Live music on the foyer-stage began yesterday, as members of the University Music Theatre Society treated a lunchtime audience to songs from the shows.
After a brief welcome from this year’s Music Theatre Society President, Chloe Newton, the society launched into an array of solo and ensemble pieces, including Let The Sun Shine and The Colour Purple.
The new Music Society executive were also on hand to welcome freshers throughout the afternoon; they’ll all be at the Freshers’ Fair today (Friday), so make sure you go along and find out how to get involved in music-making at Kent this year.
Congratulations to the Music Society, which has won the ‘Stand that Most Embraced the Spirit of Freshers 2013’ award! (That’ll be easy to engrave on the gem-encrusted goblet no doubt coming its way…)
It’s a tribute to the hard work of all the Society, and in particular its forward-looking executive trio of Emma, Matt and Rebecca, who have worked tirelessly to invigorate the musical life of the campus at the beginning of the academic year, and to the members of the committee who’ve established a vibrant presence since bursting into life in the marquee during Freshers Week.
Next week, the Music Society presents ‘The Stache Bash!’ Friday 1 November in Origins, with live jazz; free entry, raising funds for Movember. Intrigued ? Then watch the trailer…
With Freshers’ Week in full spate, today and tomorrow sees the Freshers’ Fayre, when all manner of societies across the University will be endeavouring to convince and cajole new students into joining the vast swathe of societies that makes up University Life.
The Music Society is no exception, and is currently ensconced in the foyer of the Colyer-Fergusson Building, as various committee members meet-and-greet new members of the University, talk to them about the various musical ensembles and opportunities on offer, and even bribe them with sweets…
There’s even been live jazz from some of the University Music Scholars on the foyer-stage, the first live musical event of the year.
Live jazz on the foyer stage
l-r: Alex T, Tor L, Steph R, Chris M and Becca P: some of this year’s committee members!
l-r: Zoe B, Gabi G, Carina E and Livy P; more of this year’s committee!
Come and find them tomorrow, when they’ll be in the Freshers’ Fayre over in Eliot; see what’s on offer musically here at Kent, and maybe there’ll even be some sweets left…
Bursting with enthusiam for all things musical at the University, Society members Sophie Plötz and Emma Murton went on CSRfm recenty to talk about life at Kent.
Emma Murton (middle) and Sophie Ploetz (right) in the CSR studio
Click here to listen to what they had to say (on SoundCloud).
Secretary of this year’s Music Society, cellist and soprano Aisha Bové was away from the University recently; it turns out she was involved in a very royal occasion indeed…
Madam Secretary
Some of you might not have heard the news, but one of Europe’s monarchs got married on the 20th of October, reuniting all the important kings and queens from around the world in one place. Prince Guillaume from Luxembourg, heir to the throne, married Countess Stephanie de Lannoy in a sumptuous celebration at the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Luxembourg. I myself was there in person, as a member of the cathedral choir, singing in the mass which was broadcasted live on Luxembourgish and German national TV.
The royal couple is known to be very down to earth and approachable, and they played a major role in the process of choosing the musical program. The main piece was Mozart’s Missa in C. Additional pieces were Mendelssohn’s Psalm 42, which was sung in German, small liturgical pieces, in French and Luxembourgish. The mass was finished off by Handel’s well known Hallelujah, to give the couple a joyful ending to their ceremony. The choir was accompanied by organ and the Luxembourg Chamber Orchestra.
Amid the choir
You can watch the whole ceremony online or on Youtube, and be amazed by the glamorous appearance of it all. I thoroughly enjoyed being part of it, even though it meant that I had to stand still from 9am – 1pm, and could not find a way out of the city for another two hours afterwards. It was a lifetime opportunity and sure was a unique experience, to see the people you normally know out of the magazines sat a stone’s throw away, listening to your music.
This year’s new trio at the helm of the Medway Music Society are feeling very pleased with themselves already; meeting them in the third week of the new academic year, membership is already up on last year’s total.
The man in charge this year is Jack McDonnell, who assumes the Presidency after being Vice-President last year. Vice-President for 2012-13 is Garrick Wareham, and Treasurer is Joe Tinker.
(l-r): Garrick Wareham, Jack McDonnell, Joe Tinker
The trio have once again set the musical life of the Medway campus rolling in continuing their highly successful Tuesday night Band Night and Rockaoke sessions, both of which were instigated last year and continue to attract crowds to Coopers on Tuesday nights. They’ve also set up special deals for Medway’s burgeoning Music Society members with music stores in town, and are hinting at some exciting new projects in collaboration with other societies at the campus that could lead to some large-scale projects in the year ahead.
“We were all over Freshers’ Week,” declares Jack decisively over lunch at the No.1 Cafe, “but there’s still more we can do. With the new BMus course that’s started here at Medway, there’s a bunch of new students we can get involved in the Society. We’ve already got more paid-up members than we had last year; and we want to get them all into Coopers!”
Garrick, meanwhile, is busy co-ordinating the return of the Medway Big Band which, he says enthusiastically, “we’re re-christening the Medway Jazz-Funk Band, which is the new direction we want to go.”
This year, Rockaoke starts next Tuesday from 8pm in Coopers; there’s also the launch of the Universities at Medway String Group, Big Band and Chamber Choir this term. The Society is now taking signups for Battle of the Bands which starts next month, and there’s even a Pub Golf social coming up! Get in touch with them via e-mail.
The Society has an active Facebook page and lively presence on Twitter, and looks set to continue developing the musical life at Medway. Keep an eye out; there’s plenty of exciting times ahead…
Because it does. Doesn't it ? Blogging about extra-curricular musical life at the University of Kent.
