Music at Murray Edwards

Cambridge is unrivalled for the quality and diversity of the musical activities that take place within it. These activities encompass the choral, instrumental and orchestral, and students at Murray Edwards College play important and varied roles in this rich musical culture. There are the University Musical Societies and the University Chamber Orchestraand also many opportunities for chamber music playing, both formal and informal. Most of the Colleges have Chapel Choirs and student-run music societies that organise innumerable College concerts in which students from a mixture of Colleges frequently participate.

Murray Edwards Music Society

The Murray Edwards Music Society is a committee of students who work with the College's Director of Music (Miss Chloe Valenti) to organise all the musical events in College and always welcomes new members. The Director of Music and the Committee deal with the publicity, book venues, buy or organise refreshments for the interval, make the programmes, set up the room and generally oversee the concert on the day. The Society has meetings each term to discuss how the Society can improve and promote music in the College.

More information about Music at Murray Edwards can be found here. To be kept up to date about Music Society events, sign up to receive emails here. 

Steinway

Pianists (typically Grade VIII upwards) are welcome to use the Steinway Model 'B' grand piano in the Fellows' Drawing Room at any time when the room is not being used.  In order to be added to the list of those allowed to use the piano, please contact the Director of Music, Chloe Valenti, on cv244@cam.ac.uk: the key is available from the Porters' Lodge.

Annual College Music Scholarship Competition 

Two College Music Scholarships are offered each year with prize money of £400 each, to be spent on music lessons. The prizes are awarded following a competition recital on Wednesday 22 February 2012. An application form is available here.  All undergraduate and graduate college musicians may apply, regardless of the Tripos they are reading, and all musical styles are welcome. For more information, contact Chloe Valenti on cv244@cam.ac.uk.

Choral awards

The college offers four choral awards each year, of £125 each. For more information, contact Chloe Valenti on cv244@cam.ac.uk.

University Instrumental Awards

The Instrumental Awards for Chamber Music scheme was set up to enable gifted players to reach a high standard of performance in chamber music.  Players of the following instruments are invited to apply - Piano, Violin, Viola, Cello, Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, and French horn. A Distinction at Grade VIII of the Associated Board, or other equivalent qualification, should be considered a minimum standard for application for an Instrumental Award.

Further information, including an application form and information sheet, may be found here .

College Assistance for Students Reading Music

Students reading Music are provided, by the College, with a digital piano in their own room. Additionally, students taking the Music tripos may apply for a bursary towards lessons. For further information, please contact the Director of Music, Chloe Valenti, at cv244@cam.ac.uk.

Orchestra on the Hill

The Orchestra on the Hill is the student-run, combined orchestra of Murray Edwards College, Fitzwilliam, Churchill, Girton, St. Edmund's, Magdalene, Robinson and Lucy Cavendish colleges.  Concerts are performed termly (usually a concerto and a symphony), with one large choral performance per year, at venues that include the Dome. More information can be found on the Orchestra on the Hill web site.