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Music and Drama

Music, drama, and the arts have always been important aspects of life at Magdalene, and there is a huge range of opportunities for students to get involved at all levels.

Music

There are lots of opportunities to get involved with music at Magdalene, and music is an important part of College life.

Magdalene Music Society holds concerts every week throughout term time featuring recitals from the College’s musicians, as well as top soloists and instrumentalists from around the university and beyond, and a variety of different genres are represented. After exams the Music Society hosts its annual May Week Concert, on the lawn by the Cam, which features many of the College’s groups to the accompaniment of Pimms and shouts from the river.

The College is fortunate to have 3 beautiful performance spaces: the Cripps Auditorium, which seats 142 people with space for a small orchestra on the stage, Benson Hall, our galleried chamber auditorium with a gorgeous Bechstein concert grand piano and a generous acoustic, and the beautiful candle-lit Chapel. Alongside this we have two dedicated practice rooms, and students can use any of these music spaces for rehearsal.

Those who play orchestral instruments are able to take part in the full range of the University’s ensembles; in addition, Magdalene is part of the Orchestra on the Hill, which is made up of students from Churchill, Fitzwilliam, Murray Edwards, Girton and Magdalene.

Alongside the College Choir, Magdalene is proud to have its own student-run non-audition choir VoxSoc, which regularly performs lighter repertoire at College events and around Cambridge. VoxSoc rehearses every Monday evening, and is open to all Magdalene students.

Any current students or potential applicants who are interested in learning more about the musical opportunities at Magdalene, are very welcome to contact the Director of College Music, Mr Graham Walker.

Music Awards and Scholarships

The College offers Choral, Organ and Instrumental Scholarships for gifted musicians. Choral and organ awards are available for students in all subjects.

Magdalene is also fortunate to have a generous range of bursaries and prizes for musicians made possible by the College's Lady Lincoln Fund.

Music Facilities

The College has 2 music practice rooms, a range of grand and upright pianos, a harpsichord, virginals and a chamber organ for students to use.

Magdalene College Choir

The College Choir sing Choral Evensong twice a week in Chapel as well as at prestigious College events and special occasions. The choir go on tour every summer and regularly sing in cathedrals, and for services and events across the UK.

The College Chapel is regularly used for concerts featuring the College choir and Organ Scholars as well as for instrumental recitals.

Drama

Cambridge is renowned for its thriving drama scene, the Magdalene Drama Society (MDS) welcomes and supports students wishing to get involved with the all aspects of Cambridge theatre whether on stage performing or backstage and in technical roles.

MDS funds regular shows ranging from comedy to serious dramas and in recent years has been involved with supporting performances across the city and at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

The Magdalene Musical Production Society (MMPS) put together the Magdalene Musical which takes place once a year in Lent term. Founded in 2001 the MMPS transform the Cripps Auditorium into a singing and dancing showcase with past performances highlights including, Godspell, Guys and Dolls, Little Shop of Horrors and Cabaret.

Many spaces around the College have been used for productions in the past and are well suited for varying kinds of performances including, the Hall, Benson Hall and the Gardens. The Cripps Court auditorium is a state of the art facility also often used for drama productions.