Last night, Trinity College Chapel was filled to capacity as The Sixteen performed a deeply reflective programme curated by Harry Christophers CBE FRSCM. Among the works presented were two pieces by Lucy Walker, Composer in Residence at Clare Hall, whose music sat naturally within a concert shaped by careful musical and emotional sensitivity.

Lucy Walker’s Ave Virgo Sanctissima, paired with The Angels’ Song, drew particular attention. In a review published this morning, John Gilroy described both works as reflecting Lucy Walker’s exceptional talent for choral composition. He also noted that her piece Today was recently performed by the BBC Singers to wide acclaim at the 2025 Last Night of the Proms.

The second half of the concert included Francisco Guerrero’s Ave Virgo Sanctissima, a pairing that invited thoughtful comparison and underscored the strength and individuality of Walker’s contemporary response to the choral tradition. The programme as a whole reflected Harry Christophers’ deep understanding of choral music and his ability to shape performances that resonate profoundly with audiences.

The concert was generously supported by Mary Archer, and demand was such that listeners filled not only the chapel but also the antechapel, where the audience followed the performance with rapt attention.

Lucy Walker is currently composing a new work for Continuum, which will be premiered as part of the Clare Hall music series at Clare College Chapel on 24 January. The piece sets a text by one of England’s finest poets and explores an echo device that presents a fresh compositional challenge. Audiences are invited to attend and discover how this new work unfolds.

Clare Hall is proud to see its Composer in Residence so warmly received in such a distinguished setting and looks forward to the next chapter of her musical journey.