Fri 26 May, 19.30 | Colyer-Fergusson Hall, Canterbury
Aurora Orchestra have a unique skill – they are the only orchestra worldwide currently presenting entire symphonies played from memory. This versatile technique adds an electrifying sense of adventure, intimacy and heightened communication to their performances, giving their audience the unique experience of being inside an orchestra, as the musicians can move, change formation and get closer to them. Having previously visited Gulbenkian with their Musical Memory Palace and Grand Tour shows, Aurora Orchestra will this time be applying their thrilling approach to a performance of Brahms’ monumental First Symphony.

This will be the first completely memorised performance of a Brahms symphony since the 1860s, and the performance will also be presented by BBC Radio 3’s Tom Service. Tom has been the presenter of Music Matters since 2003, as well as new music show Hear and Now, the Proms and documentaries on BBC Radio 3.

Aurora Orchestra are presented by the Gulbenkian and the Department of Music.

Tickets: £20 / Student & Under 18s £10. For more information and tickets please visit www.thegulbenkian.co.uk or call 01227 769075.

The International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT) aims to raise awareness of the LGBT+ community and to celebrate diversity and inclusivity in our society. The LGBT+ Staff Network has organised a number of activities for all staff and students at Kent.

Monday 15 May:

An Introduction to Trans Awareness workshop:
12.30, Grimond Lecture Theatre 3
Provided by advocacy group Gendered Intelligence. This session will be particularly helpful for line managers.

This 90-minute session will set the wider context for Trans* identities – how sex, gender and sexual orientation interact. The workshop will:

• Explore key terms and uses of language
• Offer basic grounding in the legislation around the rights and responsibilities around trans identities; the Equalities Act 2010, Gender Recognition Act 2004
• Begin to explore how an organisation can ensure it is being trans-inclusive
• Provide links to a wide range of resources

Wednesday 17 May:

Take on the Pronoun Challenge!
The LGBT+ Staff Network challenges you to use non-gendered pronouns for the day! Help us raise awareness of the Trans* community by using non-gendered pronouns with colleagues for the day – if you slip up it’s 10p in the ‘swear jar’ – proceeds will go to Trans* support charity Mermaids UK.

LGBT+ on the plaza
The LGBT+ Staff Network and Student Society (Kent Union) will also be hosting a stall on Jarman Plaza 12-2pm on 17 May to promote LGBT/straight alliance and to give information and advice about sources of support and upcoming activities. Come along and see us!

Wear the Rainbow!
Student Services at Medway invite staff and students to join us in celebrating IDAHOT by wearing colourful clothing for the day and donating to support METRO Charity – a local charity supporting LGBTQ+ young people in Medway, and across London and Kent.

Donation boxes will be at the Gillingham Building and Medway Building reception desks and room G0-05, and also at The Deep End Front Social Space in the Student Hub where, from 10am-2pm there will also be a stall with information and goodies!

LGBT+ Staff Network social
Join colleagues for an informal drink after work from 5.15pm on Wednesday 17 May in the Gulbenkian. All are welcome, including guests/partners.

Email lgbtstaffnetwork@kent.ac.uk to find out more, or visit our blog.

The University is continuing to strengthen links with Hong Kong and Malaysia, following successful delegation visits led by Professor April McMahon, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education and including colleagues from Kent Business School, Kent Law School, Kent School of Architecture and the Development Office.

Kent staff visited universities in both countries, including Sunway University and the University of Malaya, as well as Hong Kong Baptist University, the University of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Members of the delegation were also able to speak with students, including those studying at Hong Kong Baptist University as part of the dual award agreement between the two universities, which was renewed during a formal signing ceremony.

A productive meeting also took place with colleagues at the prestigious University of Malaya, which celebrated a flourishing relationship after just a year of collaboration.

The Kent delegation held events in both Hong Kong and Malaysia, with the support of the University’s Corporate Events team. These events provided an opportunity for Kent staff to meet with alumni, prospective students, institutional collaborators and friends. Prospective students particularly welcomed the opportunity to meet with alumni and to hear their experiences of studying in the UK. The event in Malaysia received press coverage from The Star, Malaysia’s largest English-language newspaper, with the event and an interview with Professor McMahon featuring in their Education section on Sunday 30 April.

Dr Anthony Manning, Dean for Internationalisation, said: “As part of our Internationalisation Strategy, the University of Kent has a strong commitment to further develop and enhance partnerships and networks in the wider international world. We are thankful to the institutional teams who welcomed us, for the useful discussions and exchange of ideas, as well as the great opportunity to meet with students, collaborators, alumni and friends across this region”.

