History of Music at Pembroke

During the 20th Century, the musical scene at Pembroke was greatly enhanced by Sir Arthur Bliss (1891-1975), who studied under Charles Wood and took his BA and MusB in 1913. He was knighted in 1950 and became Master of the Queen's Music in 1953. Another noted composer to emerge to emerge from Pembroke is Patrick Hadley, Organ Scholar 1919-22, and later Professor of Music at Cambridge (1946-62).

In its current form the Pembroke College Music Society (PCMS) dates from 1931, when a concert was held under the presidency of Robin Orr, Organ Scholar 1929-1932. He later became a composer and Professor of Music. Since then, PCMS has taken many forms. Presently it consists of a committee of enthusiastic musicians who co-ordinate and organise concerts, orchestras, ensembles and choirs.

One of the most ebullient conductors of the Pembroke Singers was David Munrow (1942-1976), who entered the college as an undergraduate in 1961. With his contemporary Prof. Christopher Hogwood (Pembroke 1960, now an Honorary Fellow and Honorary Professor of Music at Cambridge), he formed the Early Music Consort of London in 1967. His deep insight into the music of Mediaeval and Renaissance composers, and his virtuosity on many wind instruments, popularised the cause of early music worldwide.

Also in Pembroke in the 1960s was Ray Dolby, research Fellow, now Honorary Fellow, who was turning his thoughts from his PhD in electron-microscopy to the commercially exploitable systems for sound-reduction in audio recording with which his name is now virtually synonymous. His early recordings were made here. The renowned Berlioz scholar, Hugh MacDonald, was a Fellow of the College in the same decade.

Recent Pembroke graduates include the famous clarinettist Emma Johnson (Pembroke 1985), our first female Honorary Fellow. A number of other highly talented young performers are currently making their way in the world of concert or cathedral music.