Feature: Manchester University Music Society

The Manchester University Music Society (MUMS) is one of the largest and most active music societies in the country, with over 400 members and more than 55 concerts a year. At this time of year, most societies are winding down but we’re moving towards one of the more busy times of year. We’ve had loads of concerts before Easter and we’ve still got three concerts, the country’s largest student-run music festival and two international tours to go!

Last week, the String and Chamber orchestras dazzled us with music from the Czech Republic, a symphony by Haydn and Kodaly’s Dances of Galanta. The concert as part of the New Music North West festival also saw the premiere Kevin Malone’s Angels and Fireflies for String Orchestra and recorder, played by soloist John turner, an internationally renowned performer.

Last Friday, Ad Solem, our elite 27-strong chamber choir, gave a concert of pieces by English composers. From Renaissance works by Tallis to modern composers such as Philip Moore, the concert demonstrated the group’s versatility. Ad Solem regularly perform with professional groups like the Hallé orchestra and they will be touring Estonia this summer.

Following sharp on the heels of Ad Solem, the Manchester University Wind Orchestra (MUWO) performed on Saturday. The band is wholly unauditioned and as such is open to players of all standards who want to make music and have a good time doing it. Their concert this term was themed around Rome and they played works both written especially for Wind Orchestra and some arranged for the ensemble – such as Berlioz’s overture to Le Carnaval Romain. As well as making music together, MUWO is also about having fun and the band is off to Yorkshire this weekend to collaborate with the Sheffield University Wind Orchestra.

If that wasn’t enough, we’ve still got two concerts to go! Following on from successful gigs in Bristol, London and Club Academy last month, the University Big Band is returning home to the Martin Harris Centre on the 20^th March. Under the direction of Patrick Hurley, the band will be taking the Centre by storm again with its full complement of saxes, brass and rhythm playing plenty of popular standards from the big band repertoire.

And finally, the Chamber Orchestra will be performing Mahler’s 4^th symphony – arguably one of the best symphonies written in the twentieth century. The concert takes place on Friday lunchtime, for FREE. If you’ve never been to a classical concert before, this would be a great introduction so come along at 1pm to the Martin Harris Centre for Music and Drama!

After Easter, we’re collaborating with our sister society, the University of Manchester Chorus, performing Tippett’s Child of Our Time and Sibelius’ 7^th Symphony on April 28th. The University Chorus is a 300-strong non-auditioned choir that has singers both amateur and experienced from Manchester. With more than 400 people performing, we have to move from the Martin Harris Centre and into the grand Whitworth Hall just to fit us all on stage.

Finally, we’d just like to tell you about our summer music festival, Estival. Estival is the largest student-run music festival in the country with 10 concerts in just 4 days – this year it takes place on June 5^th-8^th, the very last week of term. All of our ensembles and groups have a concert, and there’s everything from a newly-written opera to a grand symphonic symphony. A great way to finish the year and welcome summer!

If you’d like to find out more about MUMS, visit their website or go to their Facebook and Twitter pages.