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Playing & Singing
Instrumental
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Aberystwyth provides excellent opportunities for instrumentalists. The University's symphony orchestra, Philomusica of Aberystwyth, concentrates on music of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. This large orchestra enjoys an excellent reputation and has worked with soloists of international standing: recent guest artists have included John Lill, Peter Katin, Raphael Wallfisch and Susan Milan. The University Sinfonia is a chamber orchestra that specialises in repertoire less suited to larger groups. Its programmes are adventurous and stimulating, and high standards are achieved. The Sinfonia's concert schedule takes it to venues in and away from Aberystwyth. On a more informal level, the University runs a weekly string group, Simply Strings, and a Saxophone Group. In the long vacation students are welcomed at the Aberystwyth Summer Orchestra.
The University Wind Band offers wind and percussion players the chance to experience the full range of the wind band repertoire. It provides a musical opening for both advanced and less experienced musicians without compromising enjoyment or standards. Concerts are given in and out of town and visits to the Republic of Ireland are becoming a popular part of the schedule. Recently the band recorded its third C.D. Aberystwyth Silver Band has a busy concert and contest calendar and offers a warm welcome to students. |
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Vocal
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Whatever your experience and preferences, you will find excellent opportunities to sing at Aberystwyth. Choral Union is a large mixed choir which prepares major works for a concert with soloists and orchestra in the Lent Term. Recent highlights include performances of the Verdi Requiem, The Dream of Gerontius, as well as more recent works such as Karl Jenkins's The Armed Man and Stabat Mater. There are no auditions and everyone is welcome. The Elizabethan Madrigal Singers, an auditioned chamber choir, performs a much wider repertoire than its name suggests. 'Mads', as the group is familiarly known, enjoys an enthusiastic and committed membership and has gained a reputation for high standards. The concert tours are a popular feature of the choir's programme and have taken it to France, Germany, Poland and many other countries. Pantycelyn Hall is famous for its Welsh choral and cerdd dant groups, who are keen competitors at eisteddfodau. If you have a theatrical flair, the Showtime Singers perform Gilbert and Sullivan and other operettas as well as popular shows.
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Alternatives
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Aberystwyth has an enormously diverse musical life. ENTS at the Students' Union organises a full programme of live band events; at the Arts Centre the Blues and Roots series provides a platform for exciting artists from the World Music scene. Folk music is thriving with, as you might expect, a strong Celtic bias. Several pubs have folk nights where you can join in the session or just enjoy listening - and there are jazz pubs too.
Aberystwyth Arts Centre, situated on the Penglais Campus, is an extensive, modern complex incorporating a large concert hall (The Great Hall), a theatre (Theatr y Werin), a cinema, art galleries, and a studio/rehearsal facilities as well as a restaurant. Described as 'A National Flagship for the Arts', it is a major venue for international artists, as well as local performers, with a programme rich in orchestral concerts, recitals, opera and drama. Special rates are available to students. One particularly attractive bonus is entry for students to the excellent series of evening and lunch-time concerts organised by Aberystwyth Music Club. The Arts Centre's enterprising education programme offers a huge range of courses and workshops. In music these can range from samba drumming and electric guitar to music theory and composition. Each summer the Arts Centre and the University are hosts to Musicfest, one of Britain's leading music festivals. |
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