St Hilda's College
At St Hilda’s we have our own world-class arts and music venue, the Jacqueline du Pré Music Building. With a concert hall, recording studio and five practice rooms, the JdP is home to a full programme of professional concerts, lectures, plays, dance performances, film showings and exhibitions. St Hilda’s students enjoy FREE tickets for all college-run events, so whatever your creative passion – be it drama, dance, photography, creative writing, playing in a band, playing an instrument, singing or simply listening to great music-making – you can be part of one of Oxford's most exciting cultural environment.
The Jacqueline du Pré Music Building
The main auditorium has a superb acoustic and houses four excellent keyboard instruments: a Steinway D concert grand piano, a new three-manual Noorlander organ and, on loan from the Bate Collection, a harpsichord reputed to have been played by Joseph Haydn and a square piano, both made by Broadwood in the 1780s.
Practice facilities
We have five practice rooms; four are upstairs and contain excellent Yamaha U3 upright pianos (one with MIDI recording capability); downstairs, the Stevenson Room has a Steinway model B grand piano. In addition, college has a drumkit, bass guitar and amps for you to use. Rooms and equipment are bookable on the college bookings portal.
Lunchtime Recital Series
The College’s Lunchtime Recitals take place in the JdP every Thursday during term. Starting at 1.15pm they last about 35 minutes and feature musicians from college and across the university. Admission is free, no booking is necessary, free coffee and tea are served, and all are welcome to come. The concerts are streamed on the JdP YouTube channel and are available to view after the event.
The Choir of St Hilda’s College
Friendly and fabulous, and conducted by Dr Jonathan Williams, the college choir has singers from across the JCR and MCR (and sometimes the SCR too!). There are no auditions and all are welcome to sing, whatever your experience. As a choir member you will be part of some of the most important events in the college calendar, starting this term with a special extra event:
- Thursday 12 November (week 5) – Singing at the North American Indigenous Songbook concert at the Holywell Music Room
- Wednesday 18 November (week 6) – Founder’s Day Service in the JdP
- Monday 30 November (week 8) – Christmas Concert in the University Church
- Wednesday 2 December (week 8) – Carols on the Stairs by the riverside Pavilion
On Saturday 6 March 2027, we will hold our annual ‘Come & Sing’ at the University Church. Recent events include a performance of Mozart’s Requiem, with almost 100 singers and instrumentalists, all St Hilda’s members past and present. Other works performed include Vivaldi Gloria, Handel Messiah, Haydn ‘St Nicholas’ Mass, Mozart ‘Coronation’ Mass, Fauré Requiem, Vaughan Willliams Fantasia on Christmas Carols and the world premiere of St Hilda, a cantata, by college alumna, Nicola Lefanu, composed especially for us in 2017.
Weekly rehearsals take in the Pavilion every Monday from 5.30pm to 6.45pm and are followed a free dinner. In Michaelmas term 2026 we'll be singing a setting of Cædmon’s Hymn composed by Rosie Sutton and, of course, all of your favourite Christmas carols…
Choral Scholarships
At the heart of the college choir are eight Louisa Hemming Choral Scholars (worth £200 a year). Auditions take place in week 1 of Michaelmas Term.
Music Scholarships and Bursaries
The Ming Alsop-Lim Scholarship and four generous bursaries for music are awarded by annual competition. This year the event is at 7.30pm on Tuesday 20 October (week 2) of Michaelmas Term. All are eligible to apply; information will be circulated by email.
Graduate Musician in Residence
Our Graduate Musician in Residence this year is pianist and composer Alexander McNamee. Having just completed his music degree here at St Hilda’s (and achieving one of the highest grades in the university), Alexander will be accompanying the choir, taking part in college concerts and performing alongside top professionals in some of the JdP Series concerts. We’re lucky to have him!
Contact information
For further information about music-making opportunities, please contact Dr Jonathan Williams, the Director of College Music dcm@st-hildas.ox.ac.uk
For further information about using the JdP, please contact James Adcock and Franco Lopez via the college events office events@st-hildas.ox.ac.uk