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When Harry Met (Some More) Composers – Part 3, Lois V Vierk

Ahead of our big SHIFTS performance next week PhD composer Harry Matthews is interviewing 4 of the 5 composers involved in SHIFTS on 27th January at Turner Sims. In this third part he caught up with New York composer Lois V. Vierk whose work Red Shift will feature in Sunday's concert: Harry Matthews (HM): I thought we could start by talking about your approach to structure. Continue reading →

When Harry Met (Some) Composers: Part 1 – Brona Martin

Ahead of our big SHIFTS performance next week PhD composer Harry Matthews is interviewing 4 of the 5 composers involved in SHIFTS on 27th January at Turner Sims (Steve Reich isn't reachable on Skype this week!). In this first interview Harry caught up with electroacoustic composer and Southampton Teaching Fellow Dr Brona Martin to talk about her recent work Sowing Seeds (2018), which will be featured in the concert. Continue reading →

Happy Christmas from the Music Department!

Music finalists Ella Garner and Sabine Russell report on our recent Christmas concert extravaganza (!): On Friday 8th December, the Music Department hosted our annual lunchtime Christmas concert at Turner Sims. We (Ella and Sabine) organised it this year, liaising with students throughout the department and bringing everyone together to create a showcase of wonderful festive talent. Continue reading →

Will Champion from Coldplay visits the Music Department!

Two of our first year Music students, Martina Stramaccioni and James Needs, reflect on a recent visit to the Department by Coldplay drummer Will Champion. Martina: "I found Will Champion’s visit a humbling experience. It was unbelievable that a musician as successful and well respected as him had taken time out of his busy schedule and come talk to us young musicians in person. As students, embarking upon our own musical journeys, the talk was inspiring. Continue reading →

Brilliant Bach with Blaze and Balding

Second year BA Music student and violinist Columba Dromgoole-Cavazzi describes her experience of performing in a recent performance project: In the lunchtime concert on Friday 24th November, the string workshop and early music ensemble worked together for a performance of Brandenburg’s Fourth Concerto, and the beautiful aria ‘Erbarme dich, mein gott’ from Bach’s St. Matthew’s Passion. Continue reading →

New Turner Sims RUSH tickets

Turner Sims intern and third year student Sabine Russell introduces the new RUSH ticket scheme: Many music students will have noticed that a new Student Newsletter from Turner Sims landed in their inboxes a couple of weeks ago about a new RUSH ticket scheme. The idea for this initiative has come about to raise awareness of the free tickets made available by Turner Sims for their concert series. Continue reading →

Music in the community

Finalist Sarah Newell tells us about some of the work she is involved with the local community: On the 7th of June, I had the opportunity to perform at MenCap, Southampton. It was a wonderful experience to play for MenCap, especially as they are a charity working for such a great cause. I played acoustic pop set as well as some of my own originals. The crowd were very welcoming and everyone seemed to enjoy the music. Continue reading →

Southampton Showcase

Final year BA Music and Management Science student and Showcase Intern Vicky Halloran updates us on developing Showcase and plans for the future: As someone with a head for business and a love of music, I was enthused by the opportunity of an internship which provides real-world business engagement in the music field. Continue reading →

Pianist Ingrid Barancoski reflects on her year in Southampton

Dr Ingrid Barancoski,  from the Villa-Lobos Institute at UNIRIO (Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro) reflects on her year in Southampton researching Nadia Boulanger and Almedia Prado: In June 2014, I was reading the book entitled The musical work of Nadia Boulanger, and found it fascinating.  Researching about the author, Prof. Jeanice Brooks, I came across the University of Southampton. Continue reading →

Jack Wylie (Portico Quartet) ‘VIP Guest Talk’

On Friday 13th October, Jack Wylie from the group Portico Quartet visited the Southampton Music Department to deliver a ‘VIP Guest Talk' about his career and approach to making music. 3rd-Year Music student Archie Combes tells us more: After performing a short solo set of soprano sax and electronic loop pedals, Jack talked extensively about how he forged a career in music whilst still being able to stay true to his own artist intentions. Continue reading →

Organology of Anglo-Saxon Wind Instruments

First year PhD student Lucy-Anne Taylor reports on her Masters Research: Over the last year I have been studying Anglo-Saxon wind instruments, notably one found at Hungate in York for my music masters. In some ways this was a continuation from my undergraduate dissertation, completed in archaeology, on Anglo-Saxon wind instruments. I am now moving this work through into a PhD in Music and Archaeology. Continue reading →