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An Interview with

Stephen Cleobury

CHRIS T OP HER M. S MITH

Sir Stephen Cleobury (1948-2019) was a British mas Eve in 1984, making an invaluable contribution
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conductor, organist, and composer best known for to contemporary choral composition. Examples of
his work as the director of music at King’s College, carols commissioned and premiered in the service
Cambridge (U.K.), a post he occupied with distinction include John Rutter’s “What Sweeter Music,” Judith
from 1982 to 2019, where he conducted one of the Weir’s “Illuminare Jerusalem,” and Stephen Paulus’s
world’s most famous choirs, the Choir of King’s Col- “Pilgrim Jesus.” He also expanded activities in broad-
lege. In his developmental years, Cleobury was a boy casting, recording, and touring. Alumni have notably
chorister at Worcester Cathedral and went on to serve founded other world-renown ensembles, including
as organ scholar at St. John’s College in Cambridge. Polyphony, conducted by Stephen Layton (himself an
One of his teachers was David Willcocks, whom he alumnus of King’s), and The King’s Singers.
later succeeded as music director at King’s College. In Cleobury, fondly referred to as “Cleebs” within
1974 he served as sub-organist at Westminster Abbey, British music circles, conducted and recorded with
and in 1979 was the first Anglican to be appointed other fine ensembles, including the BBC Singers
master of music at Westminster Cathedral in Lon- (1995–2007) and the Academy of Ancient Music. He
don. 2 conducted the one hundredth anniversary of A Fes-
Although the Choir at King’s College was al- tival of Nine Lessons and Carols in December 2018,
ready well known in 1982 through worldwide radio his final Carols performance before his planned retire-
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broadcasts of A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, ment. A few months after his retirement, Sir Stephen
Cleobury enhanced the stature of the choir during Cleobury died peacefully on November 22, 2019—
his tenure. He expanded on its venerated tradition, the feast day of St. Cecilia, patron saint of music and
instituting the annual commissioned carol for Christ- musicians. 4

Christopher M. Smith
Director of Choral Activities & Worship Arts
Associate Professor of Music
MidAmerica Nazarene University
cmsmith3@mnu.edu

16 CHORAL JOURNAL November/December 2024 Volume 65 Number 4