Music Society (Mile End)

Arts, Music & Performance

About

Queen Mary's Music Society, which includes a variety of musical ensembles, classes, performances and music social events at QMUL.

Welcome to the Queen Mary Music Society!

The Music Society is open to all musicians studying or working at QMUL or Barts. We encompass music across all genres such as classical, jazz, film music, opera and even premiere new works by QM student composers! Our groups rehearse on a weekly basis, typically in the evening, with large concerts at Christmas and Easter and smaller performances throughout the semester.

Setting up memberships has been delayed. While it should not affect your experience in the music society, please contact any of the committee if any questions arise from this.

We are a three-time Gold Excellence Award society (woooo)!

Upcoming events

26th Sept 8-11 pm - Isonades Freshers Show (with open mic!)

2nd Oct - Isonades Show

30th Oct - Halloween ball!

19th/20th Nov - Battle of the Bands

3rd Dec - CoMA Concert

4th Dec - Christmas Concert

TBA - Scholars Concert

TBA - End of Term Concert

See the linktree for more info and tickets for the latest upcoming events :)

Weekly sessions:

(peoples palace basement rooms: LG01, LG02, LG03, LG04)

A cappella TBD - auditions 27th & 30th Sept, 6-9pm in Peoples palace basement rooms

Choir, Orchestra & Chamber Orchestra TBD

Mondays
Orchestra - 6 to 8:30 @ Peoples Palace Foyer

Bands - 6:30 to 8:30 @ Peoples Palace basement rooms

Thursdays

Jazz - 6:30 to 8:30 @ Peoples Palace Foyer

Our Groups

A Cappella
Do you sing in the shower when no one is listening? Do you like listening to all the different parts of a song? Do you have a compulsive need to harmonise when you listen to the radio? If this sounds like you then you should come and check out acapella! We hold weekly rehearsals where we have both arranged and performed songs such as Movement by Hozier, Some Nights by fun and Blinded By Your Grace by Stormzy. This year we are looking forward to performing at events such as Sound of Ground and an end-of-year concert! We can’t wait to meet you all in September.

Bands
This is a place for any musicians who want to meet other students and come to weekly jam sessions where anyone can jump in and play with like-minded musicians. Bands can provide an opportunity to form a group and play to live audiences! Over the next academic year, we will be holding a number of gigs, performances, and socials for musicians of all abilities. Students will have the opportunity to perform in Battle of the Bands, pub performances, and themed concerts throughout each semester.

Chamber Ensembles
Our Chamber Orchestra is a group for advanced musicians (around Grade 8+). Our recent repertoire includes Copland's Appalachian Spring and modern compositions, performing alongside the London Chamber Orchestra and London Sinfonietta. Smaller groups have also recently performed Schoenberg's Verklärte Nacht and Strauss' Metamorphosen. If you would like to play in the Chamber Orchestra, please sign up via the linktree signup.

Choir
Our choir has grown, tackling a wide variety of repertoire, ranging from Les Miserables to Rossini's Stabat Mater. New members are always welcome, with no auditions!

Jazz
Jazz Band explores a variety of repertoire and styles from across the jazz spectrum and welcomes players of any standard. In the past year, they have given debut performances in the annual Christmas Concert, plus a spectacularly popular gig in the Ground Café. Directed by former National Young Jazz Orchestra member, Harry Evans. Sessions are on Thursdays from 6:30-8:30 and include playing, listening to, and discussing all sorts of jazz.

Orchestra
Players of all levels are welcome, with no auditions required! Previous year's repertoire has included Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2, Grieg's Holberg Suite, Saint-Saens Danse Macabre, Brahms Symphony No. 1 and a multitude of film music. This year, we have taken a more social approach - instead of playing, we spend time discussing the history behind pieces, and finding out about their composers. However, we still aim to create an online project from audio/video submissions by our members, and will share them in place of our annual concert!"

Music Facilities

Practice rooms

The University is in charge of the four practice rooms available on campus. Pianists can use the Piano Practice Room located on the first floor of the People's Palace. Please go to the Queen's Building Reception where you can book the room in one-hour slots.

For other instruments, you can book either Basement Music Room One or Two located in the basement of the People's Palace. The Main Music Room is for Music Scholars to use.

**Disclaimer: The Music Society is not responsible for practice room bookings or scheduling. Any queries should be sent to the University Music Department: music@qmul.ac.uk

We are also aware of who uses them & when, any damage or misuse of the rooms will be dealt with accordingly so pleaaase treat them with respect :)

Instrument lockers

There are 6 lockers available for you to store your instruments in during the day. These are lock-and-key, though if leaving your belongings overnight you are doing so at your own risk. Please email music@qmul.ac.uk for more information.

(currently locating keys)

Instrumental lessons

Please contact any of the committee if you wish to learn any instrument & we can either teach you for a discounted price or find a musician outside of our community to teach.

Hiring our ensembles

We regularly send both soloists and groups to perform or provide background music for events both internal and external to QMUL. Feedback is always excellent with music truly improving the atmosphere of any social occasion! Examples of recent events we have sent musicians to include:

QMUL Mental Health Awareness Day - String Quartet
QMUL Open Day - String Quartet
School of Geography 125th Anniversary Celebration - String Quartet
Neuron Pod Opening - String Quartet, Brass Group and Jazz Ensemble
QMUL Alumni wedding - String Quartet
QMUL Postgraduate Fair - Solo Pianist
QMUL Societies Awards Evening - String Quartet

No matter how big or small your event please do get in touch and we will endeavour to organise some fantastic music for you!
* Our groups are hired for a small fee, depending on the length of the event. This contributes to funding music at QMUL and enables us to continue running these groups.

The Committee

President: Saashiv Valjee
Vice-President: Alistair MacGregor

Social Media Manager: Kunta Charles

Welfare Rep: Kiran Khandar
Treasurer: Elarna-Louise Antonio
A Cappella Managers: Gauri, Kiran Khandar & Laura Stock
Band Officers: Zayna Ahmed
Orchestra Officers: Jacob Lewis

Jazz Manager: Nicholas Powell

Contact us through any social media - if you are looking to speak to a particular person, please specify in your message!