University of Bristol, Music Department

10/01/2025

What a lovely idea and we look forward to more!

23/12/2024

We're delighted to release our concerts schedule for the new term; you will find details in our "Events" section and follow us here for more details. Many thanks to our regular audience this Autumn, and to those who joined us for the first time - we very much look forward to welcoming you back in 2025!

https://www.bristol.ac.uk/music/events/

Friday 24 January 2025, 1.15PM-2.00PM
The Bridge Quartet

Join us for an opportunity to hear Arnold Cooke's Second Quartet (1947) and Hugo Wolf's Italian Serenade, performed by the Bridge Quartet.

Friday 31 January 2025, 1.15PM-2.00PM

We are extremely proud to showcase our Finalist undergraduate performers, in the first of two concerts this term. Accompanied by Claire Alsop, the programme will feature a selection of vocal and instrumental soloists.

Friday 7 February 2025, 1.15PM-2.00PM
The Bristol Ensemble

The Bristol Ensemble perform John Pickard's Second Quartet, and Steve Reich's "Different Trains".

Friday 14 February 1.15PM-2.00PM
Maya Colwell (voice) and Daniel Peter Silcock (piano)
Recital - In Solitude
Maya Colwell and Daniel Peter Silcock present a programme exploring the particular beauty of solitude. The melancholy of Schubert's Iphigenia and a Brahms' 5 Gesänge are paired with the billowing freedom of Elgar's Sea Pictures in this journey of self-exploration.

Friday 21 February: No concert, due to Reading/Consolidation week

Friday 28 February 2025, 1.15PM-2.00PM
Bristol University Loudspeaker Orchestra miniFest, curated by Neal Farwell

As the Bristol University Loudspeaker Orchestra approaches its twentieth birthday, we celebrate with an afternoon of immersive sound art, acousmatic music, and live human-computer interaction, beginning with this lunchtime concert.
More details coming soon!

Friday 7 March 2025, 1.15PM-2.00PM
The Welsh National Opera Orchestra was formed in 1970. Since then, it has established itself as one of the finest orchestras in the UK, highly praised for its distinction in wide ranging operatic repertoire, as well as for its varied concert work and portfolio of recordings. Join members of WNO Orchestra in a Tchaikovsky’s dramatic String Sextet, Souvenir de Florence.

Friday 14 March 2025, 1.15PM-2.00PM
Join us for the second concert given by our Finalist undergraduate performers, with a variety of music from the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries. Soloists will be accompanied by *Helen Reid.

Wednesday 19 March 2025, 1.15PM-2.00PM Victoria Methodist Church
Schola Cantorum, directed by Emma Hornby

Friday 21 March 2025, 1.15PM-2.00PM
New Music Ensemble directed by Michael Ellison.
NME performs new repertoire, including works by PhD composers Lia Su, Yingying Wen and Henry Chan.

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Saturday 22 March 2025, 7.30PM-9.45PM
University of Bristol Symphony Chorus and Orchestra, conducted by John Pickard, with soloists Emily Vine and Frederick Long.

Elgar Enigma Variations
Brahms German Requiem

Join us for a very special evening concert in the splendid Auditorium of the Victoria Rooms, and enjoy Elgar and Brahms' German Requiem with soloists Emily Long and Frederick Long.
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Friday 28 March 2025, 1.15PM-2.00PM
University Singers, conducted by Elinor Cooper
This is University Singers' final Victoria Room concert for this academic year, and do join us for a feast of unaccompanied music.

Sunday 30 March 2025, 7/7.30PM-9/9.30PM
Bristol University Symphonia

Thursday 22 May, 7-9PM Victoria Methodist Church, Whiteladies Road
University Singers Open Rehearsal with I Fagiolini Director, Robert Hollingworth

All our lunchtime concerts have a £5 admission charge (UoB students and staff can attend free of charge, upon presentation of a valid UCard). The admission charge can be paid in advance via the University online shop page or in person on the day of the concert, via card payment.

Please note, we are unable to accept cash payments.

Doors close promptly at 1.15 pm. Latecomers will not be admitted.

The ticket link to purchase tickets in advance will be available soon.

Picture: "Pilot's view" from the stage of the Auditorium...

