Christ Church Schola Cantorum is a classical music ensemble that was founded in 2000 by James Potter, the Director of Music at Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford, England. The ensemble is made up of 18-24 singers, all of whom are students or recent graduates of the University of Oxford. The group specializes in performing sacred choral music from the Renaissance and Baroque periods, as well as contemporary works. The ensemble's main members have changed over the years, as students graduate and new members join. However, the group has always been led by James Potter, who has been the Director of Music at Christ Church Cathedral since 1997. Potter is a highly respected choral conductor and has worked with many other ensembles, including the Choir of King's College, Cambridge and the BBC Singers. One of the highlights of the ensemble's early years was their performance of Bach's St. John Passion in 2002. The performance was held in Christ Church Cathedral and was conducted by James Potter. The ensemble received critical acclaim for their performance, with one reviewer describing it as "a revelation". In 2004, the ensemble released their first CD, entitled "Music for the Coronation of James II". The CD features music by composers such as Purcell, Blow, and Handel, and was recorded in Christ Church Cathedral. The CD received positive reviews and helped to establish the ensemble's reputation as one of the leading choral groups in Oxford. Over the years, the ensemble has performed in many prestigious venues, both in the UK and abroad. In 2006, they performed at the Festival Internacional de Música de Cantonigròs in Spain, where they received a standing ovation from the audience. In 2008, they performed at the Royal Albert Hall in London as part of the BBC Proms, where they sang in a performance of Handel's "Israel in Egypt" with the BBC Symphony Orchestra. In addition to their performances, the ensemble has also won several awards and competitions. In 2005, they won the Choir of the Year competition, which is one of the most prestigious choral competitions in the UK. They also won the Oxford University Chamber Choir Competition in 2006 and 2007. One of the ensemble's most notable performances took place in 2011, when they performed at the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. The ensemble sang during the service at Westminster Abbey, performing works by composers such as Vaughan Williams and Rutter. The performance was watched by millions of people around the world and helped to raise the ensemble's profile even further. In recent years, the ensemble has continued to perform and record music, with their most recent CD, "Music for the Queen of Heaven", being released in 2019. The CD features music by female composers from the Renaissance and Baroque periods, and was recorded in Christ Church Cathedral. Overall, Christ Church Schola Cantorum is a highly respected and accomplished classical music ensemble. Their performances and recordings have received critical acclaim, and they have won several awards and competitions. The ensemble's dedication to performing sacred choral music from a variety of periods has helped to establish them as one of the leading choral groups in the UK and beyond.

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