Tag Archives: music prizes

Outstanding students recognised in music awards ceremony

At a ceremony on Thursday 7 June, five outstanding students were awarded prizes, in recognition of their significant contributions to the year’s musical calendar at the University of Kent.

This year’s Canterbury Festival Music Prize, awarded by Director of the Canterbury Festival, Rosie Turner, to a final-year student who has made an outstanding contribution to music at the University, was given to Chris Gray (Architecture); President of the Music Society this year, Chris has also played tuba with the University Orchestra, Concert Band and Brass Ensemble, and has also previously sung with the Chamber Choir and Chorus. In another guise, Chris also featured on the front of the Music Department Christmas card, complete with Santa outfit!

The Colyer-Fergusson Music Prize, presented by chairman of the Colyer-Fergusson Charitable Trust, Jonathan Monckton, is given to a student who has made a major contribution to organising music at the University; the recipient this year was Masters student Adam Abo Henriksen, in particular for his role as musical director of the Musical Theatre Society’s production of Into the Woods which had a highly successful run at the Whitstable Playhouse in March (reviewed on the blog back in March here).

l-r: Chris Gray, Marina Ivanova, Adam Abo Henriksen, Ben Lodge, Tim Pickering

The University Music Prize, for a student who has a made a major contribution to music during the year, was presented by Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Keith Mander, to second-year Economics student, Marina Ivanova; Marina is a member of the Chorus, Chamber Choir and Cecilian Choir, and this year performed in the Scholars’ Recital as part of the Canterbury Festival, as well as in the Scholars Lunchtime Concert as part of Summer Music earlier this term. She also stood in for the soprano soloist in rehearsals for Haydn’s Creation with the University Orchestra in the spring.

The Awards Committee made two additional awards; the first, in recognition of his musical development at Kent, to second-year trumpeter Ben Lodge, who has been principal trumpet with the Orchestra, and played with the Concert Band and Big Band and the Brass Ensemble, for his exemplary approach and commitment to music at the University, and for a memorable opening to Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition in the December orchestral concert. The second award, to a student who has made a significant impact on music-making in their first year, was awarded to saxophonist Tim Pickering (Forensic Chemistry); Tim has been quickly become a key member of the Big Band and Concert Band, and also participated in Jazz @ 5, as well as in Whitefriars with the ‘Big Brand New’ as part of the Sounds New Festival in Canterbury in May.

Director of Music, Susan Wanless, said

‘’As ever, I am so impressed at the talent and commitment of these students who do all their music-making out of hours, alongside studying for their degrees. It is wonderful to see them develop during their time at Kent, and all the skills and confidence they gain will equip them for the highly competitive job market when they leave. Thanks to the continued generosity of the Canterbury Festival and our other supporters, we can highlight their achievements and give them the recognition they so richly deserve.’’

Of course, there’s a vibrant mass of students who play a part in all the musical events in the University’s calendar with astonishing commitment and enthusiasm, and the Music Awards Committee has a difficult role to play in singling out particular individuals; the decision-making process is long and arduous, but an important one to allow the University to thank an especial few for their major role in everything musical over the year.

University Music Prize Winners announced

One of the highlights of each year is being able to recognise the contribution that some of the students have made to the year’s music-making at the University. At a ceremony last week, seven outstanding students were awarded prizes, in recognition of their significant contributions to the year’s musical calendar.

l-r: Andrew Kitchin, Kate Lumley, Alice Godwin, Alanya Holder, Anna Shinkfield, Kathryn Redgers; front, Chris Gray

This year’s Canterbury Festival Music Prize, awarded by Director of the Canterbury Festival, Rosie Turner, to a final-year student who has made an outstanding contribution to music at the University, was given jointly to Alice Godwin (Politics and International Relations) and Kate Lumley (English and Comparative Literature). Both Alice and Kate have shone in the woodwind section of the Symphony Orchestra in their time at Kent, as well as in Concert Band; they have both also performed in the Scholars’ Festival Concert as part of the Canterbury Festival.

The Colyer-Fergusson Music Prize, presented by chairman of the Colyer-Fergusson Charitable Trust,  Jonathan Monckton, which is awarded to a student who has made a major contribution to organising music at the University, was awarded jointly to Alanya Holder (Law) and Anna Shinkfield (English and American Literature). Alanya was President of the Music Society this year, as well as participating in choirs and singing jazz; Anna was Acting Secretary of the Music Society, and has performed on the recorder as well as singing with the Chorus and playing sax with the Concert and Big Bands – though not all at the same time…

Chris Gray (Architecture) was awarded the University Music Prize, having made a major contribution to music at the University this year, including (as well as his instrumental playing), the shifting of timpani and other assorted heavy orchestral gear!

The Awards Committee made a final two awards; Andrew Kitchin (Mathematics), who has been a stalwart of the ‘Jazz @ 5 ‘series and has performed at every one since its inception in 2008, and Kathryn Redgers (History), who has made a tremendous impact on music in her first year as a flautist at Kent.

Of course, there are a thronging mass of students who play a part in all the concerts and musical events in the University’s calendar, and the Music Awards Committee has a difficult role to play in singling out particular individuals; the decision-making process is long and arduous, but an important one to allow the University to thank an especial few for their major role in everything musical over the year.

Congratulations to all of them!