Festive Tea 2020
Although we are unable to welcome donors back to St John’s in person this year to thank them for their continued support during such turbulent times, we still hope to bring a taste of seasonal cheer from the College ahead of the winter break!
Our online Festive Tea will take place on Sunday 6 December from 3.30–5.30pm (including check-in) via Zoom. Closer to the time, guests will receive a Zoom link and instructions on how to optimise their experience. Each guest’s household is welcome to gather around, wave ‘hello’ and enjoy the experience with us. The camera-shy can, of course, switch off their video if they choose.
If you are unable to join us and would prefer not to receive any further communications regarding this event, please email Jess Mackenzie at j.mackenzie@joh.cam.ac.uk and she will remove you from the list.
Programme
3.30–4pm: Online check-in opens
3–3.10pm: Welcome message from Master, Heather Hancock (1984)
4.10–5pm: Award-winning author of The Splash of Words: Believing in poetry, Rev’d Canon Mark Oakley, gives a reading of his favourite festive verses and an insight into each one
5–5.15pm: The St John’s Voices sing a selection of winter warmers from Chapel
5.15–5.30pm: Q&A with the St John’s Voices and their Director, Graham Walker (1996)
5.30pm: Group photo and farewell from the Master, Heather Hancock (1984)
A present of poems with the Rev’d Canon Mark Oakley
Rev’d Canon Mark Oakley will introduce and read some of his favourite Christmas poems, both secular and religious, exploring the fun and poignancy of the season. Anyone who has had the pleasure of hearing Mark speak before will know that his words and wit can stir even the most spent listener! So sit back, relax and enjoy the festive verses.
Mark’s book The Splash of Words: Believing in Poetry won the international Michael Ramsey Prize last year and his most recent book My Sour Sweet Days is an introduction to the poetry of George Herbert. Mark acted as a judge for the 2018 Ted Hughes Award for new work in poetry and is passionate about the often overlooked art of poetry and its ability to transport a reader as well as any novel.
The Rev’d Canon Mark Oakley
The Rev’d Canon Mark Oakley is Dean of Chapel and a Tutor at St John’s, as well as a visiting lecturer in the Theology and Religious Studies Department at King’s College London. Before coming to St John’s, he was Canon Chancellor of St Paul’s Cathedral.
View profileSt John’s Voices’ Merry Medley
Join us for 15 minutes of festive cheer with a Christmas medley from the St John’s Voices, filmed from our stunning Chapel. Guests who RSVP by Monday 16 November will get to vote on the songs performed, from a mixture of older classics to modern favourites. After completing our online booking form above, you will receive a confirmation email with a link to the survey to vote on your selection. If you do not receive this email, please check your junk folder and contact Jess Mackenzie at j.mackenzie@joh.cam.ac.uk.
What has it been like as musicians in a pandemic? Are Christmas performances cancelled this year? Which Christmas classics are the most fun to perform and which are the trickiest?
Following the performance, enjoy an exclusive Q&A with Director of the St John’s Voices, Graham Walker (1996) and a pair of Voices themselves. Via the Zoom ‘chat’ function, send your questions and interact live (step by step instructions on how to do this will be provided in the run-up to the event).
St John’s Voices
Founded in 2013, the St John’s Voices are the College’s mixed-voice choir and directed by former chorister and choral scholar of St John’s, Graham Walker (1996). Their repertoire ranges from early Renaissance to the present day, and takes in substantial works by major composers. As well as singing Evensong every Monday during term time, St John’s Voices performs regularly on tours and in concerts throughout the year and in January released their first album ‘Mathias Choral Music’.
View profileGeneral information
For further information, or if you have any enquiries, please contact Jess Mackenzie on 01223 330724 or at j.mackenzie@joh.cam.ac.uk.