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playing music at Cambridge
As this has been mentioned in a coulpe of threads I thought that I should do a little info thingy on all of the opportunities - I'm sorry if I misss stuff out as I'm not really a player but I know the ground
Orchestras
CUMS I - Cambridge university music society top orchestra. Conducted sometimees by students and sometimes professionally. The repertoire is challenging (the though often a bit 19th century) and the orchestra is about as good as the NYO. Expect to be Grade 8 for strings and stupidly good for wind.
CUMS II - Also run by CUMS this orchestra is not as good but is still quite good. It is conducted by students elected by the orchestra. Not really sure about quality but again winds arre grade 8 + and strings are pretty good.
CUSO - Student run orchestra, almost as goodd as CUMS I *waits for someone to shout at him*. About the same level of playing expected.
CUCO - Student run chamber orcheestra of the players who think they're the best - Part of the string-player fetish for small ensembles. Everyone in this orchestra is stupidly good.
UCPO - University of Cambridge Philharmonic Orchestra - is a non-audition orchestra. TBH it's **** but they spend a lot of time in the bar after rehearsals so that's alright. The repertoire tends to be youth orchestra standards
College Orchestras - some are regular occcurences, some are not. I know that places like Clare have stupidly good orchestras and places like Robinson just fix players for concerts once a term. Also some colleges have shared orchestras like the orchestra on the hill (Fitz, New Hall, Churchill). These are probably worth getting involved with so you can meet like-minded comrades nevermind the music.
Choirs
College choirs vary in quality and are generally either just choral scholars (King's, Trinity, Johns, Jesus I think) or they are a mixture of choral scholars and auditionees. They vary in quality but all are reasonably good. They also vary in commitment. While King's does 6 services a week plus rehearsals, places likee Robinson do two services plus a couple of rrehearsals. Most choirs get some sorrt of payment like a formal hall once a week. Choral scholars get extra payment.
MagSoc - This is a Queens' run non-audition choir. They do lots of big works like the creation, Requiems, other 19th century stuff
Trinity Singers - another big non-audition choir and is pretty good - theey do performances in Trinity Chapel and there is an aassociated orchestra
CUCC - Cambridge University Chamber Choir - small and very difficult to get into. Sometimes thee auuditions givee very strange results like them letting in someone who was completely untrained this year.
Other possibilities
One of the best places to play at Cambridge is in the theatre. There are often musicals or plays which require instrumentalists or singers and auditions tend not to be too heavy and you get cool after-show parties with strange thespy people.
You can always make your own ensemble too although this is quite an effort.
MB
Orchestras
CUMS I - Cambridge university music society top orchestra. Conducted sometimees by students and sometimes professionally. The repertoire is challenging (the though often a bit 19th century) and the orchestra is about as good as the NYO. Expect to be Grade 8 for strings and stupidly good for wind.
CUMS II - Also run by CUMS this orchestra is not as good but is still quite good. It is conducted by students elected by the orchestra. Not really sure about quality but again winds arre grade 8 + and strings are pretty good.
CUSO - Student run orchestra, almost as goodd as CUMS I *waits for someone to shout at him*. About the same level of playing expected.
CUCO - Student run chamber orcheestra of the players who think they're the best - Part of the string-player fetish for small ensembles. Everyone in this orchestra is stupidly good.
UCPO - University of Cambridge Philharmonic Orchestra - is a non-audition orchestra. TBH it's **** but they spend a lot of time in the bar after rehearsals so that's alright. The repertoire tends to be youth orchestra standards
College Orchestras - some are regular occcurences, some are not. I know that places like Clare have stupidly good orchestras and places like Robinson just fix players for concerts once a term. Also some colleges have shared orchestras like the orchestra on the hill (Fitz, New Hall, Churchill). These are probably worth getting involved with so you can meet like-minded comrades nevermind the music.
Choirs
College choirs vary in quality and are generally either just choral scholars (King's, Trinity, Johns, Jesus I think) or they are a mixture of choral scholars and auditionees. They vary in quality but all are reasonably good. They also vary in commitment. While King's does 6 services a week plus rehearsals, places likee Robinson do two services plus a couple of rrehearsals. Most choirs get some sorrt of payment like a formal hall once a week. Choral scholars get extra payment.
MagSoc - This is a Queens' run non-audition choir. They do lots of big works like the creation, Requiems, other 19th century stuff
Trinity Singers - another big non-audition choir and is pretty good - theey do performances in Trinity Chapel and there is an aassociated orchestra
CUCC - Cambridge University Chamber Choir - small and very difficult to get into. Sometimes thee auuditions givee very strange results like them letting in someone who was completely untrained this year.
Other possibilities
One of the best places to play at Cambridge is in the theatre. There are often musicals or plays which require instrumentalists or singers and auditions tend not to be too heavy and you get cool after-show parties with strange thespy people.
You can always make your own ensemble too although this is quite an effort.
