Ensembles |
Blowsoc runs 7 regularly rehearsing ensembles and also a Monster Wind Band around Christmas. From the auditioned Wind Orchestra and Moonlighters Big Band to the unauditioned small ensembles such as flute choir and double reeds, there's something for everyone. Click on an ensemble for more information.
Conductor Kieran O’Riordan Kieran is a professional conductor who has been working with Blowsoc for many years. Every year his experience and knowledge of wind orchestra repertoire means that the ensemble can play a wide range of music to a high standard. |
Concerts Manager Katy Homden Hi, my name's Katy and i'm concerts manager this year. |
Personnel Manager Genevieve Joy Hi, I'm Gennie, and I am your Wind Orchestra Personnel Manager for this year! I am a third year music student, and I have played bass clarinet in Wind Orchestra for the last two years. As well as this, I also take part in a number of other ensembles within the music department, so I can usually be found lurking around somewhere in music! I like to think I'm pretty friendly and approachable, so feel free to contact me if you want to know anything about Wind Orchestra, such as when rehearsals will be. Look forward to meeting you all soon! |
Wind Orchestra
Our award-winning Wind Orchestra is Blowsoc’s main ensemble, and an excellent chance for more advanced players to get involved. We tackle a challenging but often exciting repertoire, from film scores to symphonic works. You’ll have to audition for a place, but there’s always a strong chance of getting one! The orchestra is good at the social side of things as well – there’s always a group of us in the student bar after rehearsals, plus a European tour during the Easter holidays!
To listen to a recording of Wind Orchestra in action at the National Concert Band Festival finals, please visit the Gallery.
Rehearsals
Wednesday 19:00-21:30 Rehearsal Hall, Music Department
Moons Manager Tom Brooke mob: 07702521010 Hi, my name's Tom Brooke and I am the manager of moonlighter's for 2011/2012. During my fresher's year at UoN, moonlighters was a big part of university life for me, both socially and musically and it gave me the opportunity to meet like-minded musicians from all years and get into the university music scene even though I am not a music student myself. I put a lot of effort into practicing for the audition last year in order to get into the band and put practice time in throughout the year to keep up with the high standard. Last year I enjoyed the gigs and social events a lot and I look forward to having an even better year this year, playing plenty of gigs, having lots of fun and meeting new people with the same interests as myself. Hope to see you there and here's to a good couple of semesters, cheers!! |
Moons Conductors Roger Doxat-Pratt & Peter Beardsworth Roger: amyrd@nottingham.ac.uk Peter: amypb@nottingham.ac.uk Hi, i'm Roger, and along with Pete i'll be in charge of making sure that Moonlighters sound better than ever. |
Moonlighters is the University of Nottingham's resident auditioned big band jazz band which gives students from all subject areas the opportunity to play some top quality music that reaches across a broad spectrum of genres from classic big band jazz to modern funk charts, influences include artists such as Buddy Rich and Gordon Goodwin. Moonlighters play plenty of gigs throughout the year ranging from charity and social events to gigs at the student's union, playing to a variety of different audiences. Although committed to a high standard of music, we also have an active social scene and will be hitting the town for regular social events such as bar crawls, seeing jazz gigs and lots more. If you think that Moonlighters is for you, then please contact the manager for more details.
Rehearsals
Monday 16:45-18:45 Rehearsal Hall - Music dept.
Brass Manager Chloe Gordon mob: 07789512961 Hello. I'm Chloe and I'm a second year Biology student. I play the euphonium and am looking forward to being Brass Manager this year. Brass is a really great society with brilliant music and regular socials. I can't wait for another fantastic year of Brass! All players welcome :). |
Brass Conductor Chris Knapp Hey, i'm Chris and I am a 2nd year Music student and am really looking forward to the role of Brass Ensemble conductor this year. We will be getting out a really wide variety of great music this year (hopefully something to suit everyone) including: Classical, Pop and some good old Brass Band Classics, can't beat it! So make sure that if you are interested you get down to the Music department on Tuesday evenings and come and join the Brass Ensemble! Everyone is welcome. Can't wait to see you there. |
Assistant Conductor Jack Reeves
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Brass Ensemble is one of the biggest un-auditioned groups in Blowsoc and welcomes brass players of all abilities. We play a great range of music from classical to film and pop. We perform in a variety of concerts and competitions, winning first prize at Nuneaton Festival of Arts this year. Brass is a very friendly society with regular socials and plenty of opportunities for beer and curry. So come along and join us!
Rehearsals
Every Tuesday 17:00-19:00, Rehearsal Hall - Music Dept.
