Our final event of the term saw the Big Band cracking open its annual box of festive tunes for the Christmas Swingalong, together with the Pop n Soul Choir bringing its own glitter.
The band was joined by final-year student vocalist, Tayo, for some lively tunes including ‘Man with the Bag,’ whilst the Pop n Soul Choir channelled its inner Elton John as it invited the enthusiastic audience to ‘Step Into Christmas.’
There’s always a lovely, festive atmosphere about the gig, the final musical event before the Christmas break; many thanks to Big Band director, Ian Swatman, and the Pop n Soul Choir director, Meg Bird.
We’re off for a well-earned break – back in the New Year, when the music merry-go-round starts up anew on 12 January. Have a lovely Christmas, everyone!
The Choir, comprising students, staff and alumni, is a by-invitation choir, which has previously appeared on BBC Radio 4’s My Choir and Heart Kent Radio, and also sung the service of Choral Evensong at the Cathedral.
The solo verse to ‘Once in royal David’s city’ was launched high and clear into the hushed expectancy of the Cathedral Nave by final-year Wildlife Conservation student and Music Performance flute Scholar, Charlotte Farmer.
Our annual festival was launched with a first half of ravishing colours from Minerva Voices, in works ranging from Sarah Quartel’s This We Know to Russell Hepplewhite’s evocative Fly away, over the sea, the Tudor round Ah, Robyn, and other pieces, accompanied by first-year Music Performance Scholar, Hannah Tudor.
The second half saw the mixed-voice Cecilian Choir, comprising students, staff and alumni, in a vivid performance of Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater, accompanied by a five-piece consort, and featuring solos from final-year students Leonie Carrette, Florence Kingdon, Rachel Fung and Amanda Schott.
As always, the concert is supported by the David Humphreys Fund, a bequest left by David in honour of his wife, Julia; the opportunity to perform in such a richly-sonorous, historic and intimate space is one of the highlights of the musical calendar, and we remain grateful to the Humphreys family for their generous support.
I am running the London Marathon in April 2025 for Asthma + Lung UK, formerly the British Lung Foundation, who are fighting for healthy lungs for everyone. They aim to improve public awareness of the symptoms of asthma and lung disease and develop ways to diagnose lung conditions better and faster. This charity is important to me as I have suffered from asthma for almost 10 years, making running 26.2 miles a challenge which I am so excited to take on! Running has already helped my asthma so much and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to raise both money and awareness.
Additionally, last year, a friend of mine who was only 20 years old tragically died at university from an asthma attack, and he did not know he even had the condition. As much as I will be running for myself, I will also be running for him, and for a world where no one loses their life or their loved ones to this disease.
Congratulations to all the performers involved across the entire weekend, and our thanks in particular to Stephanie for taking the time to stop over in Canterbury on her flight from Europe to Canada, to come to Colyer-Fergusson and be part of the event.