MB
Scroll to see replies
Reply 1
Could I just ask you about the a capella (sp?) groups at Cambridge? I had a look at the website with all the different groups but they seem to vary quite a lot in standard- for exmaple, the 1 for Corpus (college Im hopefully going to) seems to be of quite a high standard, which I really don't think I am, so does that mean that I wouldnt be able to sing in an a capella group at all?
thanks
thanks
musicboy
College choirs vary in quality and are generally either just choral scholars (King's, Trinity, Johns, Jesus I think)
Seem to be missing one there.
Though rumour has it that they took on one more guy this year after hearing him sing at karaoke in Freshers' week (to be fair, he practically brought down the roof of Cellars, he was AMAZING 
)Also NB - King's, John's and Jesus' main choirs are all-male, though King's at least have the King's Singers which has women in it and they do about one service a week. Though if you're that good at choral singing you probably knew that already.
Reply 3
so.... all these orchestra's are audition only?
I certainly will have a go! How does the auditioning work then? (PS I'm only grade 8 distinction, but I'm a mean piccolo player which might help)
I certainly will have a go! How does the auditioning work then? (PS I'm only grade 8 distinction, but I'm a mean piccolo player which might help
)Reply 4
platinumki
so.... all these orchestra's are audition only?
I certainly will have a go! How does the auditioning work then? (PS I'm only grade 8 distinction, but I'm a mean piccolo player which might help)
I certainly will have a go! How does the auditioning work then? (PS I'm only grade 8 distinction, but I'm a mean piccolo player which might help
)all orchs are audition excet for UCPO and college orchs and random other ones. You sign up for auditions at the freshers fair and then they emai you about it I think.
MB
Simone de Beauv
Could I just ask you about the a capella (sp?) groups at Cambridge? I had a look at the website with all the different groups but they seem to vary quite a lot in standard- for exmaple, the 1 for Corpus (college Im hopefully going to) seems to be of quite a high standard, which I really don't think I am, so does that mean that I wouldnt be able to sing in an a capella group at all?
thanks
thanks
Do you mean like barbershop kind of stuff? To be honest that's the sort of thing you can get going yourself if you can't find a group to join, because it's just a case of a bunch of like-minded people meeting in the same place to sing
But there should be some groups, I'd have thought. It's not something I know a great deal about but I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about what's available when you come up.Not sure if this link might be helpful; it seems to have a pretty good list if you want to contact people: http://www.mus.cam.ac.uk/external/concerts/concerts.html
Reply 6
MadNatSci
Do you mean like barbershop kind of stuff? To be honest that's the sort of thing you can get going yourself if you can't find a group to join, because it's just a case of a bunch of like-minded people meeting in the same place to sing But there should be some groups, I'd have thought. It's not something I know a great deal about but I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about what's available when you come up.
Not sure if this link might be helpful; it seems to have a pretty good list if you want to contact people: http://www.mus.cam.ac.uk/external/concerts/concerts.html
But there should be some groups, I'd have thought. It's not something I know a great deal about but I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about what's available when you come up.Not sure if this link might be helpful; it seems to have a pretty good list if you want to contact people: http://www.mus.cam.ac.uk/external/concerts/concerts.html
Thanks for the thread
Barbershop Quartets sound fun. It's not like I can sing particularly well or anything, but I'd love to join one. Is there a non-audition choir at all?Reply 7
MadNatSci
Do you mean like barbershop kind of stuff? To be honest that's the sort of thing you can get going yourself if you can't find a group to join, because it's just a case of a bunch of like-minded people meeting in the same place to sing
Mmmm. I think there are a couple of Oxford a capella types on TSL who would have something to say about that if they were not travelling across the USA on the proceeds of concerts, CDs and merchandise - the annual turnover of the more commercial groups must be around £25000 at least!
The Cambridge scene does seem rather less formal outside the closed shop of Collegium Regale (The Kings College choral scholars) and their counterparts from St Johns, The Gentlemen. Fitz Barbershop are probably the best (and best known group) and Fitz also has a female ensemble.
There is a coordinating body for such groups
http://www.cam.ac.uk/societies/cuacs/
Hrm... I'd love to do some chamber music. As a pianist it's all I can really hope for. :P
The only problem is that I've never had a chance to do anything other than solo work up until now, so I'd be hopeless in an audition. I'm guessing that there are other college-based Music Societies where there'd be other people interested, though?
alex
The only problem is that I've never had a chance to do anything other than solo work up until now, so I'd be hopeless in an audition. I'm guessing that there are other college-based Music Societies where there'd be other people interested, though?
alex
Reply 10
coldfish
Hrm... I'd love to do some chamber music. As a pianist it's all I can really hope for. :P
Nah, you could always play the Rach Piano concerti or something
Reply 12
hey
im interested in joining music groups although my main instrument is the altosax (so that counts out orchestras!!) - what jazz bands are there and wind band opportunities?
thanks
Laura
xx
im interested in joining music groups although my main instrument is the altosax (so that counts out orchestras!!) - what jazz bands are there and wind band opportunities?
thanks
Laura
xx
Reply 13
Lau200
hey
im interested in joining music groups although my main instrument is the altosax (so that counts out orchestras!!) - what jazz bands are there and wind band opportunities?
thanks
Laura
xx
im interested in joining music groups although my main instrument is the altosax (so that counts out orchestras!!) - what jazz bands are there and wind band opportunities?
thanks
Laura
xx
there's a symphonic windband called the zephyr ensemble (run by CUMS and student conducted), I think it's quite tough to get into. Then there are various bigbands and swingbands mainly associated with collegess.
