Conductor, organist and composer Sir Stephen Cleobury, director of the famous Choir of King’s College Cambridge for 37 years, has died aged 70.

“It is with great sadness that King’s College has learned of the death of Sir Stephen Cleobury,” the Choir of King’s College Cambridge said in a statement. “Following a long illness, Stephen died peacefully in the late evening of 22 November – the feast day of St Cecilia, patron saint of music and musicians – in York, where he had lived since his retirement in September.”

Sir Stephen CleoburySir Stephen Cleobury (1948 – 2019). Photo © Kevin Leighton

“As Director of Music, Sir Stephen served this College with distinction for nearly four decades,” said the College’s Provost, Professor Michael Proctor. “On this truly sad day, the College community, and indeed many around the world, are mourning his passing with a profound feeling of loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with Sir Stephen’s family and the Choristers and Scholars of our choir who worked so closely with him.”

Cleobury was born in 1948 in Bromley, Kent, and began his musical training as a chorister at Worcester Cathedral. He held numerous positions as an...