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There are many opportunities at the University to perform in all kinds of musical ensembles - newcomers are always welcome. This page tells you everything that you need to know. Admission to many groups is entirely open - ask for details at the Music Society stall at The Freshers Fair 2011. Entry to other ensembles, however, is by audition during introductory week (aka week 0, Monday 3 October - Friday 7 October 2011, although some auditions are on the Saturday and Sunday [8 & 9 October] as well): see below for details. This is your only chance to audition for the present academic year - places will be allocated in this first week.
Audition lists are in the Victoria Rooms foyer - do sign up early for a time.
Visit the Music Department and Music Society home pages at http://www.bristol.ac.uk/music and http://www.bumsonline.org.uk
Rehearsals: Tuesday 19.15
Conductors: Neal Farwell, John Pickard
Beginning 11 October
The University Symphony Orchestra performs large-scale works of the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries to a high standard. We try to achieve a good balance of established masterpieces, contemporary music (we often première of student compositions) and less familiar works. Repertoire for the coming year includes Stravinsky’s Symphony in Three Movements, Vaughan Williams’s ‘Job’ and Respighi’s ‘The Pines of Rome’.
Rehearsals: Thursday 17.00-19.00
Conductors: Michael Ellison, Richard Barnard
Beginning 20 October
NME performs new works and modern classics to the highest standard, bringing together leading performers from across the University to give two lunchtime concerts a year. Coaching is given in contemporary performance techniques. Repertoire for the coming year includes Dutch composers Theo Loevendie and Peter Adriaansz, young British composers Luke Bedford and Tansy Davies, and Osvaldo Golijov.
Rehearsals: Wednesday 14.15
Directors: David Bednall & David Allinson
Beginning 12 October
The ‘Singers’ consists of around 32 members and performs a wide range of music from the Renaissance through to the present day, mainly unaccompanied. It contributes three concerts to our Wednesday lunchtime series, one each term, and occasionally repeats these outside the University.
Rehearsals: Monday 19.15
Conductor: Bethan Waters
Beginning 10 October
The Chamber Choir is an auditioned vocal ensemble of 40-50 members. This incredibly sociable group performs concerts to a very high standard throughout the year at the Victoria Rooms. However, its real highlights are the prestigious St. George's concert in February, and the BUMS Easter tour to a European country, both of which feature the choir's annual collaboration with the Chamber Orchestra.
Rehearsals: Monday 19.15
Conductor: Aaron Taylor
Beginning 10 October
The Chamber Orchestra is an auditioned orchestra, working to a high standard. We perform in three concerts a year in the Victoria Rooms, as well as the annual St. George’s concert in which we join forces with the Chamber Choir, a collaboration that continues on the BUMS Easter tour. Highlights this year include Mozart's 'Jupiter' Symphony, Bach's 'Magnificat' with the Chamber Choir, a new student work and concerto performances with winners of the annual Concerto Competition.
Rehearsals: Thursday 18.00-19.30
Conductor: John Pickard
Beginning 13 October
Membership of the Choral Society is open to anyone associated with the University. This year we will perform Elgar’s massive, and rarely heard, cantata ‘Caractacus’ at the Victoria Rooms on Saturday 17 March 2012. You may enrol (joining fee £10.00) at the first rehearsal, or preferably, in advance, at the Music Department’s Study and Resource Centre (tel. 0117 3314044) during office hours (9.30-1.00 and 2.00-4.00) from 3 October onwards. Music is provided, to keep, free of charge.
Rehearsals: Monday 17.15-18.30
Conductor: David Batsman
Beginning 10 October
The Wind Orchestra is the largest of the un-auditioned ensembles, playing a wide variety of music to suit all tastes. We welcome all abilities of wind, brass, and percussion players and the emphasis is just as much on the social aspect as on the music. We will perform in three concerts this year, all with varied and enjoyable music, as well as having the opportunity to go on tour! Come along and meet new people, play good music and have fun!
Rehearsals: Monday 17.15-18.30
Conductor: Liam Taylor-West
Beginning 10 October
The String Orchestra is a sociable and lively unauditioned string group who play a number of concerts throughout the academic year, most notably their evening concert in the Spring term, all of which include a diverse repertoire. The String Orchestra welcomes new players of all standards throughout the year.
Rehearsals: Wednesday 17.00-19:00
Co-ordinator: Joseph Richomme
The Ensemble provides opportunities to perform a wide range of Baroque repertoire, including J. S. Bach, Telemann, Vivaldi and Handel. String players will have the opportunity to use the Music Department’s Baroque instrument collection; a harpsichord is also available. The ensemble is not formally auditioned but those wishing to participate must contact the co-ordinator via email: Joseph.Richomme.08@bristol.ac.uk during Week 0 or Week 1.
