Monthly Archives: March 2022

Annual Cathedral Concert returns with Haydn and Mendelssohn (12 March)

Annual Cathedral Concert returns with Haydn and Mendelssohn Saturday 12 March

The annual Colyer-Fergusson Concert by the Music department returns to Canterbury Cathedral from the first time since 2019, and features two electrifying works – the drama of Haydn’s Nelson Mass and Mendelssohn’s vibrant First Symphony – on Saturday 12 March at 7.30pm.

The University Chorus and Symphony Orchestra will be joined by stellar soloists, and in particular two University alumni, for Haydn’s choral masterpiece, and the Nave will also resound to the vigour of Mendelssohn’s youthful symphony. The concert, conducted by Head of Music Performance, Dan Harding, brings together students, staff, alumni and members of the local community, with the Orchestra led by second-year Biosciences postgraduate student, violinist Kammy Pike.

Tickets and details are here.

Join us for one of the highlights of the University’s performing year!

Get involved with the Death in the Diner production!

Join the University of Kent Players and get involved with a brand new production for 2022

Save the date!
Death in the Diner | An interactive murder mystery event
20 – 21 May 2022 | Mungo’s

Knickerbocker Gloria’s is the gaudiest American themed diner in town, known for their milkshakes, roller skates and cheap chips. There was nothing unusual about the hustle and bustle of the evening crowd until a piercing scream of “murder” rippled through the diner. The body found stabbed, bloody and covered in sprinkles, Gloria’s murderer can’t have gotten far… But can your team deduce what led to the Death in the Diner?

In this interactive murder mystery event, your team will interview the murder’s suspects, examine the evidence, and try to avoid the sneaky red herrings. Put your sleuthing skills to the test and work together to catch the killer.

Get involved!
The University of Kent players is looking for new members to work towards the production! There are plenty of ways to get involved from acting to front of house and tech support. We also have an exciting improvisation workshop from Kent alumni the Pantaloons which you can sign up for today!

Meet up with fellow actors and theatre enthusiasts, and make new friends from across the university and enrich your life at Kent. You don’t need any previous experience to get involved, just be welcoming, friendly and supportive of your peers!

Death in the Diner Auditions
We have a range of roles available for this show and we would love to have you involved! You do not need any previous experience and rehearsals will provide you with the tools to act and improvise as one of our devious suspects. We will be holding auditions for this production on the following dates:

Wednesday 16 March | 17:30 – 19:30 | Keynes senior common room (KSCR)
Tuesday 22 March | 12:30 – 14:00 | Eliot College common room

For more information please get in touch with us on the email below.

Pantaloons improvisation workshop – Saturday 2 April | 10:00 – 13:00
Come along for a half day workshop with professional improv group the Pantaloons. Learn new, fun techniques in a series of improvisation games and activities. This session is open to all members and non-members for a small fee.

To sign up or to get more information please email players@kent.ac.uk

How to get involved
If you would like to get involved or have an interest in acting, directing, technical directing or anything theatrical get in touch with us on players@kent.ac.uk

We also have a new Players Microsoft Teams channel for updates, chat and social gatherings.

You can also follow us on social media for regular updates and events!

Instagram: @unikentplayers
Facebook: @unikentplayers
Twitter: @unikentplayers

Ukraine flag

Russia-Ukraine Update

We are deeply saddened and concerned by the invasion of Ukraine and our thoughts are with any of our students and staff who have been affected by the escalating conflict. 

Over the past week we have identified several staff and students from Ukraine and Russia and have taken immediate steps to support these individuals. Additionally, we have been supporting students based in both countries to ensure we can get them to a safe place as quickly as possible. Teams are also tracing any further staff or students who have travelled to the regions to make sure they can access the help they need.

We understand this is a worrying time and we are here to help. Here are a range of support services available for both staff and students, including:

We will provide further updates once we are clear on any developments that impact our students, staff, or university.

Industrial action

Industrial Action Update

From Professor Richard Reece | DVC Education and Student Experience    

I want to bring you up to date on the UCU marking and assessment boycott that is due to begin tomorrow (Thursday 3 March).

As I said in last week’s email, we do regret that the Union plans to go ahead with this action, though we are continuing our talks with the local reps to see if we can reach a solution and avoid the boycott.

Webpages – more information and support

We have updated our webpages with information about what we know so far about what the marking and assessment boycott will involve, how it might affect you, and what we are doing to ensure your studies continue as smoothly as possible. You will also find sources of advice and support.

There is also some background information on the reasons the UCU has called this boycott.

