All posts by Daniel Harding

Head of Music Performance, University of Kent: pianist, accompanist and conductor: jazz enthusiast.
Was It Good For You ?

Was It Good For You: Miles Banbery.

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Continuing the series profiling musical alumni of the University of Kent. This week, Miles Banbery.

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Miles Banbery
Web-master: Miles Banbery

When were you at Kent ?

1990-1995 as a student – ever since as a member of staff!

What subject did you study ?

BA (Hons) in History and MA in Medieval and Tudor Studies.

What occupation are you now engaged in ?

I’m the Web Editor for the University of Kent.

If music is not your profession, do you participate in any musical experiences now ?

I belong to two local chamber choirs (one of whom I occasionally conduct and more regularly act as rehearsal pianist for) and get involved as a ‘dep’ or ‘bumper’ with a variety of local chamber choirs, church choirs and choral societies. In addition, I sing in and organise a quartet who sing a monthly unaccompanied mass at a local church. Sometimes we grow to 8 or 12 members for special occasions but always stick to the 16th century English and continental European unaccompanied repertoire.

How were you involved in music whilst at Kent

I sang in the University Chamber Choir and University Chorus as well as taking my turn conducting the Chamber Choir and the Big Band. In addition, I served as a committee member for both the Chamber Music Society and the Jazz and Blues Society. I also performed in the chorus for Tosca in the Gulbenkian and for The Pyjama Game in the Marlowe. Later on I also had the opportunity to be musical director to student productions of Cabaret and My Fair Lady as well as vocal coach for Joseph.

What did you gain from your University music experience, and has this helped you in any way since leaving Kent ?

I gained hugely from the opportunities given to students to perform as soloists, gain experience of musicals and operas and also get to conduct/direct if they wanted. That kind of experience is invaluable and, whilst its tempting to keep standards high by using local semi-pros and pros, student experience and development is so important. The solo and conducting experience I got at Kent hugely improved not just my skills in those areas, but my confidence presenting in front of large groups of people and choir work is great for learning key team skills.

I also learnt how much comes to those who are willing to organise it themselves! Its no good waiting for others to bring opportunities to you!

What was your most memorable musical experience at Kent ?

Difficult to pick just one! Chamber Choir tours to Prague including the one I conducted must be top, but I remember a wonderful Messiah in St. Peter’s Methodist Church and a wonderful Monteverdi Vespers in Wye Parish Church. I have to say how much I enjoyed the annual ‘Messiah from Scratch’. A great introduction to Kent for singers and players alike.

What would you say to current musical students at the University ?

Take every opportunity to perform you can get without failing your degree! Also, don’t neglect your practice and technique like I did! 🙂

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If you’re a musical alumnus and would like to be featured, get in touch via the Music Department website: we’d love to hear from you!

Be My Guest, Jazz Booth, Keeping It Real: reviews.

Be My Guest: Alanya Holder reviews Ronnie Scott’s Big Band

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Be My Guest: an occasional series featuring guest posts and contributions. This week, Music Society President Alanya Holder reviews the Ronnie Scott Big Band as part of the Sounds New Festival, Canterbury.

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Ronnie Scott: “If it doesn’t turn you on…”

On Sunday 16th May, as part of the Sounds New festival, Ronnie Scott’s Big Band came to the Gulbenkian Theatre. But as an extra special treat, selected musicians from Canterbury Christ Church University were invited to an afternoon workshop with the director of the band, Pete Long. I was lucky enough to sit in and watch the experience! Pete Long is a fantastically extrovert character who clearly has a passion for all things jazz and big band. He was also a brilliant director, getting the absolute best out of everyone within minutes. The noise that engulfed the Gulbenkian Cafe was astounding. We also got a little insight into how rehearsals with the Ronnie Scott band must be as everyone was so relaxed and having a great time just enjoying the music. I also feel greatly enlightened by Pete Long’s words of wisdom during the day. A lesson every musician must learn is this; “Playing a note is like streaking, once you’ve started you’ve got to commit to it!” Also I think it is important we remember the day in a certain context; “Big band music – sometimes it’s used to accompany strippers.”

