King’s College choir hires director that described their sound as ‘hooty’

Daniel Hyde has also admitted to preferring King’s College Chapel’s rival St John’s College to that of his own alma mater.

An interview given before his appointment has resurfaced which has led to speculation he will change King’s College sound that has made it one of the most acclaimed English choirs.

Speaking to the New York Times, Hyde – who is currently musical director of St Thomas Church in Manhattan, said he would like to see changes made to “the traditional very polite English cathedral choir sound, where one is never louder than lovely, and it’s all very nicely packaged, and the i’s are dotted and the t’s are crossed”.

He added: “When boys are eleven, twelve, thirteen years old, they have this amazing instrument. When they learn to use it in a free and open, relaxed way, there is a lot of power and color. That is the sound I’m interested in – it’s very resonant, it’s very exciting. It isn’t small and, dare I say it, slightly hooty.”

Since graduating with a First in Music from King’s College, Hyde has directed choirs at Jesus College, Cambridge, and Magdalen College, Oxford, before he moved to New York.

His appointment has also been welcomed by English choristers. Stephen Cleobury, the current director of music at King’s College tweeted to Hyde and said: “I’m delighted that I shall be handing over to you. I’m sure you’ll take the choir of King’s College…