Christopher Gray appointed director of music at St John’s College

St John’s College, Cambridge, has announced the appointment of conductor Christopher Gray to the role of director of music. Gray will leave his current role as director of music at Truro Cathedral to succeed Andrew Nethsingha, who will be moving to London’s Westminster Abbey in early 2023.

Gray will begin his new role later this academic year, while Nethsingha will celebrate his final Evensong at St John’s on 1 December and Professor Stephen Darlington MBE will be director of music in the interim. Gray and Nethsingha have previously worked together as assistant director and director of music with Truro Cathedral.

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. It is an honour to be taking over from Andrew Nethsingha whose approach I have admired since our time working together in Truro more than 20 years ago. I intend to draw heavily on the example of Andrew and his similarly inspirational predecessors in this next chapter.’

Born in Bangor, Northern Ireland, Gray worked as an assistant organist in Belfast before moving to the UK at the age of 18 as an organ scholar at Pembroke College, Cambridge. He also attended the Royal College of Music, and held the organ scholarship at Guildford Cathedral.

Gray also directs Three Spires Singers and Orchestra as well as conducting choirs across Cornwall. Having overseen the introduction of girl choristers at Truro, Gray will lead a similarly composed choir of St John’s following Nethsingha’s move to include girls and women as full members, making the choir unique in a Cambridge or Oxford College.

Founded in the 1670s, the Choir of St John’s has gained an international reputation for its broadcasts, tours and recordings. The Rev'd Dr Mark Oakley, Dean of Chapel at St John’s, said: 'I am delighted that Christopher Gray is to pick up the baton here and begin a new chapter for our amazing choir. The skill, experience and imagination he brings, so evident throughout his years at Truro Cathedral, will continue to build on the work of his impressive predecessors at St John’s.'