Our Main Ensembles
Alongside five larger Chamber groups, BUMS runs four main ensembles which each rehearse in the Victoria Rooms:
Chamber Orchestra (auditioned)
Rehearsals: Monday 7.15pm
Conductor: Jack Vaughan
The Chamber Orchestra is a very dedicated and hard working auditioned orchestra. In a typical year, they perform in three concerts in the Victoria Rooms, as well as the annual St. George’s concert, at which they present the winning concerto of the annual BUMS Concerto Competition and join forces with the BUMS Chamber Choir, a collaboration which continues on the BUMS Easter tour.
Chamber Choir (auditioned)
Rehearsals: Monday 7.15pm
Conductor: Jack Hamilton
The Chamber Choir is an incredibly active and social auditioned vocal ensemble of between 40-50 members. Each year they sing a large number of concerts to a very high standard, including several at the Victoria Rooms, the annual St. George's concert, and in various venues on the BUMS Easter tour, which last year was in Prague. In addition to this, the choir enjoys an annual collaboration with the Chamber Orchestra, in the form of a large-scale work for orchestra and choir.
Wind Orchestra (non-auditioned)
Rehearsals: Monday 5.15pm
Conductor: Bethan Waters
The Wind Orchestra is the largest of BUMS’s 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. This year promises to be outstanding with our annual tour taking us to Edinburgh for a couple of days at the end of the first term and various concerts throughout the year. Come along and meet new people, play good music and above all have fun!
String Orchestra (non-auditioned)
Rehearsals: Monday 5.15pm
Conductor: Michael Coleby
The String Orchestra is a social and lively unauditioned string group who play a number of concerts throughout the academic year, most notably their evening concert in the Spring term. The orchestra plays a diverse repertoire with this year's programme including works by Vaughan Williams, Respighi and Corelli. The String Orchestra welcomes new players throughout the year, of all standards. A weekend tour to Bath in February is also being planned!
Chamber Music
All rehearsals take place in the Victoria Rooms in various rooms, check the map in the Octagon before to find out which room the rehearsal is in. All ensembles are unauditioned and open to everyone! Please email the coordinator for more details at chamber-music@bumsonline.org.uk.
Flute Choir
Directed by: Lucy Armstrong
Rehearsals: Monday 1-2pm
Clarinet Choir
Directed by: Claire Vine and Perry Webber
Rehearsals: Monday 1-2pm
University Brass Ensemble (no audition)
Conducted by: Ragnhild Melbye and David Batsman (beginning 10 October)
Rehearsals: Wednesday 5.30-6.45pm
The Brass Ensemble is one of the larger Chamber ensembles, and performs a wide and diverse range of brass music to a high standard. Over the course of the last academic year, the ensemble participated in two concerts of chamber music, featuring brass standards such as Chris Hazell's 'Three Brass Cats', as well as orchestral arrangements of larger works such as Mussorgsky's 'Pictures at an Exhibition' and J.S. Bach's 'Brandenberg Concerto No.3'. The ensemble also had the privilege of premièring a student composition at their concert in March 2012.
In addition to University-organised concerts, members of the ensemble have also been invited to play at several events organised by the Territorial Army, including their annual Carol Concert, and also at the Hiatt Baker Ball 2012.
Whilst the ensemble is hard-working, it is also very sociable, an aspect we hope to promote more over the upcoming year. So if you are a brass musician, looking for a lively and friendly ensemble to play in, come and join!
Ukulele Orchestra
Directed by: James Teague
Rehearsals: Thursday 7:30-9pm