An interview with choral scholars Alice Markham and Garbhán McEnoy

Alice Markham

Hi, I’m Alice, I’m from Derby, I’m a second year studying English Literature at St John’s and for A-level I studied History, Music and English Literature. 

Why did you choose St John's?

The way the English Literature course is taught and described here was the most attractive to me - it seemed to have more of a holistic approach to literature and learning as a whole, as well as involving lots of independent research. It’s great that St John's has a writer in residence as well as amazing library (and old library) facilities. I also felt the co-curricular opportunities were really exciting.

What do you like most about life at St John's College?

This college is BEAUTIFUL! Not only are the grounds a feast for my eyes, but I love the bar and cafeteria - they’re both really nice places to work, chill or meet your friends in. I think the Porters are so great here - really kind and helpful, and the location is great. Of course, I love being a part of the choir!

What do you like most about singing in the Choir?

The people you meet really are some of the most incredible musicians. I love the peace Evensong can bring to a very busy day, and I’ve formed some really beautiful friendships with people through music making. It’s really amazing to be part of such a wonderful sound.

What does being a 'Gent' mean to you?

Being a Gent means being part of a family (going back generations) of which everyone cares really deeply for one another, and for making music. It also means having some of the most fun times with some very wonderful hilarious people on tour, at gigs, and dinners. I feel I’m looked out for, and that I always have someone to talk to in any situation.

What piece of music have you enjoyed performing with the Choir most? 

The Duruflé Requiem is probably one of my favourites. I think it’s such a moving requiem and I absolutely love the Pie Jesu mezzo solo. Another of my favourites is the Byrd 3 Mass for lower voices. I can’t quite describe it, but singing Byrd with John's is such a special experience of connectivity and musical understanding. The Psalms also can’t go unmentioned - singing these with John's is a similarly moving experience. 

What has been your favourite experience so far in the Choir?

I will never forget our recent tour to the Netherlands - we sang in so many incredible venues and had so much fun. I’ll also always remember our post-Michaelmas recordings with Andrew last year; Cambridge was covered in snow and we would have snowball fights in between sessions. Recording with the choir when term was over was such an amazing bonding experience and musical learning experience for me.

What impact has being part of this group had on your time at Cambridge?

It has helped me to schedule my time here a lot more efficiently, as well as allowing me some time away from my academic work. Having a two-hour (four on Sundays) slot to break up study time is really helpful not only for my productivity, but for my mental health too. Music can work wonders on a brain under pressure!

How has your experience as a choral scholar prepared you for the future? 

I have learnt too many things here already to name all of them, so I’ll have a go at a few…. I’ve experienced the beauty of making choral music and grown a huge love for doing so. I’ve also discovered a completely new classical voice thanks to my singing teacher Alex Ashworth. I’ve learnt the importance of strong relationships in creating powerful music and how being a part of a choir is largely about connecting with the other singers. Taking risks is way more useful, and exciting, than remaining comfortable and avoiding a risk because of potential to fail.

What advice would you give to a prospective choral scholar?

Be yourself and don’t be scared to try something new. Starting out as a classical instrumentalist and jazz singer, I had barely any experience of choral music and felt excited, but terrified. I can tell you now, even if nerves are involved, you should just go for it because honestly, you are in the best hands here, and you will learn so much.

Garbhán McEnoy

My name is Garbhán, the choir’s resident Irish person, and I’m from Belfast. I studied Music, Geography, Art and Music for my A-levels, and I’m now in my second year studying Music at Girton College.

Why did you choose the Choir of St John's?

Being a choral singer in my school and local church for a good few years, I knew for a long time that I wanted to apply to Cambridge for its choral excellence. Every choral director I asked for advice pointed me in the direction of John’s – in the year before my application, their recording of Dove’s Seek Him That Maketh The Seven Stars became one of my top tracks on Spotify and I knew it was the choir I wanted to join!

What do you like most about singing in the Choir?

Before university, like a lot of people I’ve often struggled with self-confidence, both in singing and general life. St John’s Chapel’s incredible acoustic and our director’s sensitive style of rehearsal fosters confidence in each individual voice, and I’ve found myself constantly encouraged to embrace my full sound – you really don’t have to hold back here, and the more senior choir members are so supportive and inspiring.

What piece of music have you enjoyed performing with the Choir most?

A real pinch-me moment for me was singing Messiaen’s stunning setting of O sacrum convivium in the antechapel as the introit to an Evensong in my first year – every so often, during a piece as moving and atmospheric as that, it’s so easy to become completely lost in the moment, and it really just felt like a full-circle moment for me.

What has been your favourite experience so far in the Choir?

It’s hard to beat our sold-out performance in one of the top 3 classical music venues in the world, Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, on our Luxembourg & Netherlands tour – I felt sort of like a rock star, if rock stars performed William Byrd and Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck. Plus, the tour really brings everyone together in such a rewarding way, strengthening the friendships already built up by seeing each other daily for Evensong.

What impact has being part of this group had on your time at Cambridge?

This choir is such a wonderfully and uniquely close-knit social group – singing together every day means we become really in-tune (pun intended) with each other, both in and out of the stalls. This means that we can tell when someone isn’t feeling 100% in any way even when they feel like they’re presenting as fine – and we are truly ALWAYS here for each other. It’s been endlessly helpful having the Gents have my back navigating the fast-paced and occasionally quite overwhelming world of Cambridge, and I always know that I have somewhere that I fit in.

How has your experience as a choral scholar prepared you for the future? 

Time management!!! Nothing forces someone as previously-disorganised as me to become a scheduling master than having to be in the choir stalls every day at 5:15pm. It provides some much needed structure in the jam-packed Cambridge term days, and the amount of repertoire that we learn inside-out every term is like doing mental gymnastics which I genuinely think has improved my memory retention skills massively.

What advice would you give to a prospective choral scholar?

Just go for it! Like I said, once you’re a Gent, you always have somewhere that you fit in here. I may be biased, but I can’t imagine a better choir to apply to!