No other discipline offers such a variety of opportunities for intellectual and practical exploration, and self-discovery. You may be a fine performer or aspiring composer, or your primary interest may be more academic; our course is sufficiently flexible to cater for all of these areas. The course offers you the opportunity to study the history and practices of Western European art music from medieval times to the present day, popular and world musics, music aesthetics and education, psychology, musical geographies, analysis, orchestration, stylistic and free composition, and much else besides. The majority of our graduates go on to further musical study or to work in the music professions.
Although some of those reading Music at Christ Church sing in the Cathedral Choir (Academical Clerks) or play the organ (Organ Scholars), the majority do not. Christ Church has a very strong tradition in music, taking more undergraduates to read the subject than any other college. You have a piano provided in your room and a substantial grant from the Faculty to cover the cost of instrumental lessons. Also there is a College Music Room, along with a nearby suite of practice facilities. The College Library supports your studies with a wide range of books and scores, as well as housing one of the finest collections of music manuscripts and printed music in the country.
There is an active Music Society, which promotes regular concerts. A major festival took place in 2025 to mark the College’s 500th Anniversary, with performances by, among others, English Concert, Phantasm, Alamire, and many distinguished musical alumni of Christ Church. In 2026 Nico Muhly was appointed as Christ Church's first Composer in Residence.
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Vacancies for Choral Scholars at Christ Church are open to both female and male applicants. Awards are made subject to meeting the academic conditions of an offer and last for the duration of the course.
At the choral trial, candidates are required to sing a prepared piece and to demonstrate musical aptitude through a few vocal exercises (scales and arpeggios), ear tests and reading at sight.
Two Organ Scholarships are available at Christ Church; one with the Cathedral Choir and one with Frideswide Voices.
Organ Scholarships at Christ Church and all other Oxford colleges are awarded subject to candidates receiving an offer of an academic place to study at the University, and to candidates achieving the academic conditions of their offer.