Album cover
Atomic Basie (1957)

So as the afternoon drew to a close everyone was eagerly awaiting the evening performance of the two iconic jazz albums: Atomic Mr. Basie and Ellington at Newport. The evening was not only fantastic music but I felt I left knowing a lot more about the two albums and the artists as Pete Long gave each song an introduction and history (not to mention a joke or two). It was great to hear the songs performed by the band that the students had played about with earlier in the day, as you could appreciate just how good both the students and Pete Long were at bringing the music to life. Almost every member of the Ronnie Scott band had a solo opportunity during the evening, the crowd favourite being the drummer who not only stunned us with drumming but juggling as well! A quirck which put a smile on my face was watching the pianist’s feet tapping away at an incredible speed along with all the songs, I was worried he might fall off his chair.

Ellington album
Ellington at Newport (1956)

The evening went from strength to strength and towards the end of the night every song and every solo received a cheer and a standing ovation. The passion for the music in the room was evident, even if jazz wasn’t your thing! But as Pete Long said; “If it doesn’t turn you on…then you haven’t got a switch.”

Written by Alanya Holder.

Notes on Music

Opera: season with fear

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I read the news that the BBC is launching a new series across its major networks devoted to opera with some trepidation. Not because opera is not perhaps my favourite art-form, hem hem. I welcome any cultural exploration on the television – I’m currently watching Francesco’s Venice with great enthusiasm, as well as Owen Sheers’ Art of the Sea – and classical music, for my money, is often poorly over-looked by television outside of the BBC  Prom season.

But as I read the article in Gramophone, my heart sank.  As part of the season exploring opera, Rick Stein will be offering a “look at the parallels between food and cooking, with a gastronomic look at Italian opera,” I learn. And the titanic, sprawling controversy that is the music of Richard Wagner will be investigated by – Stephen Fry.

Now don’t get me wrong: I love Stephen Fry. But if I want an analysis of Wagner’s music, an examination of his mammoth operas and an insight into the innovations he wrought in harmony and tonality, I might not look to Stephen Fry straight away. Nor do I expect profound insights into the Italian opera tradition to be revealed by focusing on cooking with Rick Stein.

I like the idea that classical music, even opera, is the subject of a season of programmes: hell, I might even learn to like opera myself. But if ‘twere done, then ‘twere best done properly, by specialists who really know their stuff. The promised programmes by Antonio Pappano, investigating the role of opera in the musical life of the country, sounds excellent. But the nation-wide search by Radio 3 for the nation’s favourite operatic aria fills me with dread: presenter Rob Cowan talking of ”an exciting battle for the top spot” when the top ten are announced in June.

I’ll be watching, and listening, with interest. But a little trepidation too. Will you ?

Was It Good For You ?

Was It Good For You: Jo Shave.

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Continuing the series profiling musical alumni of the University of Kent. This week, Jo Shave.

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Jo Shave
A cut above: Jo Shave

When were you at Kent ?

I was at Kent from 2006 – 2009.

What subject did you study ?

I studied English Language and Linguistics.

What occupation are you now engaged in ?

I’m currently taking a gap year to earn some extra pennies, before embarking on an MSc in Neuroscience, Language and Communication at University College London.

If music is not your profession, do you participate in any musical experiences now ?

Sadly these days, my musical participation is limited to singing in my car and the occasional twang on my guitar. However, I still regularly attend concerts of all genres particularly recent University of Kent Chamber Choir concerts. It’s worthwhile listening from another angle, and particularly enjoyable to see the choir flourish in the years after you’ve gone.

How were you involved in music whilst at Kent ?

I was involved across most aspects of the Music Society. I was a fully fledged Chorus and Chamber Choir member from 2006 – 2009 and continued the position of Chamber Choir Librarian for two years too. In my third and final year, I conducted the group ‘Sing!’ which was extremely successful. It was a huge achievement for myself and the performers and a fantastic way to promote the joy of singing. I also participated in the female Barbershop at ArtsFest each year and due to my Music Lesson Scholarship I was given a wealth of additional opportunities to perform and promote how the Music Society was crucial to my University experience.

