Lords of the dance: Bolero! with the Concert and Big Bands tomorrow

Excitement in the Colyer-Fergusson building has been mounting all week in expectation of tomorrow’s annual roof-raising gig with the University Concert and Big Bands.

AH4A7642Under the baton of the ever-youthful Ian Swatman, both bands will  be joined by trumpeter Mike Lovatt, who includes the accolade of principal trumpet with the Grammy nominated John Wilson Orchestra amongst his many appearances and recordings; it will be a terrific experience for the students here at Kent! Ian is particularly excited at the prospect (when not pursuing the varied fortunes of Hull City AFC, of course); ”This is an amazing coup to bring Mike down to the University and a once in a lifetime opportunity for the students to play with such an accomplished musician!”

Ruby Mutlow
Ruby Mutlow

The programme includes Ravel’s epic musical crescendo, Bolero, music by Earth Wind & Fire and a Queen medley, as well as Big Band classics and vocal numbers featuring our two First Ladies of Jazz at Kent, Ruby Mutlow and Steph Richardson.

Find out more here.

 

Image gallery: lunchtime concert on the foyer-stage

The University Cecilian Choir and Music Scholars came together in an evocative and dramatic lunchtime concert on the foyer-stage last week, as part of a month-long series of events across the campus to mark LGBT Month.

Conducted by your loyal correspondent, the Cecilian Choir opened the concert with several movements from Britten’s Friday Afternoons, delivered with great vigour. Following this were two of Britten’s folk-song settings; Down By The Salley Gardens (sung by soprano Kathryn Cox) and O Waly, Waly (from soprano Paris Noble). These two moving, initimate reflections on love and loss were performed with real commitment, drawing the hushed audience so close that it was as though the listeners were hunched right around the stage.

The Cecilian Choir returned to the stage, together with third-year harpist Emma Murton, to close the concert with four movements from the Ceremony of Carols, moving from the high drama of ‘This Little Babe’ to the lyrical, evergreen simplicity of ‘Spring Carol,’ through the declamatory ‘Deo Gracias’ and ending with the plainchant of ‘Hodie Christus natus est.’

An engaging concert, and a great opportunity to make a musical contribution to the month’s events. Bravo, team.

Images: Matt Wilson (c) University of Kent

Make Believe with the Music Theatre Society

Prepare for a land of ‘Make Believe’ in the company of the Music Theatre Society this weekend.

Make Believe Final Poster

On Saturday 1st of March at 4 pm (Matinee) and 8 pm (evening) and Sunday 2nd of March 8 pm, Darwin’s Missing Link will come alive to music from Les Miserables, Matilda, Beauty & The Beast and other favourites.

Ticket are a mere snip at £5 available from The Mandela Building on Campus or online via the Kent Union website: find out more on the Society’s Facebook event page here.

Donor card: a chance to thank our supporters

This morning’s reception in the foyer was a wonderful opportunity for us to say a very warm ‘thank you’ to some of the philanthropic supporters of the University, and in particular some of those who support music-making at Kent.

We’re very fortunate to have so many people interested in supporting the University in all manner of ways, of which supporting music through the Scholarship scheme and donations towards the Colyer-Fergusson building is crucial to nurturing, developing and encouraging all the young musicians who come to Kent. This morning’s reception was an opportunity for us to say thank you to some of them, for their continued interest in Kent and in the young minds and musical talents that arrive each September.

Two of our Music Scholarship students, soprano Kathryn Cox and trumpeter and singer, Joe Prescott, were among the crowd, talking about music-making and what the generosity of the supporters allows them to achieve.

Music Scholars Kathryn Cox and Joe Prescott. Image: Matt Wilson
Music Scholars Kathryn Cox and Joe Prescott. Image: Matt Wilson

A lovely occasion, and a reminder of the importance of what the University does, not only for those who are studying here, but to a much wider community. Our thanks to all of them.

Celebrating Britten next Wednesday

The University Cecilian Choir, fresh from its seasonal debut on the foyer-stage at Christmas, is currently in rehearsals in preparation for its concert towards the end of term, in which the Choir will present a range of contemporary pieces alongside Hassler’s Missa super Dixit Maria.

The Cecilian Choir performing in 2013
The Cecilian Choir performing in 2013. Image credit: Matt Wilson

But before then, the Choir will be singing in a lunchtime concert next Wednesday, as the ‘Watch This Space’ series celebrates LGBT Month with the music of Benjamin Britten. The programme will include movements from the Ceremony of Carols including harpist Emma Murton; folk-songs sung by Kathryn Cox and Paris Noble; and will conclude with movements from Britten’s rambunctious Friday Afternoons.

The event starts at 1.10pm; admission is free.

Interpretative genius: Rachel Podger at the Colyer-Fergusson Hall next week

Rachel Podger, a leading exponent in the field of period performance, will be appearing at the Colyer-Fergusson Hall next week, in a programme of music for solo violin.

r_podgerFormer leader of The English Concert from 1997 to 2002 and a guest director with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, as well as establishing the Brecon Baroque Festival, Rachel is an inspirational performing musician. The concert on Friday 21 February includes  Bach’s Flute Partita in A minor, transposed for violin, and Biber’s ‘Guardian Angel,’ the final work from his Mystery Sonatas.

Here’s Rachel at the BBC Proms back in 2007, in the exquisite second movement of Bach’s Double Violin Concerto in D minor, playing with Andrew Manze.

More details on our What’s On page here.