CUMS Chorus: Introduction
Would you like a rare opportunity to sing some of the most dramatic, passionate, beautiful choral music ever written with one of the world's great orchestras in some of the most stunning venues in the UK and abroad?
The CUMS Chorus, one of the few Cambridge choirs to concentrate solely on large-scale works, can offer this to its members. The Chorus performs a concert each term in King's College Chapel, Trinity College Chapel or the Royal Albert Hall, and with tours planned to both Prague in December and Tuscany next summer, the group is spoilt for breathtaking venues.
Repertoire highlights for the coming year include Elgar's The Kingdom to be performed with the world-famous Philharmonia Orchestra in King's College Chapel; a Christmas concert in the Royal Albert Hall with King's College Choir and The Philharmonia Orchestra; and a special concert for the 800th anniversary of Cambridge University in June 2009 with a newly-commissioned choral piece by Sir Peter Maxwell Davies and a performance of Beethoven's Symphony No.9.
We hope to join with CUMS 1 on a trip to Tuscany next summer for a repeat performance of Beethoven's Symphony No.9 as well as two further orchestra and choral concerts. We also hope to perform at next year's City of London Festival, again with King's College Choir.
Key Points
Our 2008/9 Calendar can be downloaded by clicking here. We rehearse every Thursday evening in St. Andrew's Street Baptist Church. Our principal conductor is Stephen Cleobury (Director of Music of King's College Choir). Entry to the CUMS Chorus is by a short, straightforward audition, held this year on 8th and 14th October.
We are also holding a ‘Come and Sing' concert on Saturday 11 October at 1.30pm in order to give prospective members the chance to see what singing in CUMS Chorus is like. We will prepare for an informal performance of Fauré's Requiem and Parry's Blest Pair of Sirens conducted by Tim Brown and Stephen Cleobury. Everyone in the Chorus is approachable and friendly and the audition is nothing to be nervous about: enthusiasm and commitment are the most important things.
There will be an Open Rehearsal on the first rehearsal of term: Thursday 9th October 7.30-9.45. Do come along! Auditions can be arranged then or at the Freshers Fair.
Please contact the Chorus Manager, Caroline Goulder carolinegoulder@hotmail.com or CUMS Chorus Convenor, Lizzie Davies ecd32@cam.ac.uk.
Diary
The diary is a summary of the useful information for the year, including rehearsal times, concert calendar, etc.
The people
The Who's Who page lists the current points of contact.