Scholars’ Spotlight recital series goes live

Our new series of short filmed recitals, Scholars’ Spotlight, has launched this lunchtime with a performance of twentieth-century flute repertoire by third-year Music Performance Scholar reading Legal Studies, Meg Daniel.

The developing series showcases Music Performance Scholars and Music Award Holders here at the University, in an ongoing series of closed-door performances filmed in Colyer-Fergusson Hall.

You can watch Meg’s recital here:

The series will continue with further performances, screening each day at 1pm on the Music Department’s YouTube channel.

With thanks for technical support to Thomas Connor, Luke McCann and George Morris.

Bleach My Mind: an interview with altrock band, HollowHead

Hot on the heels of the recent release of their debut EP, the Music Department hosted a live webchat with the members of HollowHead about the challenge of releasing an EP in the COVID era, their inspiration and influences, and what we can expect next from this unique trio.

The group includes third-year Drama student, Amy Tokel, and postgraduate Joshua Mitchell, reading an MA in Film Studies, both from the School of Arts.

Hosted by Dan Harding, the interview includes the band talking about their approach to writing and recording, exploring new ways of collaborating during lockdown, and brief extracts from the EP.

Music Performance Scholar to mark Beethoven anniversary

A remarkable event next week, in our first ‘virtual’ Lunchtime Concert – first-year international pianist from Canada and Music Performance Scholar at Kent and Medway Medical School, Michael Lam, will mark the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the birth of Beethoven next week with a filmed performance of the mammoth Piano Sonata in A major, Op.101.

A keen enthusiast of Beethoven’s rich repertoire for piano, the performance, which was filmed in Colyer-Fergusson Hall earlier today on the University’s Steinway piano, will be Premiered on the Music Department’s YouTube channel as part of this year’s Beethoven anniversary celebrations.

Michael’s performance will be a continuous, unedited take, of the first of Beethoven’s Late Period piano sonatas, rich in complexity and a formidable challenge to pianists everywhere.

The Premiere is free to watch online on YouTube on the Music department’s channel here: to whet your appetites, you can watch Michael performing three pieces from Bach’s Anna Magdalena Notebook, filmed earlier this term, online here.

Virtual Music Project Christmas: excerpt

Recordings have been coming in further still over this week; many thanks to alumnus with Kent Law School and former Music Performance Scholar, Doug Haycock, seen here in festive mood recording the bass part for the project – bonus points for a sparkly tree in the background as well…

Bass desires: Doug Haycock

You can hear an early (pre-Doug) excerpt from one of the carols, In the bleak midwinter, featuring voices and strings from several University alumni here:

Keep the recordings (and selfies) coming in, everyone…

Virtual Music Project Christmas: recordings are arriving

The Virtual Music Project is in action again this festive season, as University students, staff, alumni and families are invited to contribute towards a series of carols being recorded this term.

Many thanks to Erasmus student and multi-instrumentalist and singer, Laura Osswald, seen here in suitably festive mood recording from her home in Germany;

Laura Osswald

To alumna from the School of Biosciences, alto Catriona Bradley, whose career in seamstressing has come in handy for her medieval-themed seasonal selfie:

Catriona Bradley

And to Melody Brooks, former Music Performance Scholar and alumna from the School of Psychology, and Jeni Martin, alumna from the School of Economics, seen here recording string-parts from Hertford and Bedfordshire respectively.

Two-part Melody
String specialist and alumni from the School of Economics, Jeni

The carols are building nicely…

Sound thinking…

Going digital: part two

Filming of some of this year’s Music Scholars and Music Award Holders has continued this week, featuring third-year Film Studies student and pianist, Kiyan Agadjani:

and second-year Physics student and Indian classical singer, Ridima Sur.

Both students will be appearing in a special filmed performance by some of our student musicians which we will be presenting online shortly.

Part of their sessions were also livestreamed over on our Instagram IGTV account, a charming piano piece by Schumann and a mesmerising raga, both of which you can see here:

Stay tuned…

KMMS Music Performance Scholar plays Bach

In the final film of the short series featuring Kent and Medway Medical School’s first Music Performance Scholarship student, Michael Lam, the Canadian first-year student plays the Musette in D from the Anna Magdalena Notebook.

You can watch all three performances in the series on YouTube here.

Filmed in Colyer-Fergusson Hall on the Canterbury campus by KMTV.

Interview: Laura Osswald

Former Erasmus student and musician, Laura Osswald, recently spoke about her experience at Kent, and her involvement in extra-curricular music during her time at the University, in an interview with the Dean of Internationalisation, Anthony Manning.

Laura in the cello section of the Symphony Orchestra, performing in Colyer-Fergusson Hall

Laura’s interview is part of a series, My Journey to Kent, in which students share their experience; Laura highlights the value of the threated Erasmus programme, and how being involved in music helped form friendships which still endure.

Because it does. Doesn't it ? Blogging about extra-curricular musical life at the University of Kent.