Thanks to a generous recent legacy, we’re thrilled to have recently acquired three new pianos for the college. The legacy was gifted by Christian Carritt, a Somerville medic who loved music and the arts.
Students regularly state the need to have a piano to play – either to de-stress, or to prepare and perform a work from their repertoire, be it Beyonce, Beatles, Bach, Beethoven, or an original work from one of our many talented singer-songwriters in college.
Whilst all three new pianos are excellent instruments, we’re most proud to finally have our very own Steinway model-B piano which will be permanently housed in the college chapel. Recent visitors will have noticed it living alongside the model-B we have been renting for the past several years, which is in the final year of its lease.
To celebrate the rare position of having two identical high quality pianos in the same space (we can’t think of another space in Oxford which can claim this!) we’re hosting a series of events in the college chapel over the 24-25 academic year, as part of Somerville Piano Festival. The festival has been made possible through the kind support of Helen Morton.
This term’s offerings are:
Saturday October 19th 2024, 7.30pm-8.30pm
Mozart (arr. Grieg): Sonata in C major K545
Alfred Fardell and Izzy Mohan – Pianos
Rachmaninov: Suite no.2 (Romance and Tarantella)
Stravinsky – The Rite of Spring
Libby Burgess and Chris Hopkins – Pianos
Tickets available here (£15, £5 students)
Email choir@some.ox.ac.uk for further info.
There will also be a piano masterclass for secondary school pupils 2-3.30pm.
Friday November 1st 2024, 6pm-7.15pm
Schubert: Winterreise
Simon Robinson – Bass-baritone
Sholto Kynoch – Piano
Tickets available here (£15, £5 students).
Email choir@some.ox.ac.uk for further info.
Saturday November 9th 2024, 7.30-8.45pm
Brahms: Ein Deutsches Requiem op.45
Schola Cantorum of Oxford
Stephen Grahl – Conductor
Sofia Kirwan-Baez – Soprano
Will Dawes – Baritone
Anna Crookes, Mar Umbert-Kimura – Piano
Tickets available here (£20, £10 under 35s, £5 students)
Email admin@schola-cantorum.net for further info.
Friday November 15th 2024 9.15-10.10pm
Holst: The Planets op.32
Maki Sekiya and Ilya Chetverikov – Pianos
Tickets available here (£20, £5 students)
Email makisekiyapiano@gmail.com for further info.
Save the date for the following evening events in Hilary Term!
Saturday January 25th
Reich: Piano Phase
Adams: Hallelujah Junction
And works by Brubeck and Andriessen
Ian Tindale, Sam Mitchell, Owen Thomas, Dan Loach – Pianos
There will also be a piano masterclass for secondary school pupils 2pm-3.30pm.
Wednesday February 4th
Copland: Organ Concerto
Dr Stephen Darlington – Organ
Ian Tindale, Richard Moore – Pianos
Saturday February 15th
Rossini: Petite Messe Solenelle
Hannah Andrusier – Soprano
Steph Garrett – Mezzo Soprano
Archie Inns – Tenor
Ben Watkins – Bass
Max Neale, Mar Umbert Kimura – Pianos
Alfred Kelsey, Emanuel Bor – Organ
Somerville College Choir
Will Dawes – Conductor
Friday February 21st
Odyssey Ensemble: A concert from the UK’s first professional orchestra dedicated to sharing refugee stories through music
Josh Asokan – Director
Friday February 28th
Chamber music by Women composers
Featuring works by Wallen, Beach and others