Music is good for children, singing is accessible, and choral singing in particular requires team work towards a common purpose over an extended time. When taught well, singing is great fun, and shows children what they can achieve through cooperation, self-discipline and application. With TV, computer games, and mobiles, children are spending less time than ever working on these important life skills. KJV reaches out to engage children of all backgrounds, including those that do not have the opportunity to join a choir at school, and teaches them to sing to a high standard of musicality.
By arranging concerts in high-prestige venues, such as King’s College Chapel & West Rd Concert Hall in Cambridge, UK, we aim to give children confidence that they can work to achieve something exciting and of value, while improving their overall musical education.
KJV has performed with world class musicians such as The King’s Singers, The Choir of King’s College Cambridge and Sir Stephen Cleobury. It has shared the stage with a number of guest groups including The Young Voices of Melbourne, Prime Brass, Cantate, St Catharine’s Girls’ Choir, Junior Prime Brass and many Cambridge primary school choirs. It has participated in the worldwide live streaming of Benjamin Britten’s Friday Afternoons, broadcast on Classic FM radio and been guest performers for Cambridge Rotary. It has had visiting workshops with composers including John Rutter and ensembles such as The Swan Consort and most recently, Tenebrae.
KJV consists of five performing groups (see rehearsal page for times)
- The Roos – for children in years 2-4. Our small training choir prepares children to join the Kangas and is taught by Rebecca Moulton. This group learns musicianship skills and vocal technique through games and fun songs.
- The Kangas – for children in years 5-6. This group is taught by Lyn Alcántara.
- The Robins – This group is made up of children in years 7-9, including boys with unchanged voices, and offers extension work on vocal technique and aural training as well as more challenging performance opportunities such as Mahler’s 3rd Symphony and Jonathan Dove’s There was a Child with the Cambridge Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus. In 2022 The Robins sang at a gala event in Trinity College which raised £1.5 million for a new children’s hospital. Lyn Alcántara conducts this group supported by Owen Elsley.
- The Chameleons – boys with changing voices, led by tenor Owen Elsley.
- KJV SATB Youth Choir – new for autumn 2024, led by Lyn and Owen.
KJV’s safeguarding policy can be found on our ‘Documents’ page.