The Transport Team are relocating to the new Security and Transport Centre (map) with Campus Security on 8 May 2017. The building is an extension of the current Campus Security building, located between the two banks on central campus.

The move is an opportunity to improve collaboration between the Transport Team and Campus Security and enhance the services we provide. The new location also provides an improved working environment for the teams and includes a reception area that has been specifically designed to improve customer experience.

The opening times for the Security and Transport Centre are as follows:

• Transport Team: Monday- Friday 8.30- 17.00
• Campus Security: always open

For all travel enquiries, including collection of parking permits and staff bus passes, please come to the Security and Transport Centre. The building continues to be developed and so will provide further updates.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused but look forward to seeing you in the new Security and Transport Centre.

If you’re a member of teaching staff, it’s time to start preparing next year’s reading lists.

The reading list rollover takes place on 22 May 2017 to create lists for next year’s teaching. Please don’t edit your lists on 22 or 23 May.

From 24 May 2017 when you log in, you’ll be able to search for the draft copy of your 2017/18 reading lists.

What do I need to do?

From Wednesday 24 May, you can make changes to your lists for 2017/18.

Further details about how to edit and publish your lists will be available after the rollover – or contact readinglisthelp@kent.ac.uk for support.

Want to push your pedal to the metal? Think your RPMs are up to speed? Then join Kent Sport for the Kent Velo Palooza, a competitive sprint cycling tournament on static bikes, coming this Thursday 11 May at the Pavilion Cafe Bar.

Doors open at 18.30, with the first race due to start at 19.15. Not everyone needs to get on a bike to take part though – you can come and simply watch all the action while supporting your favourite riders. Food and drinks will be available at the bar throughout the event.

If you want to join the action, whether cycling or watching, be sure to book early at the Sports Centre reception or by calling 01227 823 623. There will be on-the-day registration for competitors, but subject to availability as spaces are limited. There is no charge for this event.

To stay up to date with Kent Sport news, events and special offers, Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter UniKentSports.

The Transport Team relocated to the new Security and Transport Centre (map) with Campus Security on 8 May 2017. The building is an extension of the current Campus Security building, located between the two banks on central campus.

The move is an opportunity to improve collaboration between the Transport Team and Campus Security and enhance the services we provide. The new location also provides an improved working environment for the teams and includes a reception area that has been specifically designed to improve customer experience.

The opening times for the Security and Transport Centre are as follows:

• Transport Team: Monday- Friday 8.30- 17.00
• Campus Security: always open

For all travel enquiries, including collection of parking permits and staff bus passes, please come to the Security and Transport Centre. The building continues to be developed and so staff will provide further updates.

We look forward to seeing you in the new Security and Transport Centre.

On 13 May at 7.30pm, the City of Rochester Symphony Orchestra (CRSO) premieres a new work by SMFA MA Music Technology student Jeriah Nadesan. The programme, conducted by director Peter Bassano also includes music by Brahms, Rodrigo, and Saint-Saens and takes place at The Central Theatre Chatham.

Says Jeriah, “My piece is called Glorious Streams and I have aimed to convey this in the flowing rhythms and rich harmonies the orchestra plays. When writing this piece I attempted to be less strict in keeping my composition traditionally classical, but allowed for the nuances of my musical influences such as Jazz, Gospel and Pop. I have also added some live electronics to this piece, using different types of synths, to accentuate the music the orchestra plays.”

Jeriah was born in South Africa, his family moving to England when he was 6 years old.  Comments the composer, who also achieved his BSc in Music Technology in the School of Music and Fine Art, “I grew up in a home that was always filled with all types of music as both my parents are singers and accomplished musicians.  I developed an interest in classical music as a result of studying classical piano. After completing my studies, I hope to pursue a career in Music Arrangement, Film Composition and Music Production.”

SMFA’s partnership with the CRSO has already resulted in 5 world premieres of music by student composers from the School of Music and Fine Art.

Formed in 1969, the CRSO has approximately 60 playing members, both amateur and professional musicians, who perform concerts at The Central Theatre, Chatham, and other venues in Kent. Rehearsals take place at the Pilkington Building, University of Kent at Medway, on Mondays, 7.45-9.45pm.

Tickets for the concert on 13 May are available from MedwayTicketsLive.co.uk

For more details go to http://crso.org.uk/concerts/

Photography: Sarah Bennett