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Being a part of the University Big Band has been an incredibly enriching experience. My role in the big band was as a backing vocalist. Alongside two other backing vocalists and two lead vocalists, we had the role of learning complex harmonies and give a high energy performance.

Our first concert of the year on the 30th of November 2024 had a lot of difficult preparation but went incredibly well. Although this was my first time singing with a big band, I wasn’t nervous as I knew I had put significant amounts of effort into perfecting my parts and supporting my peers. As there was a Christmas theme, we sang ‘Sleigh Ride’ and ‘Things’. Both of these songs weren’t particularly challenging so it was a nice start.

The second concert was on the 5th of April. In this concert I was a part of two songs. My personal favourite was ‘Another Day Of Sun’ from Lala Land. Within this song, there were segments of harmony as well as solo sections. This meant I not only had to spend the time perfecting intricate harmonies, but I had to sing as a solo performer. I find performing backing and lead vocals as very different. When singing backing vocals, I learnt to sing clear harmonies at a slightly lower volume to ensure I wasn’t overpowering the lead vocalist. In my solo sections I was given the opportunity to make my voice shine.

The next piece in this concert was called ‘Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy’. This piece was extremely challenging. I was able to learn my part by wearing noise cancelling headphones so I was unable to hear myself, hit record on my phone, and see where I was making errors in my singing. This helped significantly as in the actual performance it is difficult to hear yourself so with this form of practice, I was able to guarantee that even if I couldn’t hear myself, I knew I was singing correctly. The next challenge arose after the first rehearsal. Not only was this our first time singing with the band at all, the other backing vocalists weren’t as familiar in their parts. However, after walking away with our tails tucked between our legs, we practiced using my technique and had countless hours of rehearsal.

The concert went better than I could’ve expected. Alongside running the bar, we assisted setting up and packing down.

The next concert is on the 31st of May 2025 sadly so will not have happened before the submission deadline. However, preparations have been made. Although the backing vocalists have received their parts very late, we have instantly started working on our harmonies for both songs. We will be singing ‘Only So Much Oil In The Ground’, and ‘Respect’. Both of these are my favourite parts I have received so far as they are challenging. In the preparations, one of the backing vocalists had to sadly refuse attending the concert due to other commitments so one of the backing deps has stepped in. Considering how close to the concert it is, not only do we have to learn our parts but learn how to make our voices blend. This has required constant rehearsal and communication. Alongside this, we have been purchasing costumes, planning goodbyes for the big band committee, and learning our own solos. I am extremely excited to see how this concert goes as I suspect it will be my favourite.

Overall, not only has the big band taught me how to be a part of a backing vocal team, but the sense of community and the enjoyment of rehearsals has helped me love music. It has helped me rediscover my passion for singing.

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A wonderful display of technology after a long day.

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A wonderful display of technology after a long day.

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This semester, I was a concert manager for the introspect. This is a technology based improvised performance. As soon as I saw I was scheduled into manage this concert, I was filled with glee. Seeing as I gave this concert a very positive review last year, I was excited to see what they came up with this year.

This concert was challenging to manage. Not only was I there from 12 till after the concert, but I was also constantly on my feet. Although I couldn’t assist too much in setting up the technology, I had to help set up tables and confirm a reasonable layout. As an ex-music technology student at college, I have a basic understanding of sound design and acoustics. The main challenge arrived when positioning the speakers. The performers wanted the speakers as wide as possible to surround the audience. However, not only would this mean an uneven sound for the crowd, but it would also affect the recordings the Tonmiesters were doing due to potential feedback. I was able to find a healthy compromise between both parties during this. My main role was to oversee the possible conflicts and resolve them.  After doing a snack and drink run for performers and technicians, I assisted with the incredible setup of the stage. The performers had prepared artwork to dangle from the rig using string. This meant it had to be lowered and lifted multiple times. Not only was this time consuming, but slightly dangerous. No one is allowed below the rig when it is moving so not only did, I have to guard the edge to ensure safety, we found the string was getting caught on the microphones. This meant very quick and effective communication to shiv to ensure the safety of people and their equipment.

After setting up the stage, the sound checks could begin. Although the performance is improvised so it would not replicate the concert exactly, it meant sure equipment was working correctly. The main issue with the sound check is that it was longer than the performance and due to the lack of people in the room it was extremely loud. For this, I placed on noise cancelling headphones when I wasn’t needed. However, for most of the sound check I was able to help the performers manage their levels, and choose lighting they would prefer. Luckily these performers were skilled and trained so sound checks ran smoothly.

The actual performance went flawlessly. After setting out more seats than needed, people flooded in. My role throughout the performance was to stay alert for possible complications. Afterwards pack-down was simple as performers packed down their own technology and tables and chairs could be quickly stacked or put away.

