Over 70 performances in celebration of music in South Kensington - <em>News</em>
Monday 25 June 2007
By Naomi Weston
Up and down Exhibition Road, the sound of students singing and the big band playing could be heard, as the annual Music Day returned on Thursday 21 June.
Imperial College London along with the other cultural institutions of Exhibition Road, including the Goethe-Institut, the Royal College of Music, the V&A, the Science Museum and the Royal Albert Hall, joined forces to celebrate music. Over 70 different performances were given by both professional and amateur musicians showcasing a range of sounds and styles from all over the world.
Eight Imperial students from the College choir who formed a close harmony group called Harmaphrodite entertained visitors in the College’s main entrance. Jessica Gillingwater, a third year Biochemistry student, leads the group and said: "Exhibition Road Music Day is a fantastic idea, it is wonderful to see all the institutions getting involved." She added: "I have been part of the Imperial College Choir for 3 years and we formed Harmaphrodite a year ago. I love singing and we rehearse once a week."
The Imperial College Big Band played in Dalby Court, the College Gospel Choir sung outside the main entrance, and the Imperial College Sinfonietta-String Quartet played to passers by on Exhibition Road. Ending the day, the Imperial Brass Band and the College Symphony Orchestra played in Dalby Court.
Richard Dickins, Director of Music at the College, commented: "Music Day here has become a fantastic institution. It is great to see all the institutions celebrating their connection to music. Imperial is well known for its music. We have five different orchestras here, four choirs, two big jazz bands, one wind band, one brass ensemble and endless small ensembles."
Students, staff and members of the public enjoyed the music which was all free and open for everyone to hear. Jennifer Wolff, from Bromley, came to Music Day for the first time. "I am very impressed with what I have seen, I have been listening to the London Bulgarian Choir in the V&A and am now enjoying Harmaphrodite," she said.
Mark Allen, who works in Registry as a careers advisor, was also enjoying the live music in the College main entrance. He said: "The acoustics are outstanding in here. The music is helping me relax after a busy day."
Other highlights included the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra playing with the Classical and Fusion Indian Music Ensemble at the V&A, the German duo of electronic music, Moussu T e lei Jovents at the Institut Francais, the Norwich Samba group performing at Imperial and the Thai Music Circle at the Natural History Museum. In adition there was a performance of Shakespeare's A Midsummer's Night Dream by Imperial College's Drama society.
The day was organised by the institutions on Exhibition Road. It is an initiative of the Exhibition Road Cultural Group, formed in 2003. For more information visit the website: www.exhibitionroad.com
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