Extra-curricular musical activities are an integral part of student life at Kent, and there are many opportunities for you to get involved. Whatever you study, make music!
Come along to meet members of staff and some of the Music Societies, find out about getting involved in extra-curricular music and sign up for activities / societies in which you are interested; all welcome!
Members of the Music Society, Musical Theatre Society, Live Music Society and staff will introduce the various ensembles, performance and showcase opportunities coming up this year, and look ahead to our annual Summer Music festival.
Find out about using the practice-rooms, the band room, and what music-making opportunities there are on campus and beyond.
Gulbenkian Theatre, 7-8.30pm (free pizza and soft drinks in the cafe at 6.30pm)
Open to all: no audition required! For everyone who loves to sing pop, soul and more, for students, staff and local community. No need to read music!
First rehearsal: Thursday 3 October, Colyer-Fergusson Hall, 7pm
External members please email music@kent.ac.uk beforehand
An un-auditioned choir of around 100 singers, the Chorus meets weekly on Monday evenings, and prepares for three concerts in the year with the Symphony Orchestra, both in Colyer-Fergusson Hall and in Canterbury Cathedral.
No previous singing experience necessary - open to students, staff and alumni. External members are also welcome, but should email music@kent.ac.uk to arrange an audition.
First rehearsal: Monday 23 September, 7.00pm, Colyer-Fergusson Hall
Symphony Orchestra rehearses weekly on Tuesday evenings, and performs three concerts a year, including one in Canterbury Cathedral. Open to students and staff.
Open rehearsal: Tuesday, 24 September, 7pm, Colyer-Fergusson Hall
String players above Grade 5 welcome, woodwind and brass auditions see below:
Audition rubric (for woodwind and brass):
External members also welcome; please email music@kent.ac.uk to arrange an audition
The Chamber Choir is an auditioned, student-based group of around twenty student singers. The choir often gives an annual concert in the Crypt of Canterbury Cathedral, and also participates in the University Carol Service as well as other concerts off-campus and throughout the city of Canterbury.
Auditions take place at the beginning of the academic year on Wednesday 25 September, 1-6pm and Friday 27 September 1pm onwards.
New audition rubric:
Please note: Chamber Choir runs when numbers permit (minimum 16 voices required for mixed-voice ensemble)
Open to all advanced saxophone, brass, bass and kit players (need to read music), the Big Band rehearses each week on Wednesday evenings. It gigs throughout the year both on- and off-campus.
The Big Band repertoire ranges from traditional big band classics to Stevie Wonder, and they often work with professional performers: previous guests include saxophonist Phil Veacock from the Jools Holland Orchestra and trumpeter Mike Lovatt from the John Wilson Orchestra.
First rehearsal: Wednesday 25 September, 8.45pm, Colyer-Fergusson Hall.
Auditions may be required. Please note Big Band runs only when numbers permit.
The Concert Band rehearses on Wednesday evenings, and performs in concerts in Colyer-Fergusson Hall throughout the year, including as part of the Summer Music Week festival. Guest performers have recently included trumpet superstar, Mike Lovatt.
Repertoire for the Concert Band ranges from John Williams and Hans Zimmer to showtunes.
First rehearsal: Wednesday 25 September, 7.15pm, Colyer-Fergusson Hall.
Open to students, staff and alumni.
External members are also welcome, but should contact music@kent.ac.uk
A by-invitation choir of students, staff and alumni which performs in Colyer-Fergusson and off-campus, including occasionally singing the service of Choral Evensong at Canterbury Cathedral.
String Sinfonia meets every Wednesday, 4.30-6.30pm, performing a concert every term both on- and off-campus, including St Mary's Church in Faversham as part of the Coffee Concert series.
First rehearsal Wednesday 25 September, 4.30-6.30pm, Colyer-Fergusson Hall
A student-run society which puts on two main musicals each year, both in the Marlowe Theatre Studio in Canterbury and the University’s Gulbenkian theatre. Recent shows have included Rent, Company and Evita. There is also a themed showcase each term in Colyer-Fergusson Hall and the Gulbenkian Theatre.
Flute choir meets every Wednesday at 6pm.
A student-run society that performs throughout the year, and takes part in the University Gospel Choir of the Year competition
A by-invitation swing dance orchestra, playing classic tunes from the 1940s and 1950s from an archive of original sheet music of the time.
Please note Tomfoolery runs when numbers permit.
There are a number of music societies which co-ordinate student music-making activities:
Members of the Music Society reflect on being involved in extra-curricular music as part of their experience at the University
