{"id":163,"date":"2010-03-19T10:00:24","date_gmt":"2010-03-19T10:00:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/music-matters\/?p=163"},"modified":"2010-03-19T09:25:06","modified_gmt":"2010-03-19T09:25:06","slug":"was-it-good-for-you-gerard-collett","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/music-matters\/2010\/03\/19\/was-it-good-for-you-gerard-collett\/","title":{"rendered":"Was It Good For You: Gerard Collett"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Gerard<\/a>
Hitting the right notes: Gerard Collett. Photo: Aubrey Kurlansky.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Beginning a new\u00a0series profiling musical\u00a0alumni\u00a0of the University of Kent. This week, we feature Gerard Collett, <\/strong>who recently returned as a soloist in the annual Colyer-Fergusson Cathedral Concert earlier this month.\u00a0<\/p>\n

—————-\u00a0<\/p>\n

When were you at Kent ?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n

I studied at Kent from 2001 to 2004.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

What subject did you study ?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n

I took a combined degree in Philosophy and History and Theory of Art.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

What occupation are you now engaged in ?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n

I am an opera singer.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

How were you involved in music whilst at Kent ?<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

I conducted the University Chamber Choir, and sang in the University Chorus, and also sang in the Summer Opera Projects.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

What did you gain from your University music experience, and has this helped you in any way since leaving Kent ?<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

The value of working as part of a company, whether it was the Chamber Choir or Chorus, or as part of the Music Society in general, and the shared sense of satisfaction of a job well done are lessons I gained from my time at the university.\u00a0 There is no better or more beneficial contrast for a student who must sit in front of a computer or in the library writing essays, than to make music with other students and lecturers, usually from different disciplines.\u00a0 Music is a great leveller – we are all created equally, and so can be equally creative.\u00a0 I strongly believe that.\u00a0 It can also be great fun!\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

What was your most memorable musical experience at Kent ?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0I couldn’t pick one, but my most memorable and happy musical experiences were rehearsing for the opera productions.\u00a0 I think there is something special about the Kentish Summer, there was a real end-of-year-joy in our summer productions.\u00a0 A close second would be a well deserved beer in Simple Simons’ – (now ‘The Parrot’)… which is a musical experience of sorts…\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

What would you say to current musical students at the University?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0To current musical students I would definitely say,\u00a0<\/p>\n