23/12/2024

We're delighted to release our concerts schedule for the new term; you will find details in our "Events" section and follow us here for more details. Many thanks to our regular audience this Autumn, and to those who joined us for the first time - we very much look forward to welcoming you back in 2025!

https://www.bristol.ac.uk/music/events/

Friday 24 January 2025, 1.15PM-2.00PM
The Bridge Quartet

Join us for an opportunity to hear Arnold Cooke's Second Quartet (1947) and Hugo Wolf's Italian Serenade, performed by the Bridge Quartet.

Friday 31 January 2025, 1.15PM-2.00PM

We are extremely proud to showcase our Finalist undergraduate performers, in the first of two concerts this term. Accompanied by Claire Alsop, the programme will feature a selection of vocal and instrumental soloists.

Friday 7 February 2025, 1.15PM-2.00PM
The Bristol Ensemble

The Bristol Ensemble perform John Pickard's Second Quartet, and Steve Reich's "Different Trains".

Friday 14 February 1.15PM-2.00PM
Maya Colwell (voice) and Daniel Peter Silcock (piano)
Recital - In Solitude
Maya Colwell and Daniel Peter Silcock present a programme exploring the particular beauty of solitude. The melancholy of Schubert's Iphigenia and a Brahms' 5 Gesänge are paired with the billowing freedom of Elgar's Sea Pictures in this journey of self-exploration.

Friday 21 February: No concert, due to Reading/Consolidation week

Friday 28 February 2025, 1.15PM-2.00PM
Bristol University Loudspeaker Orchestra miniFest, curated by Neal Farwell

As the Bristol University Loudspeaker Orchestra approaches its twentieth birthday, we celebrate with an afternoon of immersive sound art, acousmatic music, and live human-computer interaction, beginning with this lunchtime concert.
More details coming soon!

Friday 7 March 2025, 1.15PM-2.00PM
The Welsh National Opera Orchestra was formed in 1970. Since then, it has established itself as one of the finest orchestras in the UK, highly praised for its distinction in wide ranging operatic repertoire, as well as for its varied concert work and portfolio of recordings. Join members of WNO Orchestra in a Tchaikovsky’s dramatic String Sextet, Souvenir de Florence.

Friday 14 March 2025, 1.15PM-2.00PM
Join us for the second concert given by our Finalist undergraduate performers, with a variety of music from the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries. Soloists will be accompanied by *Helen Reid.

Wednesday 19 March 2025, 1.15PM-2.00PM Victoria Methodist Church
Schola Cantorum, directed by Emma Hornby

Friday 21 March 2025, 1.15PM-2.00PM
New Music Ensemble directed by Michael Ellison.
NME performs new repertoire, including works by PhD composers Lia Su, Yingying Wen and Henry Chan.

------------
Saturday 22 March 2025, 7.30PM-9.45PM
University of Bristol Symphony Chorus and Orchestra, conducted by John Pickard, with soloists Emily Vine and Frederick Long.

Elgar Enigma Variations
Brahms German Requiem

Join us for a very special evening concert in the splendid Auditorium of the Victoria Rooms, and enjoy Elgar and Brahms' German Requiem with soloists Emily Long and Frederick Long.
------------

Friday 28 March 2025, 1.15PM-2.00PM
University Singers, conducted by Elinor Cooper
This is University Singers' final Victoria Room concert for this academic year, and do join us for a feast of unaccompanied music.

Sunday 30 March 2025, 7/7.30PM-9/9.30PM
Bristol University Symphonia

Thursday 22 May, 7-9PM Victoria Methodist Church, Whiteladies Road
University Singers Open Rehearsal with I Fagiolini Director, Robert Hollingworth

All our lunchtime concerts have a £5 admission charge (UoB students and staff can attend free of charge, upon presentation of a valid UCard). The admission charge can be paid in advance via the University online shop page or in person on the day of the concert, via card payment.

Please note, we are unable to accept cash payments.

Doors close promptly at 1.15 pm. Latecomers will not be admitted.

The ticket link to purchase tickets in advance will be available soon.

03/12/2024

Although it's Revision week, our indefatigable students have a final lunchtime concert for you tomorrow (Wed. 4th December 2024), in St. Paul's Church, Clifton at 1.15pm. Featuring a variety of chamber musicians from Bristol University Music Society, music includes Vaughan Williams, Brahms, Lehár, Arnold and Tavener. We will be treated to chamber duos, singers and much more!
All are welcome to this free concert; donations invited afterwards towards costs.

