Whether or not students choose to spend their nights in their residence hall rooms staring at the ceiling and wondering what to do, the option to enjoy some of the finest singing Britain has to offer is a choice that students can make.

NIU students can see one of the leading choral groups in England–for free.

The Clare College Choir is coming to perform Sept. 17 at 8 p.m. in the Music Building.

The choir, under the direction of Tim Brown, has released several CDs, a television series on Dutch TV and six video CDs with recordings of their music.

The group frequently travels abroad touring in the USA, Russia and Europe.

“Clare College Choir is a world-class ensemble,” said Eric Johnson, director of choral activities at NIU, in a recent press release. “We are very fortunate to have the opportunity to hear the best of English choral tradition on our own campus.”

However, most students are unaware of the popularity of the choir, or even of their existence.

Latonya Sconiers, a senior community health major, drew a blank on the subject.

“Never heard of it,” she said.

The Clare College Choir has musical talent that has earned them a place at the Sept. 11 memorial program in New York City to commemorate the first anniversary of the terrorist attacks.

The Clare College Choir has produced British great Richard Stilgoe, who started from humble beginnings in the choir and then moved on to several of his own television shows in the 1960s. Stilgoe now sits on COUNTDOWN, a British quiz show.