels of experience and musical ability.

Be sure to check out all of the music pages on this site by using the drop-down menu for music at the top of the desktop version, or the menu symbol (three dots arranged vertically) in the top left corner of the mobile version.

Liturgical (Sacred) Choirs

Scroll down for information on each of the following groups:

  • Sunday Choir - beginner to intermediate

  • Compline Choir - beginner to intermediate

  • King’s Chamber Choir - intermediate

  • The Chapel Choir - advanced

Community Chorus (Concert Choir)

  • The King’s Chorus - all levels. For information visit us at kingschorus.com

The Chapel Choir with former members, after a festive Choral Evensong, April 2024.

The Chapel Choir's Choral Holiday Wishes, December 2023.

Liturgical (Sacred) Choirs at King’s

Sunday Choir

This small group of undergraduate singers meets weekly in the chapel during the full term at 10am to rehearse and sing the hymns and service music at the 11am Eucharist (Holy Communion). Much of the singing is in unison (all singing the same part) to assist the congregational singing, although occasionally there are opportunities to sing in 4-parts (SATB). The singers are directed by a student cantor, or by the Junior Organ Scholar. An informal voice check is offered prior to joining, and membership is open to those of any faith - or none.
Services recommence on Sunday September 8, 2024.

  • Time commitment: approximately 2.5 hours each Sunday (10am to the end of the Eucharist c.12.20pm)

  • Membership: open to undergraduate students at any Halifax educational institution.

  • Level: beginner to intermediate.

  • Skills: a basic understanding of musical notation is helpful.

  • To join: email the Director of Chapel Music, Dr. Neil Cockburn to inquire about an informal voice check.

    Bursary positions are available for organists and cantors. Further information is available here.

Compline ScHOLA (CHANT Choir)

The monastic service of compline is sung to Gregorian Chant by the Compline Schola in the chapel on Mondays during the full term at 9.30pm. An informal voice check is offered prior to joining, and membership is open to those of any faith - or none.
Services recommence on Monday September 9, 2024.

  • Time commitment: approximately 40 mins on each occasion.

  • Membership: open to undergraduate and graduate students at any Halifax educational institution.

  • Level: beginner to intermediate.

  • Skills: a basic understanding of musical notation is helpful.

  • To join: email the Director of Chapel Music, Dr. Neil Cockburn to inquire about an informal voice check.
    Bursary positions are available for Compline cantors. Further information is available here.

King’s Chamber Choir

The King’s Chamber Choir is a new group starting in 2024. Its activities closely resemble those of the Chapel Choir, with a greatly reduced time commitment. Rehearsals take place on Thursday evenings in the chapel from 7.30-9pm. The Chamber Choir sings an average of two chapel services each month - usually on Thursdays at 5pm (The University Service) with a pre-service warm-up at 4pm. Additional performances include university events such as Encaenia, Formal Meal, and carol singing in December.
Rehearsals begin on Thursday September 5, 2024.

Time commitment: weekly rehearsals of 90 minutes (Thursdays 7.30-9pm), and performances approximately twice a month (each requiring approximately 2.5 hours of additional participation)

  • Membership: open to King’s students (undergraduate and graduate)

  • Level: intermediate.

  • Skills: some previous choral experience is recommended, and good comfort with musical notation.

  • To join: email the Director of Chapel Music, Dr. Neil Cockburn to inquire about an audition.

The Chapel Choir

The King’s Chapel Choir is celebrated throughout the Maritimes, and known across Canada for its professional-level choral singing in services and concerts. It maintains one of the most prestigious college liturgical choral programs in Canada - on a par with the chapel choirs of Oxford and Cambridge. Members of the Chapel Choir perform liturgical music by major composers of the Western and Orthodox Christian traditions, including choral Masses, chants, anthems, and motets. While following the Anglican services of the Book of Common Prayer, much of the repertoire is shared with the Lutheran and Roman Catholic Churches, and other branches of Christianity. Chapel Choir members also have opportunities to tour locally and further afield, and to perform concerts. Membership is open by annual audition to King’s and Dalhousie students of any faith or none - and they need not be music students. The student membership is supplemented by 4 paid, professional Section Leads. As an SATB choir, we strive to keep a good balance between voice parts, to a maximum total number of 18 singers. Ideally, this means that there are 6 sopranos, 4 altos, 4 tenors, and 4 basses, although in practice, these numbers may vary from one season to the next.

To join: Please review the additional information on the Chapel Choir here.
Information on Choral and Organ Scholarships can be found here.