29/11/2024

29/11/2024

Our final Victoria Rooms concert this term is tomorrow, Saturday 30th November, courtesy of Bristol University Music Society Chamber Orchestra, with conductor Jago Webb. They're performing an attractive programme consisting of a Hensel Overture, Prokofiev Sinfonietta, and Beethoven Seventh Symphony. Tickets are available from this link or from the SU website.

***Please note that the concert begins at 7.30pm, and not 7pm*** as advertised on the SU website - doors open from 7pm.

Full price tickets are an excellent £5 with student tickets £3!

28/11/2024

Join us tomorrow for our final Friday lunchtime concert of our Autumn term series with Bristol University Music Society Composition Network's composers and performers! There are seven pieces to enjoy, most of which are first performances, so come and support our emerging talent.
You will enjoy a range of compositional concepts, as well as ensembles and the composers are both undergraduate and postgraduate students.
All are welcome as ever; UoB students and staff are admitted free on production of their UCard or it's £5 otherwise (no cash, card only) or - better still - you can purchase your ticket online through our website link.

20/11/2024

Don't miss tomorrow evening's concert, featuring music by our own John Pickard, Carmen Ho, with Sadie Harrison, Philip Glass, John Cage plus more - and enjoy the ambience of the Bristol Arts Club too!

20/11/2024

We have two concerts in two days to entertain and enthrall you in our beautiful Auditorium; on Friday (22nd November) Bristol University Music Society Wind Orchestra will provide the lunchtime concert from 1.15pm - details in our "Events" section.
On Saturday 23rd November at 7.30pm, our Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Neal Farwell, perform Bartok's "Concerto for Orchestra", as well as a chance to hear works by female composers Missy Mazzoli, Augusta Holmès and Anna Clyne - ticket prices and other details in our website below:

https://www.bristol.ac.uk/music/events/

All are most welcome!

16/11/2024

Huge congratulations to Blair Mowat, MACMFTV Bristol graduate and winner of the "Best TV Score" at the Camille Awards (The European Film & TV Music Awards) for "Nolly"! Wishing you ongoing success Blair, and we're incredibly proud of you.
More information here:
https://camilleawards.eu/2024/11/press-release-winners-of-the-camille-awards-2024-revealed/
https://www.blairmowat.co.uk/

11/11/2024

Don't forget that our Schola Cantorum, directed by Professor Emma Hornby, will perform in Victoria Methodist Church this Wednesday, 1.15-2pm. There is free admission and all are welcome; we invite donations afterwards towards costs.

You will also find details in our "Events" section.

08/11/2024

We are delighted to inform you about the Sir Arnold Bax society, launched by one of our PhD students George Owen this very day. Do please inform anyone interested by sharing this post.
https://sirarnoldbaxsociety.com/

06/11/2024

This Friday's lunchtime concert by Jazz Orchestra will be edgy and busy! Please arrive in plenty of time to allow your UCard to be checked and, if you're not a student, to purchase a ticket (card only). Better still, please buy yours in advance and save yourself a queue!:
https://www.bristol.ac.uk/arts-law-social-sciences/events/2024/november/bristol-university-jazz-orchestra.html

04/11/2024

Don’t miss BOpS’s first show of the year, running from this Thursday and finishing Saturday. It features a wealth of talent; the Pegg Theatre is in the SU’s Richmond Building on Queen’s Road.

Introducing The 2024 TB1 BoPS Show: Cavalleria Rusticana!

DATE: 7-9th November
TIME: 8pm, Doors 7:30pm
WHERE: The Pegg Theatre, Richmond Building, BS6 1LN

The Synopsis:

In rural 1950s Italy, Turridu returns from military service to find her fiancée Lola has married Alfio, the local taxi driver and fixer. Turridu seeks her revenge by seducing Santuzza but is stolen back by Lola. The opera opens on Easter Sunday when the messy relationships unravel amid the joyous celebrations in the village.

Click here to buy tickets: https://uobtheatre.com/production/cav

We hope you will enjoy!

01/11/2024

Our Friday lunchtime concert series resumes this afternoon with BULO under our "Sonic Voyages" theme; come and enjoy our immersive sound - we've got more loudspeakers than your average cinema (they're perhaps not quite as big but far better quality!)
PS. The horizon will be fixed by the time the concert begins...

30/10/2024

An interesting discussion on the current state of music in the UK, and features our own John Pickard.

Music Podcast · 1 Episodes · Updated fortnightly