Sax Manager Dianne Muir Hey, I'm Dianne, a second year music student and your sax ensemble manager for this year, something which I am very excited about! I loved being a part of the saxophone ensemble in my first year, and hope to make it an equally enjoyable experience this year. As manager I'll be organising some great socials and choosing a variety of music for us to play, with suggestions always welcome. The Blowsoc ensembles are a lot of fun, providing the opportunity to play in some great concerts, and a great way to meet people in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. So, if you play the saxophone you should definitely come along, I look forward to meeting you ☺ |
Sax Conductor Adam Thomas Hi, my name's Adam. I'm a second year maths student and if that doesn't already make you think i'm strange then you should also know that I'm ginger. I'm looking forward to being sax conductor this year because I enjoyed playing in it last year so much. I love the sound of a group of saxes - the range of timbres it can create and the variety of music open to it and I love the fact that Blowsoc has these small ensembles so that keen musicians can get together and just play some tunes without any pressure. So if you're a sax player of any level you've got no excuse not to come along! See you there ;) |
The unauditioned saxophone ensemble is a great opportunity for players of all abilities to come together to perform some fun and exciting music. The ensemble plays a wide variety of pieces with past performances including 'Cry me a river' 'Theme from Superman' and 'Cantaloupe Island'. Throughout the year the ensemble plays in a number of concerts, and in the final term a new manager and new conductors are voted in, giving you the opportunity to get more involved. The weekly rehearsals are friendly and relaxed, and there are regular socials providing the chance to meet fellow musicians and Blowsoc members. New members are always welcome so please come along!
Rehearsals
Every Wednesday 14.30-16:00, Rehearsal Hall- Music Dept.
Flute Manager Rachael Cole mob: 07780741258 Hello! I'm Rachael and I'm the flute choir manager for this year! I'm a second year Management studies student and I play the piano, flute and saxophone as a hobby on the side. I had a great time in flute choir last year meeting new people and playing in some really fun concerts so I hope you'll enjoy it to! I will be organising some really interesting music for this year, so if you enjoy playing the flute, come along and have a go! |
Flute Conductor Fran Hall Hi I'm Fran, I'm a second year music student and I'll be conducting flutes this year. Blowsoc was a big part of my life last year, and I'm usually to be found around the department. The small ensembles are unauditioned, so are a great way of having fun playing music in a relaxed and friendly group. We will be playing a variety of music this year so whatever your taste or ability we look forward to welcoming you to the ensemble! |
Flute choir is Blowsoc’s largest unauditioned ensemble and we welcome players of all abilities with opportunities to play piccolo, alto flute and bass flute. Joining flute choir offers the chance to meet fellow musicians in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere both in the weekly rehearsals and at the regular socials. The exciting and varied repertoire this year will include a Gershwin Medley and a piece called Flutes with Attitude! Each year there is the chance to run for Manager and Conductor roles so come along and try it out!
Rehearsals
Every Wednesday 16:00 - 17:30, Rehearsal Hall- Music Dept
Clarinet Manager Pip Moody mob: 07952258095 Hi! I'm Pip, a third year music student, and clarinets manager for 2011/12. |
Clarinet Conductor Fran Hall Hi I'm Fran, I'm a second year music student and I'll be conducting clarinets this year. Blowsoc was a big part of my life last year, and I'm usually to be found around the department. The small ensembles are unauditioned, so are a great way of having fun playing music in a relaxed and friendly group. We will be playing a variety of music this year so whatever your taste or ability we look forward to welcoming you to the ensemble! |
Assistant Conductor Rebecca Barr Hi everyone, my name's Becca and I am very much looking forward to conducting clarinet ensemble this year! I'm a second year music student and really enjoyed being a member of Blowsoc last year and will do my best to make clarinet ensemble as fun this year as it was last! I'd really encourage anyone to come along and have a go, it really is a good way to meet new people and enjoy playing the clarinet at the same time! |
Clarinet ensemble is one of Blowsoc's five unauditioned ensembles open to clarinettists of all abilities. Repertoire includes a mix of classical pieces, jazz pieces and themes from film and tv, so hopefully there is something to suit everyone!
Every year there is the opportunity to run for ensemble manager or conductors. We also have concert performances and regular socials throughout the year, often with other small ensembles as well. We are a very friendly group, so please come and join us!
Rehearsals
Every Wednesday 13:00 - 14:30, Rehearsal Hall- Music Dept.
Double Reeds Manager Amy Hillman Hi, I'm Amy, a second year music student and oboist. I am this year's Double Reed's manager and I know I will have lots of fun getting to know you all, playing some great music played by awesome instruments (of course!), as well the socials I am definitely going to organise! This group has expanded a lot over last year, but size still doesn't matter as we are still one of the smallest ensembles but obviously amazing! Look forward to seeing you :). |
Double Reeds Conductor Daniel Parr Hi I'm Dan, a second year music student, oboist and this year's double reeds conductor. I had a really fun time last year being part of this ensemble and would encourage anyone of any ability to join! We're usually the smallest ensemble in Blowsoc and so everyone gets along with each other and we get the chance to play some amazing music. See you in rehearsals! |
The Double reed ensemble is an unauditioned group, open to oboists and bassoons of all abilities. Rehearsals are good fun with a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, working towards performances to small audiences in enjoyable termly concerts. We play a wide range of music such as Handel, TV themes and arrangements specifically for the ensemble, frequently including the Cor Anglais. Regular socials outside of the department help us all get to know each other as well as more excuse to have fun! Hope to see you there!
Rehearsals
Every Wednesday 14:30-16:00, Chamber Music Room, Music Dept
Every year, Blowsoc forms a Monster Wind Band to raise the roof at our annual Christmas Extravaganza. Rehearsals usually start a couple of weeks before the Extravaganza at the end of the Autumn semester. We play fun Christmassy music, usually Sleigh Ride and the ever popular Christmas Festival! The ensemble is unauditioned and open to all members of Blowsoc so get involved! This year we will also be reopening Monster Wind Orchestra for the summer festival - One final celebration for everyone to join in with.
