Welcome to our first virtual Concert of Music for the Festive Season! Unfortunately we can’t provide you with mince pies and mulled wine as we usually would at this time of year, but we are delighted to be able to offer you a wide-ranging programme of beautiful performances and uplifting festive cheer! We hope you enjoy the concert, and wish you all a safe and happy Festive Season. You can find our concert on the Raleigh Society YouTube channel, where it will premiere at 2pm on Sunday 29 November.
Programme:
Welcome and Introduction from Raleigh Society President Elinor Wolstenholme
Ella Muir – ‘Sleigh Ride’, by Leroy Anderson and Mitchell Parish
Ella Muir is a second year English student at Newnham. She spends most of her time trying to emulate the singing of her namesake Ella Fitzgerald and plays the ukulele and guitar to accompany herself. Outside of term, Ella sings at a local care home.
Charlotte Matheson – ‘Prelude No. 1 in C Major’, BWV846 and ‘Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum’, from Children’s Corner, by Claude Debussy
Charlotte Matheson is a 2nd-year MMLL student, who has been playing the piano for 13 years. Of her chosen pieces, she writes: ‘Bach’s Prélude no.1 in C Major is a piece I learnt when I was 15 and I originally played it as an accompaniment to violin and voice parts. It is really enjoyable to play because it sits nicely under the fingers and allows you to feel where it should get louder and softer. It’s also a nice one to listen to while you read. Debussy’s ‘Doctor gradus ad parnassum’ is part of his Children’s Corner suite. Debussy is one of my favourite composers for piano and this piece is so fun to play because you move all over the piano. I learnt it for my grade 8 piano exam but have returned to it pretty consistently since then – it’s my go-to when I find myself in front of any piano.’
Talulah Thomas – ‘Tawel Nos’ (Silent Night)
Talulah is a first-year ASNC student at Newnham. She enjoys exploring the mysticism of her mother tongue, through revamping traditional Welsh songs and often adding a modern twist.
Anne Thomas, ‘Allemande’ from J.S. Bach Cello Suite No.1 in G major, BWV 1007
Anne is a 3rd-year PhD student in Plant Sciences who can’t imagine life without music. Since first picking up a cello she has played in an orchestra or chamber group, most recently in the Cambridge Graduate Orchestra and other ensembles in Cambridge. Bach is her bread and butter.
Ella Muir, ‘I’ve got my love to keep me warm’, by Irving Berlin
Maartje Wisse, ‘American Tune’, by Paul Simon
Maartje is a second year maths student. When she’s not in the library she plays recorder with the Cambridge University Recorder Ensemble and sings with Downing College Chapel Choir. She also plays clarinet and saxophone outside of term
‘Hark! The Herald Angels Sing’, performed and arranged by Rachel Evans (piano and voice) and Mererid Jones (violin)
Rachel is a 2nd year Classicist. Her main instrument is piano, in which she achieved her diploma in 2016. Rachel has also achieved grade 8 in both violin and voice, and is a choral scholar in Selwyn choir. Mererid is a second year Music student at Newnham College. She plays the violin, piano, and harp, and is also a member of Selwyn College Chapel Choir.
Milica Ostojic, ‘The Greatest’, by James Blunt
Milica is a second-year engineer whose musical background is rock and Pop guitar lessons during her secondary school years and casual practice in her free time!
Olivia Miller, ‘I’ll be Home for Christmas’, by Kim Gannon and Walter Kent
Olivia is studying for an MPhil in Sociology of Education; she sings with Voices of Newnham and is a member of the Homerton jazz Orchestra.
Helena McBurney – ‘Ich kann’s nicht fassen, nicht glauben’, and Süsßer freund, du blickest mich erwundert an’, from Robert Schumann’s Frauenliebe und leben
Helena is a third year reading English and spends most of her time trying to incorporate music into her degree. She is also a choral scholar at Peterhouse.
Cathryn Barton, ‘O Holy Night’
Cathryn is a first-year Classicist, who loves harmonising. Her main instrument is voice, for which she has achieved Grade 8 and Diploma in Musical Theatre (2018). She has been singing since she was 5 and has always loved performing in front of family.
Sophie Madden, ‘Ich folge dir gleichfalls’ from J.S. Bach, St John Passion, BWV 245
Sophie is a 1st-year music student at Newnham, and a choral scholar in Selwyn College Chapel Choir.
Ella Muir – ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’ by Johnny Marks
Newnham’s Jazz and Folk Ensemble – ‘White Christmas’, by Irving Berlin
This new ensemble was founded in October 2020 by 3rd-year music student Siri Livingston.