# UChoir Takes American Choral Music on UK Tour January 18, 2019 - [ Blog ](/news-categories/blog) ![Members of the Harvard University Choir rehearse at Memorial Church before departing on their tour of the UK](/sites/g/files/omnuum7126/files/thememorialchurch/files/190118tourrehearsal2.jpg) *Members of the University Choir rehearse at Memorial Church before their musical tour of the UK. Photos by Jeffrey Blackwell/Memorial Church Communications* ***By Jeffrey Blackwell/Memorial Church Communications*** The Harvard University Choir is taking its brand of American choral music to Britain, the cradle and keeper of a rich Christian choral tradition. The choir is scheduled to depart Boston on Sunday for a week-long tour of performances at several of England’s most prestigious university chapels and London-area cathedrals. The tour includes concerts at the Merton College Chapel, Oxford; Emmanuel College in Cambridge; King’s College in London; and London’s Southwark Cathedral where John Harvard was baptized. “There are very few comparable programs in American to what we do with the daily morning prayer and other services at Memorial Church,” said Edward Elwyn Jones, the Gund University Organist and Choirmaster. “But most of the places we will visit during the tour in Britain have exactly that kind of program. So, we will be able to see those programs and sing in some great venues and cathedrals.” The University Choir’s January tour is an annual tradition. Last year, members of the choir traveled to Reykjavík, Iceland for a week-long schedule of concerts. In the past, the choir has performed in Montreal and New York City. Jones said the performances outside the gates of Harvard Yard are an opportunity to share the music and talents of the University Choir with new audiences. The performances are also an opportunity to share the music of American artists, including Carson Cooman, the resident composer at Memorial Church. “In many ways, our choir emulates the British choir tradition, so it will be powerful to visit the origins of that style of music-making,” said Theodora Mautz ’19, choir secretary. “I’m really looking forward to singing joint concerts with British choirs and musicians, and coming together through the music.” ![Choirmaster Edward Elwyn Jones works with choir members on music for the UK tour.](/sites/g/files/omnuum7126/files/thememorialchurch/files/190118tourrehearsal3.jpg) *Choirmaster Edward Jones works with choir members on music selected for the British concert tour.* The trip to the UK is coming on the heels of a bit of national exposure for the choir. On Christmas morning, NBC broadcast the 108th Annual Christmas Carol service to 193 affiliate stations across the country. Jones said the broadcast provided another opportunity to share the talents of this student choir with a wider audience. Members of the choir said they are excited about the upcoming UK tour. May Wang ’20, the choir’s junior secretary, said the trip is an opportunity to bond with other members of the choir. “I’m excited to spend the tour doing what our choir does best – making music and friendships in equal parts,” she said. “The tour is a wonderful time when the choir comes together without the bustle of the academic year. We are really fortunate this time to do so through unique traditions between Harvard, England and our choir.” \--- Members of the UChoir will be posting photos and video from their trip on the Memorial Church Instagram. Be sure to return to the story for updates. Embed > [ View this post on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/p/BtLT7WXjs6f/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading) [Last night, we landed safely back in Boston - right in time for the first day of classes and Morning Prayers today! We had an incredible tour in England - huge thanks to the Memorial Church and Ed Jones for making it happen! Here are some highlights: 1. Our joint recital with St. Peter's College, Oxford, 2. Formal Hall at Merton College, Oxford, 3. Ed with Merton Choirmaster Ben, 4. Our joint Evensong with Merton College, Oxford, 5. Choir mascot Libby WaterOtter at St. John's College, Cambridge, 6. Some choristers on a walking tour of London, with St. Paul's Cathedral in the back. This concludes our Instagram takeover - we hope you've enjoyed following our adventures across the pond!](https://www.instagram.com/p/BtLT7WXjs6f/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading) > > A post shared by [ Harvard Memorial Church](https://www.instagram.com/memchurch/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading) (@memchurch) on Jan 28, 2019 at 3:34am PST Embed > [ View this post on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/p/BtLT7WXjs6f/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading) [Last night, we landed safely back in Boston - right in time for the first day of classes and Morning Prayers today! We had an incredible tour in England - huge thanks to the Memorial Church and Ed Jones for making it happen! Here are some highlights: 1. Our joint recital with St. Peter's College, Oxford, 2. Formal Hall at Merton College, Oxford, 3. Ed with Merton Choirmaster Ben, 4. Our joint Evensong with Merton College, Oxford, 5. Choir mascot Libby WaterOtter at St. John's College, Cambridge, 6. Some choristers on a walking tour of London, with St. Paul's Cathedral in the back. This concludes our Instagram takeover - we hope you've enjoyed following our adventures across the pond!](https://www.instagram.com/p/BtLT7WXjs6f/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading) > > A post shared by [ Harvard Memorial Church](https://www.instagram.com/memchurch/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading) (@memchurch) on Jan 28, 2019 at 3:34am PST Embed > [ View this post on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/p/BtDklJmHLds/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading) [We loved singing in Cambridge, especially at Emmanuel College, the alma mater of both UChoir Choirmaster Edward Jones and John Harvard himself!](https://www.instagram.com/p/BtDklJmHLds/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading) > > A post shared by [ Harvard Memorial Church](https://www.instagram.com/memchurch/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading) (@memchurch) on Jan 25, 2019 at 3:26am PST Embed > [ View this post on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs-42UlnC-5/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading) [In our time off from a joint recital and Evensong at St. Peter’s and Merton Colleges, the choir has been befriending the animals of Oxford at Port Meadow and the Museum of Natural History!](https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs-42UlnC-5/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading) > > A post shared by [ Harvard Memorial Church](https://www.instagram.com/memchurch/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading) (@memchurch) on Jan 23, 2019 at 7:47am PST Embed > [ View this post on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs82KvWnIuC/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading) [We brought the Boston snow to Oxford! The irony is that when we started singing this song at our St. Peter's College recital this afternoon, it WAS still an unclouded day!](https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs82KvWnIuC/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading) > > A post shared by [ Harvard Memorial Church](https://www.instagram.com/memchurch/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading) (@memchurch) on Jan 22, 2019 at 12:46pm PST Embed > [ View this post on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs5wgcXHhGR/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading) [Despite the snow storm, UChoir safely made it out of Boston Logan, and have just arrived in the UK! Libby WaterOtter, the UChoir mascot, was brought along for the ride. Oxford here we come!](https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs5wgcXHhGR/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading) > > A post shared by [ Harvard Memorial Church](https://www.instagram.com/memchurch/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading) (@memchurch) on Jan 21, 2019 at 7:58am PST Embed > [ View this post on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/p/BsvY0U-Hfsp/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading) [The @harvard University Choir is taking its brand of American choral music to Britain. The choir is scheduled to depart Boston on Sunday for a week-long tour of performances at several of England’s most prestigious university chapels and London-area cathedrals. A Cheers to your success from MemChurch! #kingscollege #mertoncollege #emmanuelcollege #southwarkcathedral #spaceofgrace](https://www.instagram.com/p/BsvY0U-Hfsp/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading) > > A post shared by [ Harvard Memorial Church](https://www.instagram.com/memchurch/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading) (@memchurch) on Jan 17, 2019 at 7:18am PST See also:- [ Choirmaster ](/blog-categories/choirmaster) - [ University Choir ](/blog-topics/uchoir) - [ Music ](/archive/music) Share on:- [ Facebook ](#) - [ Twitter ](#) - [ Linkedin ](#)