Music

What we offer

The Music Department is open from 8am to 8.30pm Monday to Thursday, and from 8am to 6pm on Fridays, with restricted access from 10am to 5pm at the weekend. It serves the needs of all students, staff and, where appropriate, members of the local Portsmouth community.

Although music is playing an increasingly important part in our degree programmes, the Music Department itself is purely recreational, which means that students from all departments are treated equally. Although vacancies can not be guaranteed in every group, we aim to provide a positive musical experience to all who are interested, regardless of ability.

The following ensembles need your participation. Full details of rehearsal times and venues are available on our news and events page.

Choir

In recent years, concerts have included works such as Mozart’s Requiem, Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle, the world premiere of the Italian version of Handel's Funeral Anthem for Queen Caroline, and, in collaboration with the Portsmouth Festival Choir and the PGS Parents' Choir, Verdi's magnificent Requiem. In December 2011, the choir will perform Beethoven’s Mass in C on Saturday 3rd December at 7.30pm in St. John’s Catholic Cathedral with a Christmas Carol Service  on Monday 5th December also in St. John’s.

We usually give two concerts each year in a variety of local venues, including the two Portsmouth cathedrals, and in addition take part in the University Carol Service. For the strongest singers in the choir we also offer the Chamber Singers, a much smaller group of around 20, selected by an informal audition.

Rehearsals for the main choir take place on Wednesday evenings from 5.30-7.30pm in the Park Building Room 2.23, while Chamber Singers' rehearsals take place on Wednesday afternoons in the Wiltshire Building.

Orchestra

The Orchestra performs a wide variety of repertoire with three programmes each year; the first usually a shared concert with the Big Band, and then for the second we turn into a pit orchestra for the Dramatic and Musical Society production (see below).The final programme either prepares music for our biennial international tour, or might provide an opportunity to perform with the choir or on our own. The orchestra plays music ranging from film music to Haydn's Symphony No. 99 to dance music. In Autumn 2011, the orchestra will begin rehearsals for a performance of Dvořák’s New World Symphony on Saturday 26th November at 7.30pm in the New Theatre Royal. Players need to be a minimum of grade 5 standard, and wind players will usually be asked to audition due to a high demand for places. Rehearsals take place on Thursday evenings from 6.30-8.30pm in the Wiltshire Building.

Wind Band

The Wind Band performs a light repertoire of music from the stage and screen, pop songs from various decades and well-known classical pieces and folksongs

All woodwind and brass instruments are welcome, as well as string bass, drums and percussion. The recommended standard for members is Grade 3 minimum, although beginners are welcome to enhance their learning in a friendly, relaxed environment.

The Wind Band rehearses every Tuesday evening from 6.30pm-8.30pm in Wiltshire Building.

Dramatic and Musical Society (DMS)

The Dramatic and Musical Society (DMS) performs a musical or light opera each year usually in the New Theatre Royal. Recent productions have included Annie Get Your Gun, Gershwin's Crazy For You and the Yeomen of the Guard. For the 2012 production we will perform Strauss’ Die Fledermaus in the King’s Theatre. The society is always looking for actors/chorus singers (no auditions), principals (by audition), as well as dancers, choreographers, stage hands and marketing people. No experience is necessary, and much fun is to be had, so don't miss out!

Rehearsals are on Tuesdays (and Thursdays by arrangement) from 6.30-9.30pm in the Main Hall of the Nuffield Centre, and the performance dates are the 1st -3rd March at 7.30pm in the King’s Theatre.

Big Band

This is a full big band with saxophone, trombone, trumpet and rhythm sections. As well as jazz standards the band also plays funk, soul and blues. It usually plays for the Student Union Christmas Ball as well as local theatres and pubs. The musical director and management of the band are elected from its members annually. Auditions are held for singers and sections that are over-subscribed. Rehearsals take place on Monday evenings from 6.30-8.30pm in the Wiltshire Building.

For further information visit the Music Society Big Band pages.

Music Society

All students who wish to participate in musical activities or use the practice facilities must join the Music Society, which exists to promote concerts and organise social events. The Society also organises an overseas tour every two years; the first was to Poland in June 2004, and we have since been to the Czech Republic, Spain, and Germany. This year we are planning a tour to Slovenia from the 2nd -10th June.

Practice Rooms

The Music Department has four practice rooms and two rehearsal rooms, all with pianos, in the Wiltshire Building at the heart of the Guildhall campus.

Organ Scholarship

An organ scholarship is available at St Mary's Church - please contact the Music Director for further details.

Register your interest

If you are interested in musical activities, please register here.