What this means for you  

Although it is impossible to tell at the moment what effect the boycott will have on individual students, we are continuing to put in place mitigation plans so that no-one is disadvantaged by this action. The effects are likely to vary from Division to Division, depending on the number and spread of UCU members taking part, and we will be monitoring the situation closely day by day and taking action where necessary to protect your studies.

Once again thank you for your patience during this period. I recognise that it has been a difficult time for you all; we are doing everything we can to limit the effects of the industrial action on you and your studies.

With all good wishes,

Richard

Professor Richard Reece | DVC Education and Student Experience    

Ukraine flag

Russia-Ukraine Update

We are deeply saddened and concerned by the invasion of Ukraine and our thoughts are with any of our students and staff who have been affected by the escalating conflict. 

Over the past week we have identified several staff and students from Ukraine and Russia and have taken immediate steps to support these individuals. Additionally, we have been supporting students based in both countries to ensure we can get them to a safe place as quickly as possible. Teams are also tracing any further staff or students who have travelled to the regions to make sure they can get the help they need.

We understand this is a worrying time and we are here to help. Here are a range of support services available for both staff and students, including:

We will provide further updates once we are clear on any developments that impact our students, staff, or university.

""

Register for next year’s modules by 28 March

** The Online Module Registration deadline has been extended to 10.00 in Monday 28 March**

From Monday 14 to Monday 28 March 2022, Online Module Registration (OMR) is open for you to choose the undergraduate modules that you wish to study in the next academic year (2022/2023).

You will receive an email when OMR is open. Prior to this, you should read your Subject Requirements and view the OMR guidance to make sure that you are fully prepared. The guidance also details the step by step process of how to complete OMR.

OMR is not first come, first served for students entering Stages 2, 3 and 4. In order to give you the best opportunity to register for your preferred choice of module, please ensure that you have submitted your selections by Monday 28 March 2022.

Please note: Some students do not have to complete OMR. This includes those who are going abroad or to a year in industry next year, or if your course has entirely compulsory modules.

If you have any questions please contact the Student Administration team for your campus.

Creative Access Showcase – Monday 7 March

The Creative Access Showcase as part of Creative Careers week will be taking place on Monday 7 March from 17.00-18.00.

This virtual high visibility event will include a panel of creative professionals and alumni from Creative Access, who’ll share their creative journeys, what their current roles entail, top tips and guidance. The event is designed to appeal to all students, not only candidates from Black, Asian and diverse ethnic groups, disabled people or those from lower-socioeconomic backgrounds.

The event will be made up of speaker introductions, panel discussion followed by Q&A.  

Find out more about the creative professionals involved:

April Brown – Programme Manager, Creative Access

April specialises in developing and managing inclusive, multi-disciplinary programmes for emerging creatives. She holds an MA in Arts & Cultural Management from King’s College London and has worked with a range of organisations including Somerset House, Tate, LIFT and Theatre Royal Stratford East.  She is committed to supporting diverse talent to flourish.  

Rami Kadri, Digital Marketing Manager – MUSIC   

Rami is a Digital Marketing Manager with over eight years’ experience in the music industry and runs her own digital marketing agency – Two Tabs Social. She has led on a number of ground breaking social campaigns including two of the biggest and most successful artist campaigns across the Sony Music group for Little Mix. More recently she has worked with artists such as Ms Banks, Pa Salieu, Potter Payper, Loski and Ivorian Doll as well as companies including Warner Music, 0207 Def Jam, LiveNation and Since93. Rami studied Criminology and Social Policy at the University of Kent.  

Lydia Hamilton-Morl, Programme & Digital Editor, ITV News – TELEVISION 

  Lydia has spent eight years working in television news, travelling around the British Isles with ITV, after studying Journalism at the University of Kent. She currently produces ITV Border’s flagship six o’clock news programme, Lookaround, leading a team of journalists to create bold and distinctive TV news programmes and online content. She strives towards creating an inclusive workplace and providing her audience with diversity in storytelling.  

Alisha Artry, Neighbourhood Theatre Producer at Young Vic – THEATRE   

Alisha is a Creative Producer from South London and advocate for change through the arts. She has been working in Theatre since graduating from the University of Kent with a Drama and Film degree. She has worked in Participation at the Lyric Hammersmith, Frantic Assembly and is currently the Neighbourhood Theatre Producer in the Taking Part department at the Young Vic. Alisha is the Co-Founder of the producing company Sculptress working with talent to cultivate new and exciting stories to share with audiences.

To take part follow this  Zoom webinar link 

Webinar ID: 860 1511 6629

Passcode: 973854