The Chamber Choir is travelling across boundaries in a cosmopolitan rehearsal, as it looks at repertoire for the February Crypt concert as well as prepares for Monday’s Carol Service in the Cathedral…
The Medway Choir is about to make its debut in the Universities of Medway Carol Service, also next Monday, which also features music, drama and readings by various Societies as well, in what promises to be a vibrant festive celebration.
‘Tis the season, after all…
Over on ‘Cantus Firmus,’ the Chamber Choir is preparing for its first concert commitment this year, the Advent concert in Blean – this week’s post sees the Choir developing a mixed-formation ensemble sound… Whilst on ‘Playing Up!‘ the tuba-playing Society President Chris Gray muses on the impact of last weekend’s workshop with the Symphony Orchestra. The Medway Music Society also had the first round of their epic ‘Battle of the Bands’ which kicked off in Coopers on Tuesday night.
It’s all go…
The executive at the helm of this year’s Medway Music Society has burst onto the scene in a vibrant fashion, brimming with ideas and a vision for the musical life at Medway.
We travelled to Medway yesterday to meet this year’s dynamic trio of Djack Mcdonnell (Vice-President and Treasurer, Music Technology), Clive Berry (Secretary, Engineering) and Ethan Sacré (President, Business), who are brim-full of plans for leading musical activities and events over the course of this year.
For these three, music lies at the heart of the student experience, on a campus which combines three universities – Kent, Canterbury Christ Church and Greenwich. In fact, two of the team are Kent students and the third is at Greenwich – a small glimpse of the co-operative Medway tripartite experience. Meeting Djack, Chris and Ethan, you’re immediately struck by their fiery enthusiasm for enriching the muscial life of all the students across Medway, and their vision for a vibrant society life.
Numbers in the Medway Music Society are rising steadily, and their musical life really got underway last week with ‘Rockaoke’ (read the Medwire review here, complete with photos). The whirlwind continues next week with the first heat in their ‘Battle of the Bands’ competition, competing for prizes including studio recording time, vouchers and performing opportunities.
The team, in true enterprising fashion, has demonstrated a sound business sense: it has arranged links with local music shops and services in the area, giving members of the Society discount opportunities at a range of stores.
”Campus life is very de-centralised,’ says Ethan, ”with students going into town in the evenings for their social life. And if you don’t go into town, you go to the Student Union by default.” The team aims to change this, by bringing events back to the Medway campus and encouraging students to come to gigs and shows. Spaces and venues are a challenge, they admit, but they are exploring potential spaces here and there, and have a wealth of flexible events lined up, from small-scale open mic nights to…well, I can’t say more.. . They are also aware of the importance of striking the right note at Open Days and during Freshers’ Week; of demonstrating to potential students that there is a student social life to be had at Medway. Plans are afoot to develop new ensembles as well, to cater for the diversity of musical interests that has come to Medway this year.
Follow the Medway Music Society on Twitter here and on Facebook here, and the University of Medway Student Association on Twitter here. You can also e-mail the Society directly by clicking here.
Having interviewed several Medway students this year, and reading the dialogue on their active Facebook page, it’s already apparent that the artistic side of life on the campus could potentially be very lively: the task now is to harness that energy and realise its potential. And if anyone were capable of doing just that, it would be this team. Prepare for the tide to turn….
