'In the late-September sunshine, I walked up Beacon Hill, Boston to the Somerset Club for what has become an annual and thoroughly enjoyable alumni event. Thanks to the generosity of Oliver Evans (1995, Classics), Members of the House are able to gather for an evening of drinks, dinner and, as an added bonus, a talk from a guest speaker. Several of us have become regulars, but there are always new faces to meet.

This year’s gathering had a special musical significance, as it was also held in honour of the Cathedral Choir, which was visiting the United States on a short tour to celebrate the 500th anniversary of its foundation, following the College’s own quincentenary celebrations last year. The Choir was due to give a concert in Boston the following evening and, given my musical connections, I was delighted to be invited to give the pre-dinner talk. We were also pleased to welcome the Dean, the Very Reverend Sarah Foot, and members of the Development Office, led by Phillipa Roberts.

My talk reflected on the inspiration Christ Church has provided throughout my life as a musician, before turning to the broader question of what an orchestral conductor actually does (with the help of PowerPoint and some video examples!)

The following evening, a few of us met at a pub in Cambridge before heading to St Paul’s Church for the choir’s concert on 29 September. It was an excellent performance, shared with the Schola of St Paul’s, the two choirs joining forces from the organ loft at the end. Organist and Director of Music Peter Holder made the particularly apt observation that they were delighted to travel all the way to Massachusetts to receive such a warm welcome in Cambridge!

It was a wonderful pair of evenings, and a fitting celebration of the Cathedral Choir’s 500 years.'