Our ensembles and bands

A Cappella Choir

The A Capella Choir is open to all second and final year music students with an interest in vocal music and singing. The ensemble covers a diverse repertoire, including Gospel, musical theatre, pop, contemporary and classical harmony, depending on the members’ interests and strengths.
The group is encouraged to arrange songs and run rehearsals themselves, and the hard working and dedicated members rise to the challenge of having two performances in the second semester.

Big Band

Comprising trumpets, trombones, saxophones and a rhythm section, the Big Band play music from the famous 1930s swing bands through to contemporary compositions. Students can experiment with jazz improvisation, and are encouraged to form their own bands – time is given in concerts for these groups to show what they can do. The Big Band has a long-standing relationship with the Lawrence Batley Theatre, and their spring concert in this venue is greeted with a loyal audience year after year.

Blues Band

The Blues Band is one of the ensembles on the Directed Ensembles module. Students explore and research music that fits in with the styles and passions of the musicians in the band, under the broad umbrella of ‘blues’. There are two assessed performances as part of the module, but students are encouraged to perform at the many live music venues around town as a part of the local music scene.

Brass Band

The University of Huddersfield Brass Band is made up of brass students and players of a good standard from other departments. Past performances have included capacity audiences at Leeds, Huddersfield and Dewsbury Town Halls at Christmas time, as well as a concert near the Menin Gate in Ypres, Belgium. A sense of team spirit and collective commitment is a big part of the Brass Band experience – in 2011 the band earned a place in the Guinness Book of Records as the fastest marching band at the London Marathon, raising over £60,000 for charity. The band has attended the Unibrass Inter-University contest since its inception, and has either won or come second for six of the contest’s seven years.

Early Music Ensemble

The Early Music Ensemble is open to any member of the University with secure music skills and commitment to weekly rehearsals. Students have the opportunity to learn instruments such as viols, sackbuts, renaissance recorders and harpsichord, and experiment with putting these together in ensemble performances. The ensemble performs regularly in the University’s concert series, as well as having performed at Wakefield Cathedral and York Early Music Christmas Festival. As well as a mind-broadening extracurricular activity, students’ involvement in the ensemble can form part of their assessed work on Performance Skills modules.

Edges Ensemble

The edges ensemble has been exploring experimental music since 2007. Comprising postgraduates, undergraduates, alumni and friends of the University, the ensemble has performed in Sheffield, Leeds, Huddersfield and London, alongside Philip Corner, Alvin Curran, Fred Frith and Christian Wolff amongst others.
The ensemble seeks to play experimental music which surprises us, arouses our curiosity, provides a framework for ensemble playing, and which stimulates joy. Pieces performed previously include works by John Cage, Elisabeth Clarke, Chris Hobbs, Kunsu Shim, Christian Wolff and Hugh Shrapnel.

Flute Choir

The Flute Choir is open to all first, second and third year students studying on courses in music and music technology, as well as students from other subjects. The ensemble works on developing chamber-music skills, with and without a conductor, and playing to a high standard of communication and performance. The University of Huddersfield's Music Department is very fortunate in owning one piccolo, three alto flutes, and two bass flutes. Over the academic year all ensemble students learn about the extended instruments of the flute family and how to play them. They gain valuable knowledge and experience of how these instruments blend and work within the group. The students also develop confidence in being able to perform on all of them.

Folk Group

The Folk Group is led by professional folk musician Pete Coe. Pete provides one or two starter songs or tunes, but most of the group’s repertoire is chosen by students, following their individual interests, experience and skills. Our concert programmes have included a wide variety of British and American traditional songs, as well as Lithuanian, Polish and Swedish music, contemporary songs in a folk style, and instrumental dance tunes, jigs, polkas and waltzes. Everyone is encouraged to sing, at least in choruses, and we don’t do cover versions – all arrangements are devised by students themselves.

Funk Band

Want to be in a band? Want to create new musical ideas? Want to be challenged? If the answer is yes, Funk Band may be for you. We rehearse throughout the academic year, with a focus on performance, musical and technical skills. You get to choose the repertoire, add your own creative flair, and raise your expectations. Here’s what past members have said:

“My playing has really improved”
“It has really improved by confidence”
“Thanks Paul!”
“Can I do it again next year?”

Guitar Improvisation Group

led by Mike MacSween 

Guitar Orchestra

Consisting of around 12 guitarists, the Guitar Orchestra meets weekly, taking pieces of existing music and arranging them for multiple guitars. We are not tied to one genre, our arrangements span from Vivaldi to Iron Maiden to contemporary, ambient pieces. Third-year students have a role in leading the group and they oversee rehearsals, source material and arrange the pieces. The Orchestra allows guitarists to develop key skills in arranging and interpreting music in ways they may not have otherwise considered, and getting involved is a unique opportunity to work alongside likeminded musicians to create something engaging and distinctive.