MB
Reply 14
musicboy
there's a symphonic windband called the zephyr ensemble (run by CUMS and student conducted), I think it's quite tough to get into. Then there are various bigbands and swingbands mainly associated with collegess.
MB
MB
I love concert bands. They are unfairly underrated. The Vaughn Williams English Folk Song Suite is simply musical perfection. *swoons* I bought a piccolo after hearing that piece, without ever having a go on one
Reply 15
platinumki
I love concert bands. They are unfairly underrated. The Vaughn Williams English Folk Song Suite is simply musical perfection. *swoons* I bought a piccolo after hearing that piece, without ever having a go on one
Were you able to get help with learning the piccolo at Cambridge? Is it easy going about finding music lessons or help from other students?
At school we had a shortage of Viola players and even though I was terrible (I'd say a very, very low Grade 5), I was 'conscripted' into the school's main orchestra playing alongside some very, very talented musicians....although I needed to practice every piece before rehearsals and sometimes found it tough, I really enjoyed the music and the whole orchestra 'group spirit'. I'd love to play in a non-audition (I stress 'non-audition'!!) orchestra when I'm there as I think I'd be very useful as a Viola player, but I'd love to brush up on my skills before I go or take a couple of lessons/pointers. It's been a year and a half since I've touched my Viola....!!!!
Reply 16
Lau200
hey
im interested in joining music groups although my main instrument is the altosax (so that counts out orchestras!!) - what jazz bands are there and wind band opportunities?
thanks
Laura
xx
im interested in joining music groups although my main instrument is the altosax (so that counts out orchestras!!) - what jazz bands are there and wind band opportunities?
thanks
Laura
xx
Not neccessarily. If you're lucky you might find an orchestra doing a 20th century piece such as an American in Paris which does have sax parts.
Platinumki
I love concert bands. They are unfairly underrated. The Vaughn Williams English Folk Song Suite is simply musical perfection. *swoons* I bought a piccolo after hearing that piece, without ever having a go on one
I love British folk melodies, and the whole sound of the genre. My A level composition was all modal and open 5ths and things - They're really beautiful sound. Holst's First and Second Suites are great too
. British composer are great - they make me feel all patriotic and want to go round waving the union jack! 
Reply 17
Stewie
Were you able to get help with learning the piccolo at Cambridge? Is it easy going about finding music lessons or help from other students?
At school we had a shortage of Viola players and even though I was terrible (I'd say a very, very low Grade 5), I was 'conscripted' into the school's main orchestra playing alongside some very, very talented musicians....although I needed to practice every piece before rehearsals and sometimes found it tough, I really enjoyed the music and the whole orchestra 'group spirit'. I'd love to play in a non-audition (I stress 'non-audition'!!) orchestra when I'm there as I think I'd be very useful as a Viola player, but I'd love to brush up on my skills before I go or take a couple of lessons/pointers. It's been a year and a half since I've touched my Viola....!!!!
At school we had a shortage of Viola players and even though I was terrible (I'd say a very, very low Grade 5), I was 'conscripted' into the school's main orchestra playing alongside some very, very talented musicians....although I needed to practice every piece before rehearsals and sometimes found it tough, I really enjoyed the music and the whole orchestra 'group spirit'. I'd love to play in a non-audition (I stress 'non-audition'!!) orchestra when I'm there as I think I'd be very useful as a Viola player, but I'd love to brush up on my skills before I go or take a couple of lessons/pointers. It's been a year and a half since I've touched my Viola....!!!!
Platinumki's not at Cambridge - you don't tend to learn the piccolo though. It has the same fingering as the flute, and just sounds an octave higher. Viola players are in PERMANENT short dupply. I'm sure you'd be able to find one
Reply 18
PhilipGarsed
Not neccessarily. If you're lucky you might find an orchestra doing a 20th century piece such as an American in Paris which does have sax parts.
the sax parts for that are so cool. Concidently i ve just had a rehearsal today with my youth orchestra and we are playing an American in Paris tomorrow in a concert!
Reply 19
Richy Rich$$
the sax parts for that are so cool. Concidently i ve just had a rehearsal today with my youth orchestra and we are playing an American in Paris tomorrow in a concert!
We were going to do that too, but we didn't have the parts were far too expensive!!! We're now doing Horroscope by Constant Lambert, the well known British Composer....erm.....who?
What YO are you with? I'm with the Lancashire Youth Symphony Orchestra = Good FunRelated discussions
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