The Cambridge University Musical Society (CUMS) is a federation of the university's main orchestral and choral ensembles, which cumulatively put on a substantial concert season during the university term.

Background

Music has a long history at Cambridge. In 1464 the world's first firmly-authenticated Bachelor of Music degree was awarded at Cambridge to Henry Abyngdon,

Master of the Children of the Chapel Royal The Master of the Children of the Chapel Royal was the choirmaster of the Chapel Royal of England. They were responsible for the musical direction of the choir, which consisted of the Gentlemen of the Chapel and Children of the Chapel. In some per ...

to Edward IV. Over the intervening centuries celebrated musicians such as William Boyce, William Sterndale Bennett,

Charles Villiers Stanford Sir Charles Villiers Stanford (30 September 1852 – 29 March 1924) was an Anglo-Irish composer, music teacher, and conductor of the late Romantic era. Born to a well-off and highly musical family in Dublin, Stanford was educated at the Un ...

, Ralph Vaughan Williams,

Arthur Bliss Sir Arthur Edward Drummond Bliss (2 August 189127 March 1975) was an English composer and conductor. Bliss's musical training was cut short by the First World War, in which he served with distinction in the army. In the post-war years he qu ...

Alexander Goehr Peter Alexander Goehr (; born 10 August 1932) is an English composer and academic. Goehr was born in Berlin in 1932, the son of the conductor and composer Walter Goehr, a pupil of Arnold Schoenberg. In his early twenties he emerged as a central ...

Robin Holloway Robin Greville Holloway (born 19 October 1943) is an English composer, academic and writer. Early life Holloway was born in Leamington Spa. From 1953 to 1957, he was a chorister at St Paul's Cathedral and was educated at King's College School, ...

and Thomas Adès have studied or taught at Cambridge.

Foundation

In 1843 the Cambridge University Musical Society (CUMS) was established, and was originally called the Peterhouse Musical Society as most of its members were originally undergraduates from that college. The founders of CUMS included John Bacchus Dykes, William Thomson and John A. L. Airey.

Conductors of CUMS

Many respected musical figures have directed the Cambridge University Musical Society, including the following: * Charles Villiers Stanford * Cyril Rootham *

Colin Davis Sir Colin Rex Davis (25 September 1927 – 14 April 2013) was an English conductor, known for his association with the London Symphony Orchestra, having first conducted it in 1959. His repertoire was broad, but among the composers with whom h ...

* David Willcocks *

Philip Ledger Sir Philip Stevens Ledger, CBE, FRSE (12 December 1937 – 18 November 2012) was an English classical musician, choirmaster and academic, best remembered as Director of the Choir of King's College, Cambridge in 1974–1982 and of the Royal Scot ...

Stephen Cleobury Sir Stephen John Cleobury ( ; 31 December 1948 – 22 November 2019)Robin Ticciati Robin Ticciati (born 16 April 1983, in London) is a British conductor of Italian ancestry. Biography Ticciati's paternal grandfather, Niso Ticciati, was a composer, arranger, cellist, and keyboardist. His father is a barrister, and his mother ...

Richard Armstrong (conductor) Sir Richard Armstrong (born 7 January 1943, in Leicester, England) is an English conductor. He was educated at Wyggeston Grammar School for Boys and Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, where he was an organ scholar. Overview From 1973 until 19 ...

* Mark Elder * Peter Stark *

David Hill (choral director) David Hill, (born on 13 May 1957 in Carlisle, Cumberland) is a choral conductor and organist. Beginning July 2013, he holds an appointment to the Yale Institute of Sacred Music. His highest-profile roles are as Chief Conductor of the BBC S ...

Roger Norrington Sir Roger Arthur Carver Norrington (born 16 March 1934) is an English conductor. He is known for historically informed performances of Baroque, Classical and Romantic music. In November 2021 Norrington announced his retirement. Life Nor ...

* Nicholas Collon

Ensembles

Students wishing to join an orchestra are required to audition at the beginning of the academic year. One audition is required for all ensembles, and based on your abilities and preferences, you are allocated a position. Competition for places is variable depending on instrument. Selection is purely on merit, and irrespective of age, standing in the university, or subject being read. At least half, if not more, of the ensembles are made up of students who do not read music at the university.

Cambridge University Orchestra (CUO)

A full symphony orchestra, consisting of the university's elite instrumental musicians, most of whom either hold university instrumental awards or have been involved in nationally significant music making, particularly the National Youth Orchestra. The ensemble is conducted by professional conductors, such as Sir Mark Elder, Sir Roger Norrington, and John Wilson.

Cambridge University Sinfonia (CUS)

The second symphony orchestra of CUMS, giving three concerts in the academic year. Conducted by the CUMS Conducting Scholar.

Cambridge University Wind Orchestra (CUWO)

The wind orchestra, conducted by the CUMS Assistant Conductor.

Cambridge University Symphony Chorus (CUSC)

The large choir, conducted by many well-known conductors over the years (see above).

Cambridge University Chamber Choir

A small choir, consisting of the university's elite singers, directed by Martin Ennis and David Lowe.

Cambridge University Lunchtime Concerts

A series of lunchtime recitals, run by a committee of students, supported by CUMS.

Cambridge University Percussion Ensemble

The newest addition to the CUMS family. Run by students.

References

* Gerald Norris: ''Stanford the Cambridge Jubilee and Tchaikovsky'', Newton Abbot: David and Charles, 1980

External links

Cambridge University Musical SocietyCambridge University Faculty of Music
{{Authority control Cambridge choirs Musical groups from Cambridge Clubs and societies of the University of Cambridge 1843 establishments in England Musical groups established in 1843 Arts organizations established in the 1840s University musical groups in the United Kingdom