Alumni

Mark Dobell

Tenor, Choral Scholar (1993-96)

“No part of my College life that gave me more enjoyment than belonging to the Choir”

“In three wonderful years at Clare, I can think of no part of my College life that gave me more enjoyment than belonging to the Choir. It provided an excellent social opportunity, where I founded some lasting friendships, and instilled in me both the musical discipline and the spirit of teamwork that have been key to my career. Singing was merely a hobby when I arrived at Clare, but by the time I left I had no doubt I wanted to pursue it professionally.”

Originally from Tunbridge Wells in Kent, Mark Dobell was a choral scholar of Clare College, Cambridge, where he read Classics. He later studied as a postgraduate at the Royal Academy of Music, and was awarded The Clifton Prize for the best final recital.
Mark has worked as a soloist throughout Europe and North America with world-renowned conductors including Harry Christophers, Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Sir Roger Norrington and James MacMillan. His extensive concert and oratorio repertoire includes many of the major works of Handel, Bach and Mozart, as well as pieces by composers as varied as Monteverdi, Haydn, Mendelssohn, Britten and Karl Jenkins. Recent highlights include performances of Monteverdi’s Vespers in Birmingham Town Hall and London’s Cadogan Hall, Britten’s St Nicolas in St Albans Abbey, Schutz’s Christmas Story at St John’s Smith Square in London, Bach’s B Minor Mass in Cuenca, Pamplona and Santiago, Handel’s Messiah at the Palace of Versailles, Mozart’s Requiem at the Auditorio Nacional in Madrid, and Bach’s St John Passion at the Barbican and Westminster Abbey. Forthcoming projects include Bach’s St Mark Passion in Derby Cathedral, Pärt’s Passio in Westminster Abbey, Vivaldi’s Dixit Dominus in Amsterdam and Purcell’s King Arthur in the Usher Hall, Edinburgh.
Equally established as a consort singer, Mark enjoys performing with many leading choirs and consort groups, such as The Cardinall’s Musick, I Fagiolini and The King’s Consort. He is proud to be a member of The Sixteen, The Tallis Scholars, The Orlando Consort and the choir of Westminster Abbey.