Overall, the concert was an astounding success. I am pleased with my ability to think quickly on my feet and maintain a calm composure around stressed performers. Not only this, I spent the entire day assisting this concert and I am extremely proud of my resilience. It was all worth it for the incredible music made on stage.

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The concert on the 12th Of February 2025 was a perfect representation of community through the musicianship displayed. Compared to other recitals this year, this recital has a more casual atmosphere. If you’re looking for a prestigious classical recital, this isn’t it! The concerts included three singers with band members swapping in and out throughout.

The first performer was Matthew Brown alongside a band including piano, guitar, drums and alto saxophone. His vocal range was used in its entirety during the performance. His higher notes were impressively powerful. Alongside a band of upbeat musicians, a dance-worthy groove was created.

The next performer was Ahaan Sengupta on lead guitar alongside bass and drums. Their movement and energy were jaw dropping. The indie rock vibe portrayed had an infectious energy. Ahaan then invited Matthew back up to the stage for the perfect collaboration mixing the vibes of the two performances flawlessly. Despite the piece being quite repetitive and slow moving, the joyful music kept the audience encapsulated.

The next singer was Jay Mckechnie. He switched up the concert by singing more heavy rock. With his gravelly voice, he performed with a good show of range and good representation of the song. However, most of the other songs were quite upbeat and either Jazz or Indie rock at most. I feel this performance didn’t blend into the concert quite as well. Despite that, it was still a good performance.

The last band, and my favourite by far played jazz standard tunes. This included alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, bass, drums, guitar and piano. The multitude of talented performers blended together in a pool of smooth sounds. Alongside a lot of soloing from the saxophonist, Joseph Oates placed down the sax to sing a segment of ‘Georgia’. The display of talented multi-instrumentalists had me grooving alongside my dropped jaw. The band then received an encore after rapturous applause.

Overall, this concert was a clear display of many genres and talents. It created a friendly happy environment that made the listener want to get up and Jive, even if they have no clue how like myself. The clear efforts of the technical crew was shown through the incredible sound as well as the multitude of microphones and amplifiers. I would recommend this concert to anyone who wants a moment of serenity and joy.

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My favourite concert of the year was by the Masters Assessment Concert. Although I have attended other concerts for review, the talent in that concert was so astounding I instantly changed my review of choice. From pop music to Indian classical music, to use of complex technology, every act had a unique use of their own talents.

Within this concert, there was performances from the masters students alongside some second year students. Despite the second years not having the years of experience the masters students have, they still showed musicality. My favourite performances were by Aaliya, Amitesh, and Sofie.

Aaliya performed a musical theatre based repertoire including, ‘See I’m Smiling’,  ‘Pretty Funny’, and ‘Burn’. Having done my own renditions of the first and last songs, as well as knowing the originals, Aaliya perfected the art of acting the songs alongside flawless singing. ‘See I’m Smiling’ was performed with extensive passion. Considering the messaging of the song as well as a large atmosphere change she handled this with dignity and strength creating the perfect voicing for both. She then moved onto ‘Pretty funny’ which had some similarities to the softer areas of ‘See I’m Smiling’ and was the perfect transition to ‘Burn’. Having not heard this song previously, and being unaware of the context, she told the story of the song effectively. When signing ‘Burn’, she created a whole new atmosphere not seen in the previous songs. She embodied Eliza on the stage. Overall, her performance was a storyline of heartache which played with the heartstrings of all in the room.

Amitesh had a range of repertoire that showed multitudes of talent. The performance started with the Cory Wong cover of ‘Thriller’. This cover includes difficult vocal lines and timings. He flawlessly commanded the band and created a groove that made the crowd want to dance. This then moved to ‘Feel Again’ a slower, more intimate song. His riffs and runs were not only difficult but performed flawlessly. This showed a significant amount of raw talent. He then moved to ‘Stand’ which was my personal favourite of his repertoire. This included lighter areas as well as areas of runs and belting.  Not only did he portray the meaning of the song perfectly, you could see his own passion for the music he was performing. His final song was an ‘Indian Classical Song’. He expressed how this was an integral part of his childhood and culture. You could feel his love for the genre through his performance. Overall, not only was his range portrayed, he is one of the best male vocalists I have ever listened to.

My favourite song Sofie performed was her rendition of ‘Killing me softly’. Within this song, she encouraged audience interaction which created a joyful environment in the room. Not only this, her slight changes to the original were effective and breathtaking. Alongside the rest of her repertoire, she astounded the audience with her talent.

I could write about the rest of the performers just as easily. The concert was a showcase of pure talent and endless hours of practice represented by short performances. My only critique would be it wasn’t longer.