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Magdalen College Choir to admit girls as choristers
24 March 2026
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For the first time in its history, the world-renowned choir of Magdalen College is admitting girls to sing alongside boys as choristers.
Founded in 1480, the choir has become one of the most highly regarded ensembles in the UK and is best known for singing to welcome the dawn from the Great Tower of Magdalen College each year on May Morning. The Choir has appeared at the BBC Proms and toured the USA, France, Sweden, Holland, Portugal, and Spain in recent years. Having previously recorded for the Harmonia Mundi and Opus Arte labels, the Choir released its first album on the CORO label in 2023.
The choir’s 16 young choristers are drawn from Magdalen College School, originally founded as the Song School for the College, which on 2 February announced its plans to become co-educational from 2027. The College subsequently took the opportunity to consider how best to integrate girls into the musical life of the Chapel and has now decided to offer choristerships on an equal basis to both girls and boys aged between eight and 13.
The College will continue to pay two-thirds of the school fees of all choristers and will, in addition, establish a new top-up bursary fund to pay up to 100% of fees for choristers whose families need additional financial support
To assist in the integration of girls into the choir, the College will expand the number of chorister places to 18. The College will continue to pay two-thirds of the school fees of all choristers and will, in addition, establish a new top-up bursary fund to pay up to 100% of fees for choristers whose families need additional financial support.
“The College is immensely proud of its musical tradition, and we are delighted to reaffirm and expand our commitment to the Choral Foundation as we approach the 550th anniversary of the statutes establishing the Choir,” said President of the College, Dinah Rose KC. “From 2027, Magdalen College Choir will be open to all talented young singers, regardless of their sex or the financial means of their family.”
From 2027, Magdalen College Choir will be open to all talented young singers, regardless of their sex or the financial means of their family
dinah rose KC
“Standing in the College’s beautiful 15th-century chapel on a daily basis, it’s impossible not to feel the weight of history,” said Mark Williams, Informator Choristarum (Musical Director) and Organist. “Ours is a living tradition, and this represents a tremendously exciting development as we strive to maintain and nourish that tradition. Girls will join the Choir in Year 4 in September 2027, leading to a fully mixed cohort by 2031.
“The College has been particularly impressed by the highly successful introduction of girl choristers at similar institutions, including St John’s College, Cambridge, St George’s Chapel, Windsor, and the Temple Church, London, and I have been very grateful to colleagues across the choral world, former choir members and organists, and alumni of the College for their advice and support during our deliberations.
“Our first female organ scholar, Anna Lapwood, came to Magdalen in 2013 and has gone on to a highly successful career. The introduction of women altos as Academical Clerks a few years ago brought a new and valuable element to both our sound and our community, and I am confident that girl choristers will enhance and enrich our choir family in many ways.”
I am confident that girl choristers will enhance and enrich our choir family in many ways
mark williams
The move has been welcomed by Harry Christophers CBE, founder and director of The Sixteen and Honorary Fellow of Magdalen College, who sang in the Choir as an undergraduate under the direction of Dr Bernard Rose.
Exciting times lie ahead for this wonderful choir, and I cannot wait to witness the results.
harry christophers
“My time in the Choir at Magdalen was a total inspiration to me and, as a result, played a huge role in allowing me to pursue a career in choral music,” said Harry. “I am delighted that the opportunity for others to experience this unique and special place and its musical tradition is being expanded to include both boys and girls. Exciting times lie ahead for this wonderful choir, and I cannot wait to witness the results.”
