Christmas concert 2009

Posted on 4 December 2009

For the first time in its thirty year history, the University of Lancaster Music Society held its annual Christmas Concert in the amazing setting that was Lancaster Cathedral, on the evening of Friday 4th December. The concert featured a variety of Christmas music from the Big Band, Brass Band, Choir and Symphony Orchestra. It was well attended with over two hundred people in the audience, including Music Lecturers from the University and the Deputy Mayor.

It opened with the Big Band playing several upbeat Christmas songs and a Glenn Miller Medley. It also including Winter Wonderland sung by Ron Carey. This was followed by the Brass Band who played some traditional pieces such as Three Kings March, and more modern arrangements such as the duet of Frosty the Snowman, played by Ole Hunt (Bass Trombone) and Chris Osborn (Tuba).

The second half opened with the choir singing Gloria, arranged by their conductor Amelia Phillips, followed by Coventry Carol, Rutter’s Jesus Child and Silent Night before finishing with Crown of Roses by Tchaikovsky. They were followed by the Symphony Orchestra who played three movements from Handel’s Music for the Royal Fireworks. Once again there was more Tchaikovsky, this time his Nutcracker Suite, which featured a harp cadenza by Hannah Johnson-Hughes. The concert concluded with carols directed by the Symphony Orchestra’s Principal Conductor, Simon Gower, joined by the ULMS choir and members of the congregation.

The concert proved to be a great success, enjoyed by all who attended. Max Stannard, who was responsible for organising the concert, said “I hope we will be able to build on this next year and make the Christmas Concert a tradition”. He also thanked the committee for all their hard work in ensuring that the concert was possible. Hopefully this will be the first of many ULMS Christmas Concerts at Lancaster Cathedral.