Music & Ensembles

St. Anne’s has 4 music practice rooms in the basement of 50 Woodstock Road. Three of the rooms are open and have upright pianos. The other room, known as the “Annie Barnes Music Room,” is only available to those enrolled in a music degree or those who receive a music scholarship at the music competition (usually scheduled for the middle of Michaelmas term). The Annie Barnes Music Room comes equipped with a Yamaha grand piano.

St Anne’s has a range of musical groups for anyone to get involved with. More information about our ensembles, events and committee is below. As well as our ensembles, there are regular recitals as part of the Beyond the Dots series, termly open mic nights and concerts. Our Ensembles have Facebook pages so make sure to like them if you are interested in a particular group.

For more information, see the College’s website for music & sports societies.

ENSEMBLES:

STACappellaAn A Cappella group for anyone and everyone. Singing a range of music, this group is for anyone who enjoys singing with others and features the occasional cake in rehearsals
Rehearsals: 3-4 Sundays (Annie Barnes Room – 50 Woodstock)
Contact: Livi – olivia.vanwarmelo@st-annes.ox.ac.uk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1324685084217120/
SACO – St Anne’s College OrchestraThis is an orchestra open to anyone in college who plays a symphonic instrument. Playing fun and relatively easy repertoire, this group is a chance to bring out that dusty viola.
Rehearsals: 4-5:30 Sundays (MOLT)
Contact: Toby – toby.anderson@st-annes.ox.ac.uk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1787258214889847/
BOOMSOCIf you have some stored anger or maybe just have the 5th week blues and feel the need to hit something, why not do it musically. For those who have never experienced the music of Boomwhackers, here is a link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHlrb9KsyP4 No musical experience needed, just turn up and hit some sticks.
Rehearsals: vary but usually 7-8 Tuesdays (MOLT)
Contact: Noah – noah.lawson@st-annes.ox.ac.uk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/167027470604117/
ENSEMBLE REISEnsemble Reis was founded in 2017 by a group of friends at the University, with a view to tackle challenging chamber music works in the repertoire. The word REIS is Dutch for “Journey”, which represents the trajectory of the music, the journey of the players as a collective body and the musical journey they hope to take the audience on. This chamber orchestra directed by Joshua Asokan has recently performed pieces including Mahler Symphony No. 1 (Chamber version), Copland’s Appalachian Spring and Stravinsky’s Soldier’s Tale.
Rehearsals: Variable but run up to a concert
Contact: To audition, email joshua.asokan@st-annes.ox.ac.uk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ensemblereis/
CAMERATAThe St Anne’s Camerata is modelled on the traditional Oxford choral foundations (lay clerks, scholars and choristers). Comprised of professional musicians, student scholars, and auditioned exhibitioners from Oxfordshire schools, they have performed to capacity audiences at Freemasons Hall, London, and also at Symphony Hall Birmingham and the Jacqueline du Pre Music Building as part of the M@SH Marathon. In April 2014 they were ensemble in residence at the Sao Bento Monastery in Brasilia, Brazil, and in 2018 they toured to Kenya with violinist Dr Alberto Sanna, St Anne’s alumnus and 2018 Plumer Fellow.Outreach is central in the Camerata’s endeavours, regularly performing concerts and workshops for the Beyond the Dots recital series at St Anne’s College; In partnership with the Oxfordshire County Music Service, and as a partner in the Oxfordshire Music Education Partnership (OMEP), students from primary and secondary schools attend these recitals. Similarly, tours to Kenya and Brazil have involved outreach workshops through visits to slums and disadvantaged areas.
In addition to working with the Maxwell String Quartet and OXUS string quartet, through their residencies at St Anne’s College, the St Anne’s Camerata have also enjoyed collaborations with Simon Desbruslais, Thomas Hyde, Deborah Pritchard, and guest performers from the University of Oxford, Open University, the Oxfordshire County Music Service, and the University of Hull. The Beyond the Dots series featured in OMEP being awarded the Paritor Special Achievement Award for New Music in 2015. More recently, they have participated in outreach and commissioning projects, with founder and director John Traill, supported by Artswork (Arts Council England bridge organization). The St Anne’s Camerata are also ensemble in residence for the Oxford Conducting Institute, providing support for workshops and collaborations with the Atlantic Coast Conducting Academy.

St Anne’s College has both junior and senior conducting scholars. Their most recent performance, with third year Joshua Asokan, was a performance of Mahler Symphony no.1 (arr. Klaus Simon) in October 2018.

EVENTS:

Open Mic NightsThe college holds open mic nights a couple of times a term, and they’re a fantastic way to showcase the talent on offer in an informal setting.
College ConcertsThese normally happen at the end of term but there are many other opportunities during term so like this page to keep updated.
External EventsThese are music events/lectures held at St Anne’s college, open to members of the University. This page will be updated to include these events so you will always know what is going on.

COMMITTEE:
President: Lennox Smith (lennox.smith@st-annes.ox.ac.uk)
Secretary: Livi van Warmelo
Social Secretary: Maz Sutton

Like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/stannesmusicsoc/, follow us on Twitter (https://twitter.com/musicstannes?lang=en) see our website for further details (http://www.st-annes.ox.ac.uk/current/music-sports-and-societies) or email our current President, Lennox Smith (lennox.smith@st-annes.ox.ac.uk or music@st-annes.ox.ac.uk) for more information about concerts, rehearsals or anything else!