Conductor: Jonathan Bailey
Rehearsals: Friday 17.15-19.30 in the Union
Conductor: Andrew Cochrane
Rehearsals: Friday 17:15-19:30 in the Union
The University Big Bands have made a name for themselves as great function groups, who perform swing, funk and Latin numbers at regular gigs throughout the year. The society has formed strong bonds with other universities, having invited the Leeds University Dance Band and UCL Big Band down for a one-night gig in our Union Bar. We have also had a ‘Big Band’ Exchange with the Carlet Big Band from Spain, with a tour to Valencia in June 2010. We have also just returned from Lake Garda, Italy, from one of the Big Band’s legendary tours! The bands are free to join; check out our Freshers Fair 2011 stall, visit www.bristolhornstars.co.uk or email president@bristolhornstars.co.uk for more information.
Rehearsals: Various
Conductor: Lily Caunt
There are many opportunities for chamber music within BUMS whether as part of a larger ensemble like Flute Choir or Brass Consort or within a smaller ensemble. If you wish to form a group or for more information, please email the co-ordinator.
Rehearsals: Friday 17.30-19.00
Conductor: Joseph Hutchinson
In St. Paul’s Church
The University Church Choir is a friendly, non-auditioned group based at St. Paul’s Church, Clifton (behind the Victoria Rooms). We usually sing each week for the Sunday morning service, although Choral Evensong replaces this twice a term. We have a high turnover of music with an ever expanding repertoire and also an active social programme. Also, in the summer, we will be singing in Worcester Cathedral as a visiting choir. See us at the Freshers Fair 2011 or visit our Website: www.uobchurchchoir.org.uk.
Rehearsals: Thursdays 19.30-21:30
Conductor: Molly Alexander
Details of auditions and rehearsal venue at the Freshers Fair 2011.
BUME is a 16 strong choir of auditioned singers, who perform unaccompanied music from across the ages. The choir sings a wide range of repertoire from Renaissance madrigals and English partsongs to contemporary art song and jazz arrangements. The highlight of the year is undoubtedly the annual summer tour to Cornwall: a tradition dating back to 1982.
Rehearals: Tuesdays 17.00
TUBBS is a non-auditioned, extremely sociable society, formed to perform barbershop and modern a capella music. This is a fast-paced ensemble providing enjoyable and interesting singing to members, from a wide variety of genres. See us at the Freshers Fair 2011 or www.tubbs.org.uk.
Rehearsals: to be arranged
Presidents: James Canvin & Adam Ludlow
Separate auditions of both singers & instrumentalists for each production: instrumentalists are encouraged to email their interest and availability.
Music Theatre Bristol provides the opportunity for almost anyone to get involved in musical-based theatre as a performer or as part of a production team. With performances ranging from Cabarets and a weekly meeting of our unauditioned ‘Glee’ choir to large scale shows that utilizes a full band/orchestra, and we are always looking for enthusiastic people to get involved. To find out more please contact the president.
Rehearsals: to be arranged
President: Alex Groves
Separate auditions of both singers & instrumentalists for each production.
BOpS is a flourishing society giving students a unique opportunity to experience opera on a first-hand basis. Whether as singers, musicians, directors or producers, we offer the chance to get involved whatever your previous experience. This year BOpS will be putting on Bizet’s Carmen in the spring term, a smaller opera (to be decided) in the autumn term and a Gilbert & Sullivan operetta over the May bank holiday weekend. Find us at the Freshers Fair 2011 or email the president.
Rehearsals: Wednesdays 19.00-21.30
President: Duncan Clark
Bristol Grammar School (across the road from The Hawthorns)
Symphonia is a relaxed, non-auditioned orchestra which plays exciting music with an emphasis on having fun. If you enjoy playing orchestral music, but don’t want the pressure that can sometimes come with playing in a school or county orchestra, then Symphonia is for you. Symphonia’s repertoire ranges from Vaughan Williams to John Williams, and from Beethoven to the Beatles and we play at least 2 concerts a year. Places in the orchestra are limited so selection is done by application form, although we reserve the right to audition if numbers of applications are high. Come and see us at the Freshers Fair 2011 or email the president for more details.
These are held at the Department of Music, Victoria Rooms, Queen’s Road
3rd and 4th year medical students who are not available to audition at the times given below should contact Student Services (Music) on 0117 3314044 or email: music-info@bris.ac.uk. We will attempt to arrange an alternative audition time, but cannot guarantee this.