Talented students from Durham University have launched a varied programme of music, theatre and Christmas cheer, with an exciting choice of seasonal performances for everyone to enjoy, taking place at venues across the City.
The season started with the annual Cathedral Carol Service in Durham Cathedral. This festive highlight is organised by students from Durham Christian Union and brings together students from choirs across the University.
Student singers and musicians will also be adding to the atmosphere of the Durham Christmas Festival on Sunday 5 December, where they will be holding a ‘Carol-a-thon’ to raise money for Durham Music Trust, which helps to fund local children’s musical education.
The Trust helps to fund local children’s musical education and the opportunities that the Durham Music Service provides. The aim is for as many people to take part as possible, singing carols from 10am to 5pm.
The a Capella group Northern Lights is also raising money for charity with the release of a Christmas single. They have recorded the single ‘Never Alone’ to raise funds for the Durham branch of Age UK, aiming to raise £1,000 for the charity. The single will be available on Spotify and can be download from Friday 3 December.
Durham University Choral Society will be performing under the baton of newly appointed conduct John Forsyth at Elvet Methodist Church on Wednesday 8 December and the University’s Brass Band and Concert Band will team up for a concert at the same venue on Friday 10 December.
The Assembly Rooms Theatre is the home for Durham Student Theatre performances throughout the year and this Christmas will be the venue for a brand-new comedy play, based on the popular BBC series ‘Miranda’. Ooook! Productions have secured permissions from comedian and writer Miranda Hart and the BBC to produce the show which will be performed from 9 – 11 December.
Katya Davisson, President of Durham University Choral Society (DUCS), summed up the feelings of student performers: “We are all so excited to be performing again, especially as we couldn’t do anything last Christmas. We really want to share what we do, with as many people as possible and enjoy Christmas as much as we can.”
Highlights of the Christmas performance programme include:
Wednesday 1 December: Durham Dynamics Winter Concert, St Oswald’s Church
Wednesday 1 December: ‘Christmas on the Hill’, Hill Orchestra, Elvet Methodist Church
Thursday 2 December: ‘Now sleeps the crimson petal’, Durham University Chamber Choir, St Oswald’s Church
Friday 3 December: Durham University Classical Ensemble, Elvet Methodist Church
Thursday 2 to Saturday 4 December - ‘Edges’, Assembly Rooms Theatre
Thursday 2 to Saturday 4 December: ‘Synthesize’, Assembly Rooms Theatre
Saturday 4 December: ‘Reverie’, Durham University Palatinate Orchestra, St Oswald’s Church
Saturday 4 December: Choral Society Carols, Hotel Indigo
Sunday 5 December: Comedy Lock In, Assembly Rooms Theatre
Wednesday 8 December: Durham University Choral Society Carol Concert, Elvet Methodist Church
Wednesday 8 to Friday 10 December: ‘Bull’, Mark Hillery Arts Centre, Collingwood College
Thursday 9 to Saturday 11 December: ‘Miranda’, Assembly Rooms Theatre
Friday 10 December: Durham University Concert Band & Brass Band Christmas Concert, Elvet Methodist Church
For full listing, please visit: www.musicdurham.org/events, www.durhamstudentheatre.org/whats-on and www.theassemblyroomstheatre.org.