What did you gain from your University music experience, and has this helped you in any way since leaving Kent ?

My University experience just wouldn’t have been the same without the Music Society. From that first Freshers Open evening I was hooked as everyone was so friendly and welcoming. Of course, the music itself was fantastic too. I relished the opportunities to perform in the Cathedral each year, and sing music I hadn’t sung before. In addition, touring to Paris with the Chamber Choir in April 2008 was a brilliant experience and opportunity. The Music Society certainly helped me to mature from a Fresher into a Graduate in a huge number of ways. Most importantly, I left University with a huge number of very close friends and it is wonderful to be able to stay in contact and meet up as regularly as possible. We often sit and sing tonnes of pieces from years gone by and reminisce about the ‘good old days’.

What was your most memorable musical experience at Kent ?

Without doubt, my most memorable musical experience at Kent was the Chamber Choir 2008 tour to Paris. I was extremely lucky to be involved in such a rewarding experience, and the choir and company were fantastic. There have been so many other opportunites too, but Artsfest each year has to be one of the best events on earth! A whole day filled with musical activities is a dream come true! I especially loved the performance of the finale of Die Fleidermaus in the Eliot Hall in my final year; it was the best and only way to say goodbye to the best three years of music-making.

What would you say to current musical students at the University ?

Get involved! One of the best ways to be a part of the Music Society is to join the Committee, so stand for election and go for a college rep, or if you’re feeling ambitious go for an Exec position like President or Secretary. Take full advantage of the opportunities you are given no matter what ability or instrument and enjoy yourselves to the full!

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If you’re an alumni and would like to be featured, get in touch via the Music Department website: we’d love to hear from you!

Building for the future

New website goes live!

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I’m delighted to report that, after months of development, modernisation of the department continues: the new Music Department website at the university has just gone live!

New website screenshot
Seeing the future: the new-look website.

Those of you familiar with the previous incarnation will, I hope, be pleased with the new site’s look and feel: it’s now more interactive, visually more engaging, and less page-scrolling is required to view content as it journeys down the page.

New features include embedded video and virtual brochures, with the possibility of additional enhanced features to reflect the Music Department itself as it heads into the next decade with the exciting new music building mentioned previously here on the blog. A new News and Links feature will allow us to keep visitors up-to-date with stories and events, and keep the site relevant with current content to keep readers coming back.

It still offers the same facilities as before, including the Concert Diary (now presented much more usefully) and down-loadable seasonal brochure, details about ArtsFest, plus all the music-making activities and ensembles with which to get involved.  Still under development is an attractive dynamic gallery, where photos from recent events will be published: a feature sorely missing from the previous site.

Combining the new website with the ‘Music Matters’ blog, you’ll be able to keep yourself informed about the latest in music at Kent like never before…

The new, sleeker and (hopefully) sexier website is here: view it for yourself!

Take me there…

Keeping It Real: reviews.

ArtsFest is coming…

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Saturday 12 June, 2010, from 1pm: get it in your diaries now!

The University’s end of year cultural celebrations on the Canterbury campus, with a host of sound-stages, music, dance, drama, an evening Prom Concert and events at the Gulbenkian Theatre. This year, the Gulbenkian is also the focus for family and children-friendly events and activities, and there’ll be the usual refreshments and wandering entertainment throughout the afternoon.

From capoeira demonstrations to stand-up comedy, drama presentations and dance to live music including rock, jazz and classical, there’ll be something for everyone. Local community and school groups will also be performing, and Rubber Biscuit – Kent’s hottest rhythmn and blues band – will be headlining on the main stage in the evening.

The evening will conclude with the traditional dazzling pyrotechnic wizardry of the firework display on the slopes overlooking the floodlit Cathedral.

A full list of the day’s event can be found on-line here. It’s going to be another cracker…