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Hong Kong adventures

While Rosie Shepherd was admiring the snow during her year abroad in Norway (see her post of 4 July), Jordan Stock headed for warmer climes. Read on for his impressions of his year in east Asia: It has now been nearly one year since I left the refuge of Southampton to travel to about as far as you can get on the other side of the world, Hong Kong. I can only sum up the year with one word: Wow. Continue reading →

Getting Together with Southampton Composers

Postgrad composer Andrew Fowler tells us about the composition-fest that rounded off the academic year: On the third and fourth of July, the University of Southampton played host to its annual composerā€™s ā€˜Get Togetherā€™, which consisted of talks and workshops aimed at sharing the work of composers affiliated with the university and guest musicians with one another. Unsurprisingly, the event was entirely successful in achieving its objective. Continue reading →

My Year in Norway

Rosie Shepherd tells us about her life-changing experience during the study abroad year of her undergraduate Music course: At the beginning of August last year I embarked on a new adventure ā€“ packing up everything important to me and moving to Bergen, Norway to study for 10 months. To say those months have flown by would be an understatement, but the amount of knowledge, life experience and fantastic memories I have gained in that time have made it more than worth it. Continue reading →

Working in Music

As third year students are approaching the end of their course, finalist Emma Atkins looks back to a February workshop aimed at helping undergraduates think about career choices in music: As I’m interested in many different aspects of music, this careers day was extremely beneficial. When I graduate I hope to work in the business side of the music industry, particularly in music marketing. In addition, at some point in my career I hope to work on cruise ships. Continue reading →

Tracing a Trio

Hannah Shilvock (clarinet/bass clarinet, year 3), Ellie Purvis (violin, year 3), and Adam Rean (piano, year 2) have formed the Woodnote Trio, playing together for their Ensemble performance module this year and performing in different venues around the region as well. We interviewed them to find out what their year has been like. The combination of clarinet, violin and piano is unusual. What are the challenges of playing in this formation? Ellie: Balance is quite tricky. Continue reading →

Celebrating Michael Finnissy

Last week staff, students and friends of the Department gathered for a special concert at Turner Sims to celebrate Michael Finnissy’s twenty years as Professor of Composition at Southampton.Ā  Postgraduate composer Joe Manghan was one of the performers: Iā€™ve been studying at Southampton for almost 7 years now, and Iā€™ve had several opportunities to participate in Finnissy projects. In 2012, I performed timpani in his completion of Mozartā€™s Requiem. Continue reading →

Theatre Guitar for Shakespeareā€™s Globe

Guitar tutor Jon Gingell has just finished music directing and performing for Emma Riceā€™s show for Shakespeare’s Globe, Little Match Girl and Other Happier Tales. Music was by Stephen Warbeck (Shakespeare In Love, Captain Corelliā€™s Mandolin, Billy Elliot). The show began its run at Bristol Old Vic before Christmas, took in a tour from Plymouth to Liverpool, and then returned to its home at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse in London in March. Continue reading →

Performing the Film of the Great War

Yesterday markedĀ the launch of Silent Film Fortnight, a three-part series focusing on the film heritage of the World War I as part of the university’s Great War, Unknown War programme. Third year students Emma Atkins and James Carter are performing for Dawn, the second film of the set: Emma: On Tuesday 13 February at 7.30pm, silent film Dawn (1928) is screened at Turner Sims, accompanied by an ensemble led by composer and pianist Dr Andrew Fisher. Continue reading →