After their mesmerising lunchtime concert last week, sitarist and composer Jonathan Mayer and tabla-player Mitel Purohit stayed on to lead a workshop with some of the University students, exploring aspects of Indian classical music.
Our thanks to two stellar musicians for sharing their insights with our students.
Images © Matt Wilson / University of Kent
Images from last week’s annual Colyer-Fergusson Cathedral Concert, with the University Chorus and Symphony Orchestra, together with soprano Sally Silver.
Images: Matt Wilson / University of Kent
Just under twenty-four hours until baton-down in the Nave of Canterbury Cathedral, as tomorrow’s all-day musical extravaganza looms.
Orchestra and Chorus in fine form last night; the Orchestra meets again tonight to put some finishing touches to the Vaughan Williams symphony, and then it’s back on campus at 9am sharp tomorrow, for the technical team (including your loyal correspondent) to organise all the equipment to be moved down to the Cathedral.
Not long to go, team…
Prep-HAIR for an adventure next week, as the University Music Theatre Society brings its annual production to the Gulbenkian Theatre.
Hair runs from Wednesday 19th March to Friday 21st March in a series of evenings shows starting at 7.30pm.
Here’s a trailer of the Society in rehearsal to whet your appetites.
Book your ticket on the Gulbenkian website here. Good luck to everyone involved!
Pictures from the afternoon rehearsal for the concert by the University Concert and Big Band, conducted by Ian Swatman; here, ace trumpeter Mike Lovatt, making a guest appearance that evening, works with the Big Band, and singers Ruby Mutlow and Steph Richardson in action.
Images © University of Kent / Matt Wilson
Next Saturday sees the annual Colyer-Fergusson Cathedral Concert, in which the University Chorus and Orchestra will come together to commemorate the start of the First World War in music by Elgar, Vaughan Williams, Bach and Fauré.
This Sunday is our all-day rehearsal in the hall, a first combined run-through; then it’s Monday – Thursday – Friday – Saturday over the course of next week, and then Sunday for everyone to recover…
The concert on the 15 March features Elgar’s Spirit of England, for which we’ll be joined by soprano Sally Silver, Fauré’s Cantique de Jean-Racine, Elgar’s arrangement of Bach’s Fantasia in C minor, and Vaughan Williams’ Symphony no.3.
Looking forward to Sunday’s Greater Coming Together; Ladies and Gentlemen of the Chorus and Symphony Orchestra, we’ll see you there!
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.
Under 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!”
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.
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
