This has been another eventful year for CCMS. In addition to the regular recital series and Week 5 Blues gigs, there were a number of exciting masterclasses and events.
In Michaelmas, we held a vocal masterclass with Australian opera tenor Samuel Sakker, and at the end of term we had our annual Christmas concert, with performances from the orchestra, jazz, and voices ensembles.
Lent continued the masterclass series with visits from Gwilym Simcock – Professor of Jazz Piano at the Royal Academy of Music, countertenor Ron Morris, and Ronan O’Hara – Head of Keyboard at Guildhall, who also performed Beethoven’s last three piano sonatas to mark the 250th anniversary of the composer’s birth. The annual Charles Blackham competition, judged by Claire Watters, David Rowland and David Trippett, was deservedly won by Sebastian Gorgon on piano, who had given a recital in Michaelmas term entitled ‘Modernist kaleidoscope’, which explored works by early 20th century composers such as Prokofiev, Shostakovich and Messiaen.
In Easter term, whilst our usual ‘squash o’clock’ recital series and garden party had to be put on hold, CCMS continued its activities online: in collaboration with Christ’s Ents, each week a student submitted a video of themselves singing/playing an instrument to be posted for all members of College to enjoy. We look forward to next year, where we can carry on the thriving college music scene, providing an excellent array of events and performances for everyone to enjoy and get involved in.