Originals Groups

Students can request to form an Originals Band each year as part of the Directed Ensembles module. The bands write their own material and are encouraged to explore and develop a sound unique to them. Over the past few years we’ve had a Live Drum’n’Bass band, a progressive folk group and various alternative rock bands, many of whom have continued writing and making music together well after they have graduated, some performing locally, regionally and even nationally.

Percussion Ensemble

led by Chris Bradley

Prog Rock Band

‘Prog Rock’ – one of the last bastions of virtuosic rock performance. The band rehearses weekly and performs in January and May, with material ranging from early prog – Yes, Deep Purple and Jethro Tull, through to more modern prog music such as Tool. There is room for improvisation, and for exciting ensemble work. Songs are chosen according to the interests and skills of members, and students are encouraged to organise rehearsals, repertoire and arrangements themselves.

Reggae Band

Want to be in a band? Want to create some new musical ideas? Want to be challenged? 

If the answer to all of these questions is yes, then the Reggae ensemble may be for you.

Rehearsals and guided sessions take place throughout the academic year, with a focus on performance, musical and technical skills. 

You get to choose the repertoire, add your creative spice, and raise your expectations. 

 

Here's what past and current students have said:

"It has really improved my confidence"

"My playing has really improved"

"Thanks Paul!"

"Can I do it again next year?"

Samba Band

led by Helen Curtis 

Saxophone Ensemble

The Saxophone Ensemble meets regularly, aiming to develop ensemble playing to a high standard, play a wide range of musical styles, encourage new compositions and, most importantly, have fun.

Members of the ensemble are encouraged to form quartets who work independently to develop their own repertoire, with coaching sessions interspersed throughout the year. Many have represented the University at prestigious events and organised their own professional engagements.

Symphonic Wind Orchestra

The Symphonic Wind Orchestra is at the heart of the student performance experience at Huddersfield, with an extended line up giving broad and exciting opportunities to play a wide range of music. Rehearsals take place in the Phipps Concert Hall, the acoustically designed centrepiece of our world-class facilities, while concerts are often held in St Paul’s, a beautiful converted church on campus. In our concerts this year SWO has played both traditional wind-band music and challenging orchestral transcriptions.  An exciting project currently underway focuses on Beethoven’s Battle Symphony, especially arranged for wind band and using period instruments, for example natural trumpets.  This fascinating piece is being explored alongside traditional repertoire by Holst, Arnold and Sparke. 

University Orchestra

The University of Huddersfield Symphony Orchestra meets weekly on Wednesday throughout the academic year. Current members include all first study orchestral instrumentalists, other music students, and we also welcome students from other courses. We explore a variety of orchestral repertoire from Baroque through to contemporary repertoire, primary focussing on developing and improving ensemble skills. Last year the orchestra performed music by Hubert Parry, Jean Sibelius, and George Handel. The orchestra regularly collaborate with the University Chamber Choir.

Members of the orchestra take on responsibility for organising and taking extra sectionals throughout the year and oversee the general management of the orchestra. Conducting students also have the chance to conduct rehearsals under the auspices of conductors Robert Guy and David Milsom. 

University String Orchestra

The String Orchestra, led by John Bryan, has performed at a variety of venues including St Paul’s Hall, Huddersfield, and Wakefield Cathedral. Alongside the Chamber Choir, the Orchestra has performed music by John Blow and Henry Purcell, alongside a variety of other composers.

University Choir

The aim of the University Choir is to develop a range of advanced skills in ensemble musicianship, vocal technique, sightreading, aural skills, and knowledge of a wide range of repertoire. Students are encouraged to write new music for the Choir. Rehearsals are structured towards public performance in concert once per term, but are also relaxed and enjoyable. There is no audition. Students undertaking advanced options in keyboard skills in their second or final year have the opportunity to work with the choir as its accompanist.

The choir's repertoire is deliberately diverse, aiming to introduce students to the widest possible range of styles and vocal approaches.

The University of Huddersfield Chamber Choir

The Chamber Choir (24–30 voices, SATB) is open to any members of the University with secure music reading skills, able to commit to weekly rehearsals. Entrance is by an informal audition at the start of each academic year. Chamber Choir helps students to develop ensemble and listening skills as well as experience a wide range of choral repertory. We perform on campus and in the Yorkshire region, usually unaccompanied, but sometimes combining with other University ensembles such as the String Orchestra or Early Music Ensemble. Past Chamber Choir performances have included York Early Music Christmas Festival, Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival and Ackworth Concert Society.