The Choir
The
Choir
The Choir of HM Chapel Royal, Hampton Court Palace, has been enriching the cultural and spiritual life of England for nearly five hundred years. Today’s Choir comprises six men who are professional singers and up to 18 boys. The choirboys range in age from seven to thirteen and attend various local schools both state-run and independent. During the services they sing religious choral works dating from the 16th century to modern day composers.
The Director of Music, Mr Alexander Hamilton, is always interested in hearing from potential choristers. You may contact him here.
Gentlemen of the Choir
Hamish McLaren, Countertenor
Hamish joined the choir of the Chapel Royal Hampton Court Palace in the 2020 after graduating from the Royal Academy of Music in 2019. Away from the Chapel Royal he performs with various ensembles such as The Monteverdi Choir, Vox Luminis, and The Constellation Choir. He has also performed on stage in various operas at Garsington, in Malta, and covered at Glyndebourne. In 2021 he released his debut solo album “Sphinx”; a profoundly geopolitically tone deaf collection of Russian and Soviet song from the 1850s to the 1990s, including world premiere recordings of Shostakovich, Myaskovsky, and Elena Firsova. Fittingly Hamish has a Siberian forest cat called Pisco who passionately detests his singing and has very sharp claws.
Karl Gietzmann, Countertenor
Louis Watkins, Tenor
Martin Hindmarsh, Tenor
Martin has been a Gentleman of the Chapel Royal since the Autumn Term of 2007. Previously, he had been a music lecturer at Sheffield University for 32 years until, taking early retirement, he was able to develop a freelance career as a solo concert singer, professional chorister and choral conductor. Martin has been fortunate to sing as a tenor around the world, to conduct the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and to have the opportunity to promote his own music, but nothing compares with the privilege of singing beneath the Chapel Royal’s glorious ceiling.
Christian Goursaud, Bass
Dr Christian Goursaud became Senior Gentleman of HM Chapel Royal, Hampton Court Palace in 2019, having joined the choir in 2003. His varied career encompasses singing with London Voices and Chamber Choir Ireland, teaching early music history within the University of Cambridge, and being increasingly active as a conductor. He was awarded a doctorate in 2016 following a period of study of fifteenth-century manuscripts of music theory, and enjoys welcoming performance into dialogue with scholarship.
Gavin Cranmer-Moralee, Bass
Gavin Cranmer-Moralee has been Cantoris Bass Gentleman at the Chapel Royal, Hampton Court Palace since April 2017. Outside of the Chapel, he holds two further Church positions: one at Holy Sepulchre, London and the other at St Mary’s Godfrey Searle Choir School, Reigate. He also works regularly with ensembles including, but not limited to BBC Singers, Ensemble Pro Victoria, London
Choral Sinfonia, London Voices, Polyphony, Sonoro and Tenebrae. Additionally, he deputises at St Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Abbey & Temple Church.
Chorister Open Day 2025
This year’s Chorister Open Day will take place on Saturday 4th October.
Local school boys aged 7 to 9 years (school years 3 to 5) are warmly invited to find out what life is like as a chorister of the Chapel Royal, Hampton Court Palace.
This family friendly event includes:
- A choral workshop with the Director of Music and music staff,
- Lots of opportunities to ask questions of current choristers and their parents,
- The opportunity to sing in the Chapel Royal with the gracious permission of HM The King,
- Tea with the choristers.
There is no need to prepare anything in advance, as we simply want boys to come along to find out if this could be for them. Auditions will follow in November, and places are awarded to boys from a wide range of local schools and backgrounds in the southwest London and Surrey areas. This is an opportunity open to every boy who has a love of singing – come and find out more!
Please direct any email enquiries to Sophie Baylis at choristeropenday@hrp.org.uk
APPLICATIONS FOR THIS YEAR ARE NOW OPEN.
Attendance at the Open Day is by pre-registration only. We will be unable to allow you entry if you do not have confirmation of your place.
Deadline: Wednesday 1st October 2025
Chapel Royal Scholarship, Hampton School
A scholarship is available from Hampton School for boys entering at the First Year. Choral Scholarships are awarded in conjunction with the Chapel Royal and boys who win this scholarship are expected to sing in the Chapel Royal Choir until their voice breaks.
For further details please contact Hampton School via their website at hamptonschool.org.uk or telephone them on 020 8783 4200.
All photographs of the Chapel Royal or taken in the Chapel Royal are with the gracious permission of His Majesty The King.
Copyright © HM Chapel Royal and The Choral Foundation 2011-2022. You may not use any imagery on this website without permission.
The Chapel Royal
Hampton Court Palace
KT8 9AU