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 Henry Abyngdon, Abingdon or Abington (c. 1418 – 1 September 1497) was an English ecclesiastic and musician, perhaps the first to receive a university degree in music. Biography He may have been connected with the village of Abington in Cambrid ...

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 peri ...

to Edward IV. Over the intervening centuries celebrated musicians such as

William Boyce William Boyce may refer to: *William Boyce (composer) (1711–1779), English-born composer and Master of the King's Musick *William Binnington Boyce (1804–1889), English-born philologist and clergyman, active in Australia * William Waters Boyce ( ...

William Sterndale Bennett Sir William Sterndale Bennett (13 April 18161 February 1875) was an English composer, pianist, conductor and music educator. At the age of ten Bennett was admitted to the London Royal Academy of Music (RAM), where he remained for ten years. B ...

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 Ralph Vaughan Williams, (; 12 October 1872– 26 August 1958) was an English composer. His works include operas, ballets, chamber music, secular and religious vocal pieces and orchestral compositions including nine symphonies, written over ...

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 centra ...

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 Thomas Joseph Edmund Adès (born 1 March 1971) is a British composer, pianist and conductor. Five compositions by Adès received votes in the 2017 Classic Voice poll of the greatest works of art music since 2000: '' The Tempest'' (2004), ''V ...

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 John Bacchus Dykes (10 March 1823 – 22 January 1876) was an English clergyman and hymnwriter. Biography John Bacchus Dykes was born in Hull, England, the fifth child and third son of William Hey Dykes, a ship builder, later banker, an ...

, 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 Cyril Bradley Rootham (5 October 1875 – 18 March 1938) was an English composer, educator and organist. His work at Cambridge University made him an influential figure in English music life. A Fellow of St John's College, where he was also or ...

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 Sir David Valentine Willcocks, (30 December 1919 – 17 September 2015) was a British choral conductor, organist, composer and music administrator. He was particularly well known for his association with the Choir of King's College, Cambridge ...

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 Sco ...

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 i ...

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 ...

Mark Elder Sir Mark Philip Elder (born 2 June 1947) is a British conductor. He is currently music director of the Hallé Orchestra in Manchester, England. Life and career Elder was born in Hexham, Northumberland, the son of a dentist. He played the ...

Peter Stark Peter Stark is a British conductor and teacher. He is currently Professor of Conducting at the Royal College of Music in London and Rehearsal Director of the European Union Youth Orchestra. Education and early career Stark studied violin an ...

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 Sin ...

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 No ...

Nicholas Collon Nicholas Collon (born 7 February 1983 in London) is a British conductor. Biography A viola player, organist and pianist by training, Collon played viola in the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain (NYOGB). He studied at Eton and was an or ...

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