Tag Archives: Canterbury Cathedral

Image Gallery part II; Chorus and Orchestra by Molly Hollman

Huge gratitude to percussionist and award-winning photographer Molly Hollman, who, went not diligently playing percussion in the orchestra on Saturday, took time during the rehearsal at Canterbury Cathedral to capture the atmosphere of the moment in these fabulous photographs.

Pictured here are University Chorus and Orchestra in action, rehearsing Requiem for the Living by Dan Forrest, ahead of a marvellous performance later that night.

Our thanks to Molly for permission to share these fantastic shots; all this and playing percussion too…!

Image Gallery: Chorus and Orchestra at the Cathedral

Last weekend saw the University Chorus and Orchestra come together for a blazing concert of Shostakovich’s Ninth Symphony and Dan Forrest’s epic Requiem for the Living, for the annual Colyer-Fergusson Cathedral Concert.

Here are photos of the combined forces in action rehearsing on the morning of the concert.

Images © Chris Wenham / University of Kent

Minerva Voices singing at Canterbury Cathedral: watch on demand

Congratulations to Minerva Voices and organist John Wyatt, who yesterday sang Choral Evensong at Canterbury Cathedral. Conducted by Your Loyal Correspondent, the choir presented contemporary settings by Jeremy Woodside and Justin Breame as part of the music sung during the service.

The service was livestreamed on the Cathedral’s YouTube channel, and can be viewed below:

(The choir begins processing in just after the four-minute mark)

Well done to all the students involved; the Choir will be in action again at the start of June, singing as part of the choral concert in the Cathedral Crypt on Friday 2 June as part of Summer Music Week.

Minerva Voices to sing Choral Evensong at Canterbury Cathedral

Our upper-voices chamber choir, Minerva Voices, makes the pilgrimage to Canterbury Cathedral on Weds 15 February to sing the service of Choral Evensong.

Minerva Voices with harpist Harriet Adie

Comprising students from across the University community and Kent and Medway Medical School, Minerva Voices will sing some gloriously colourful contemporary settings as part of the service, including pieces by Jeremy Woodside and Justin Breame; details are in the Music Listings on the Cathedral website here.

The view of the Cathedral from the University campus

Last heard in action singing part of Britten’s Ceremony of Carols in December, the choir is sounding in excellent form, and the service promises to be a wonderful occasion.

The service begins at 5.30pm, and will also be livestreamed on the Cathedral’s YouTube website below.

(Update: the choir begins processing in just after four minutes in to the broadcast!).

 

Image Gallery: Colyer-Fergusson Cathedral Concert: in rehearsal

Congratulations to all the members of the University Chorus and Symphony Orchestra on Saturday’s electrifying return to Canterbury Cathedral. For the first time since 2019, the annual Colyer-Fergusson concert resounded in the Cathedral Nave, and we were delighted to welcome back several alumni to take part.

Thank you also to our fantastic soloists: soprano Rachel Nicholls, mezzo Emma Stannard, and two Kent alumni, tenor Andrew Macnair and bass-baritone Piran Legg.

Images © Chris Wenham / University of Kent

Cecilian Choir sings Choral Evensong: watch on demand

Students, staff and alumni of the University sang at Canterbury Cathedral yesterday, taking part in the centuries-old tradition of Choral Evensong in the heart of the city as the University Cecilian Choir; as well as welcoming an in-person congregation, the event was also livestreamed.

The University of Kent Cecilian Choir lining up ready to process

Congratulations to everyone who took part, including visiting organist, John Wyatt, who played for the service, and to the Cathedral for welcoming the Choir. It’s a wonderful opportunity to sing in that richly-resonant acoustic as part of a lineage of worship across the centuries, and the performers enjoyed the service immensely.

The service remains online to watch on the Cathedral’s YouTube channel below.

Cecilian Choir at Choral Evensong next month

The University Cecilian Choir is preparing to take part in the centuries-old tradition of Choral Evensong next month, when it will sing the service at Canterbury Cathedral on Tuesday 15 February at 5.30pm.

Members of the University of Kent Cecilian Choir 2021-22

Comprising students, staff and alumni, the choir will also be welcoming back a handful of former students from near and far to sing; as well as an in-person congregation,  the service will also be livestreamed on the Cathedral’s YouTube channel for those who would like to watch online.

https://www.canterbury-cathedral.org/worship/online-worship/  

Amongst the repertoire will be the lovely anthem, Peace I Leave With You, by the American composer, Amy Beach. Join the Choir live or online in a few weeks’ time, as they sing evensong at the heart of the cathedral city in what promises to be a lovely occasion with singers past and present.

Seasonal events get underway in the Music Department

After so long without them, it’s genuinely exciting to be back with musical events as the Christmas season starts to unfold.

The Cecilian Choir, comprising students, staff and alumni launched the Advent season with a sequence of plainsong and carols at St Michael’s Church, Hernhill, a meditative candlelit event interspersed with periods of silent reflection; there was a wonderfully atmospheric moment during one such moment, when the church clock struck on the hour at eight o’clock.

This year’s Chamber Choir, Minerva Voices, returned to the Cathedral on Monday 6 December, for the first time since December 2019, to sing for the University Carol Service; always a special event in the university calendar, drawing its community together in a modified, COVID-safe manner that was nonetheless a very welcome opportunity to come together at this time of the year. Congratulations to final-year Psychology student and Music Award Holder, Felicity Bourdillon (above, fifth from the right), whose solo verse to open ‘Once in royal David’s city’ lifted clear into the Cathedral Nave at the start of the service.

And last night, members of the String Sinfonia were in action in a fearless concert showcasing the versatility of music for string orchestra, including Elgar’s Introduction and Allegro  and some light-footed folksong arrangements by John Rutter.

We’ve still a week of events to go before the term ends; but it’s great to be back.