It has been in existence since 1348 and, with the exception of the Commonwealth period (1649–1660), has sung services in the Chapel continuously ever since.
The choir today
The choir comprises up to 23 choristers (the youngest of whom are probationers or training choristers) and 12 professional Lay Clerks, who sing alto, tenor and bass. The Choir sings at Evensong each day (except Wednesdays) and at Mattins and Eucharist on Sunday mornings during the three terms of the College year. The choristers are educated at St George's School, Windsor Castle which is situated in the Castle grounds. The Lay Clerks live in the Horseshoe Cloister and on Denton's Commons.
The choir sings regularly in the presence of the King and other members of the Royal Family.
Concerts are also given from time to time, some collaborating with ensembles such as the London Concert Orchestra, the London Handel Orchestra, Southbank Sinfonia and the London Mozart Players. The choir also broadcasts regularly on BBC Radio 3 and BBC Radio 4.
The choir is directed by the Director of Music and accompanied the Assistant Director of Music, plus an organ scholar who is selected by audition on an annual basis.
In January 2022 – two months after the first woman became a lay clerk there – it was announced that the choir would admit girl choristers from the following year, forming a mixed treble line.[1]
List of Organists and Masters of Choristers (known as 'Director of Music' from 2004)
Christopher Brayne 1974–1975 (later Organist and Master of the Choristers of Bristol Cathedral; now Director of Music at Christ Church, Charlotte, North Carolina)
Christopher Allsop 1992–1993 (afterwards Organ Scholar of Trinity College, Cambridge; Assistant Organist at St. Philip's Cathedral, Birmingham; Assistant Organist and Assistant Director of Music, Worcester Cathedral; Assistant Director of Music, The King's School, Worcester; currently Organist of Eton College)
Matthew Raisbeck 1993–1994
Greg Morris 1994–1995 (currently Associate Organist Temple Church, London)
Iain Farrington 1995–1996 (then Organ Scholar of St John's College, Cambridge)
Myles Hartley 1996–1997
Teilhard Scott 1997–1999
Jonathan Vaughn 1999–2000 (afterwards Organ Scholar of St John's College, Cambridge; then Assistant Organist of Wells Cathedral)
Robert Kwan 2000–2001 (Assistant to the Organist-Choirmaster, Christ & Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Westport, CT; currently Director of Music, Trinity Episcopal Church, Southport, CT, USA)
Francesca Massey 2001–2002 (Acting Assistant Organist September–December 2001; afterwards Organ Scholar of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge; then Sub-Organist of Durham Cathedral; then Organist and Director of Music at Rochester Cathedral)
Tom Winpenny 2002–2003 (Acting Assistant Organist; then Organ Scholar of King's College, Cambridge; then Sub-Organist, St Paul's Cathedral; currently Assistant Master of the Music, St Alban's Cathedral)
Henry Parkes 2003–2004 (Acting Assistant Organist September–December 2003; then Organ Scholar of Christ Church, Oxford; later Associate Director of Music All Saints, Margaret Street, London)
Ben Giddens 2004–2005 (afterwards Organ Scholar Norwich Cathedral; subsequently Acting Assistant Organist at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle; later Assistant Organist Magdalen College, Oxford)
Peter Stevens 2005–2006 (afterwards Organ Scholar of King's College, Cambridge; currently Assistant Master of Music, Westminster Cathedral)
John Challenger 2006–2008 (afterwards Organ Scholar of St John's College, Cambridge; currently Assistant Director of Music at Salisbury Cathedral)
Laurence Williams 2008–2009 (afterwards Choral Scholar at Trinity College, Cambridge)
^An entry for Graham Elliott which formerly appeared here has been removed in the light of the following statement which was inserted by Peter J Williams: "Graham Elliott was NOT an Organ Scholar but a private pupil of Dr Sidney Campbell. I went in 1964 as a private PA to Dr. Campbell and then became the first Organ Scholar, along with John Porter who stayed on when I went to be Assistant Organist at York Minster 1966. Many of these dates are wrong!"