The Cambridge University Musical Society (CUMS) is a federation of the university's main orchestral and choral ensembles, which cumulatively put on a substantial concert season during the university term.

Ensembles

Students wishing to join an orchestra are required to audition at the beginning of the academic year (unless they are string players already in CUMS II and not seeking promotion), on the basis of which they are allocated to a position and orchestra. Competition for places is variable depending on instrument. Selection is purely on merit, and irrespective of age, standing in the university, or subject being read.

Cambridge University Chamber Orchestra

A small orchestra, consisting of the university's elite instrumental musicians, most of whom either hold university instrumental awards or have been involved in nationally-significant music making, particularly the National Youth Orchestra.

CUMS I

The flagship symphony orchestra, giving five concerts in the academic year, often involving renowned conductors, particularly the principal conductor Martin Yates

Martin Yates

Martin Yates is a British conductor.Studied at the Royal College of Music and Trinity College of Music, London where his teachers included Bernard Keeffe , Richard Arnell , Ian Lake, Jakob Kaletsky & Alan Rowlands and Douglas Moore & John Burden .Conducting debut 1983 with Israel National Opera...

.

CUMS Chorus

A large choir, conducted by Stephen Cleobury

Stephen Cleobury

Stephen Cleobury CBE is an English organist and conductor. He was organ scholar at St John's College, Cambridge and sub-organist of Westminster Abbey before becoming Master of Music at Westminster Cathedral in 1979...

, which often performs with the orchestras.

Background

Music has a long history at Cambridge. In 1464 the world’s first firmly-authenticated Bachelor of Music degree was awarded at Cambridge to one Henry Abyngdon

Henry Abyngdon

Henry Abyngdon, Abingdon or Abington was an English ecclesiastic and musician, perhaps the first to receive a university degree in music.-Biography:...

, Master of the Children of the Chapel Royal to Edward IV. Over the intervening centuries celebrated musicians such as William Boyce, William Sterndale Bennett

William Sterndale Bennett

Sir William Sterndale Bennett was an English composer. He ranks as the most distinguished English composer of the Romantic school-Biography:...

, Charles Villiers Stanford

Charles Villiers Stanford

Sir Charles Villiers Stanford was an Irish composer who was particularly notable for his choral music. He was professor at the Royal College of Music and University of Cambridge.- Life :...

, Ralph Vaughan Williams

Ralph Vaughan Williams

Ralph Vaughan Williams OM was an English composer of symphonies, chamber music, opera, choral music, and film scores. He was also a collector of English folk music and song: this activity both influenced his editorial approach to the English Hymnal, beginning in 1904, in which he included many...

, Arthur Bliss

Arthur Bliss

‎Sir Arthur Edward Drummond Bliss, CH, KCVO was an English composer and conductor.Bliss's musical training was cut short by the First World War, in which he served with distinction in the army...

, Alexander Goehr

Alexander Goehr

Alexander Goehr is an English composer and academic.Goehr was born in Berlin in 1932, the son of the conductor and Schoenberg pupil Walter Goehr. In his early twenties he emerged as a central figure in the Manchester School of post-war British composers. In 1955–56 he joined Oliver Messiaen's...

, Robin Holloway

Robin Holloway

Robin Greville Holloway is an English composer.-Early life:From 1952 to 1957, he was a chorister at St Paul's Cathedral...

 and Thomas Adès

Thomas Adès

Thomas Adès is a British composer, pianist and conductor.-Biography:Adès studied piano with Paul Berkowitz and later composition with Robert Saxton at Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London...

 have studied or taught at Cambridge.

Foundation

In 1843 the Cambridge University Musical Society (CUMS) was established, and gradually built a splendid tradition of concert-giving. The founders of CUMS included John Bacchus Dykes

John Bacchus Dykes

John Bacchus Dykes was an English clergyman and hymnist.-Biography:...

, William Thomson

William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin

William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin OM, GCVO, PC, PRS, PRSE, was a mathematical physicist and engineer. At the University of Glasgow he did important work in the mathematical analysis of electricity and formulation of the first and second laws of thermodynamics, and did much to unify the emerging...

 and John A. L. Airey.

Conductors of CUMS

Many respected musical figures have directed the Cambridge University Musical Society, including the following:

• Charles Villiers Stanford
• Cyril Rootham
  Cyril Rootham
  Cyril Bradley Rootham was an English composer, educator, organist and important figure in Cambridge music life.-Biography:...
  
  
• Colin Davies
  Colin Davies
  Colin Frank Davies is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Davies joined Port Vale as an amateur in May 1958 and signed as a professional in June 1959. After making his debut in a goalless home draw with Queen's Park Rangers on 19 March 1960, he played in the nine remaining games of the...
  
  
• David Willcocks
• Philip Ledger
  Philip Ledger
  Sir Philip Ledger CBE is a British classical musician and academic. He is best-known for his tenure as director of the Choir of King's College, Cambridge between 1973 and 1982 and as director of Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama from 1982 until his retirement in 2001...
  
  
• Stephen Cleobury
  Stephen Cleobury
  Stephen Cleobury CBE is an English organist and conductor. He was organ scholar at St John's College, Cambridge and sub-organist of Westminster Abbey before becoming Master of Music at Westminster Cathedral in 1979...
  
  

External links

• Cambridge University Musical Society
• Cambridge University Faculty of Music