Music at Pembroke

Pembroke College Cambridge enjoys a varied and stimulating musical life. The College offers exciting opportunities for listening to and participating in a wide variety and high standard of music.

Musical events in Pembroke make use of two particularly fine performance spaces - the Old Library, parts of which date from the fourteenth century, and Christopher Wren's baroque Chapel. Occasionally, musical events are held in the Great Hall or the Master's Lodge. Pembroke College houses Steinway pianos (Model Bs) in the Old Library, Great Hall and Master's Lodge. There are two practice rooms, both with grand pianos and drum kits.

The main forum for music making in College is a weekly recital series organized by Pembroke College Music Society. Concerts of orchestral music are presented each term and these are complimented by choral concerts and a regular series devoted to the works of Bach (The Kenderdine Concerts). All of these events give Pembroke's musicians the opportunity to perform solos, play in chamber groups and be part of an orchestra or choir. As well as the Chapel Choir, Pembroke provides opportunities for more informal singing through participation in The Pembroke Singers (who rehearse once a week and present two concerts a year, performing a wide variety of repertoire from Bach to Disney) and the Wren Choir (for graduates).

College Music benefits greatly from the frequent involvement of professional musicians. In 2006/7, these have included Sally Burgess (mezzo soprano) and Nicholas Daniel (oboe) who have both visited Pembroke to work with student performers and give recitals. The list of Pembroke's alumni is impressive and includes Sir Arthur Bliss, Christopher Hogwood and Emma Johnson. More recent graduates are pursuing successful careers in music. These include baritone Ronan Collett (BBC New Generation Artist, Wigmore Young Artist, Borletti-Buitoni Fellowship), Christopher Gray (Organist and Director of Music at Truro Cathedral), Sarah Baldock (Organist and Master of the Choristers at Chichester Cathedral), David Neville (Organist and Director of Music Cardiff Metropolitan Cathedral of St David) and Ian Little (Director of Music Ampleforth College).

Music at Pembroke College continues to grow and flourish, and can provide a platform for musicians of all styles.