Cambridge University Musical Society: Introduction

Introducing CUMS I

CUMS I is the university's flagship symphony orchestra. The ensemble is drawn from top student musicians in Cambridge, who audition each year to secure their place. The orchestra performs five concerts a year, encompassing a wide range of repertoire ranging from Baroque oratorios to masterpieces of the 20th century repertoire. CUMS I regularly performs with the CUMS Chorus and the CUMS Festival Chorus. Recent highlights have included Messaien's Turangalîla Symphony, described by critics as "spectacular" and "virtuosic", and Verdi's Requiem, an unforgettable performance given together with the Festival Chorus in King's College Chapel. The ensemble's principal conductor is Stephen Cleobury, who each year also invites a number of guest conductors to work with the orchestra. The best student conductors in Cambridge have the chance to audition for the position of assistant conductor with the orchestra. Each year top solo instrumentalists can compete for the chance to play a concerto with the orchestra and there is also an annual composition competition, which offers student composers the chance to have their works performed by the orchestra. The orchestra enjoys regular coaching from professional orchestral players.

Recent performances outside Cambridge include performances in 2001 of Benjamin Britten's War Requiem in Coventry and Ely cathedrals, and in 2003 the orchestra spent a week on tour in Boston, Massachusetts, performing Mahler's 2nd Symphony. The 2004 season saw CUMS I opening the Cambridge Music Festival with a packed performance of Berlioz' Requiem at Ely Cathedral. In 2006 the orchestra performed Vaughan Williams' Sea Symphony in Oxford. In August 2009 CUMS I will be going on tour to Tuscany.

Key points:

Rehearsal schedule

The rehearsal schedule is a summary of the useful information for the year, including rehearsal times, concert calendar, orchestrations (list of which instruments play in which concerts), etc.