Usually separated by 900km or so of highway, the choirs of St Paul’s College, University of Sydney, and Trinity College, University of Melbourne are coming to perform together for the first time. This July, the two ensembles – more than 50 singers in total – will combine for a pair of concerts hosted at St Jude’s, Bowral and Christ Church St Laurence, Sydney.

Jack Stephens (St Paul’s College Choir) and Christopher Watson (Trinity College Choir). Photo supplied

The idea has been in the works for a few years, says Jack Stephens, Director of Music at St Paul’s Choir. “Christopher [Watson, Director of Music at Trinity College Melbourne] and I have been friends for a while and when I started this job we both thought it would be a great opportunity to showcase the huge history of music that each college has and make more people aware of what we do and what we can do.”

The colleges of St Paul’s and Trinity have long histories, and their choirs are their flagship musical ensembles. Both are responsible for providing music for chapel services – weekly Evensong services, for example – but do...