UNIVERSITY COLLEGE MUSIC SOCIETY
UCMS is the college’s student-run music society. The musical scene here at Univ is busy and diverse, and we support groups and individuals looking to play for fun as well as providing opportunities to play in concerts and larger ensembles.
We run the Fidelio Orchestra in collaboration with Merton and Magdalen colleges. The orchestra puts on regular concerts with a great variety of repertoire, and is open to all students across the three colleges.
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In Trinity Term (that's the third term!), we ran our first Gig Night, inviting bands from around the University to play a half-hour set in our college bar! This means good music and good vibes, with cheap drinks too! (See our instagram for videos!)
We also host regular and well-loved Master’s Lodgings Concerts every other week during term time. These invite people from across the college to perform - providing an opportunity to perform in a friendly, informal setting. So far this year, we’ve had performances including singers, guitar, and piano (on Valerie's grand), playing genres from classical, to jazz, to musical theatre! These run every term, and anyone can perform by signing up beforehand.
In conjunction with the JCR Arts and Entz reps, we help organise/fund Open Mic Nights in college. These are usually packed! Whether you've prepared a song, or have just had one too many drinks,
We also help smaller groups and individuals explore music, and fund rehearsal costs and sheet music purchases for ensembles of many kinds. We really want to encourage this kind of thing, and are in the process of ‘matchmaking’ ensembles.
We also have a very popular Chapel Choir, run by our wonderful director of music, Giles Underwood (who's also professor of singing at the Royal Academy!) - the choir regularly holds concerts, along with the weekly evensongs, and free formals. Read more here, or see college's page on choir and choral, organ, and instrumental scholarships.
Please get in touch through our socials below, and send any questions you have to music@univ.ox.ac.uk! We’re always happy to chat about how to get more musical at Univ!
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Updated June 2024
UCMS COMMITTEE (2024-25)
The committee is elected at the end of every Hilary term
Treasurer
Toby Ward (3rd Year, Music)
Performance Managers
Arthur Bird, Izzy Li-Yan-Hui (2nd Year, Music), and Nich Leung (3rd, CompSci +Phil)
President
Tom Campbell (3rd Year, PPL
Marketing Manager
Nora MacKay (2nd Year, English)
Secretary
Samuel Lam (DPhil, Mathematics)
Fidelio Orchestra Rep
Shilpi Nanda (3rd Year, History and French)