A final musical event for the term, Carols Round The Tree yesterday saw members of the University community gathering near the Registry Garden tree to sing together, supported this year by a fine brass group comprising students and staff.

Forged in the fiery furnace of rehearsals in Eliot by Music Scholar and Architecture student Chris Gray, the twelve-piece brass group accompanied the assembled singers filling the chilly air with carols, and also gave lively renditions of seasonal favourites including ‘Frosty the Snowman’ and ‘Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer.’ Kent Hospitality supplied mulled wine and roast chestnuts, and the Estates team had heroically braved the plummeting temperatures earlier in the day to set up a lighting rig and suitable electrics. The student group Sing!, conducted by Maia Peacock, sang a piece, as did the Chamber Choir.

It’s always a particularly special occasion, when people spontaneously gather to see out the term in festive style, a chance for one final sing before the term ends. It didn’t snow this year, but never mind!

Thank you to everyone involved in Kent’s music-making over the past term: it all starts again in January; watch out for our new events brochure on the website early next month.