Cambridge University Sinfonia is a high-quality symphony orchestra, drawn from top student instrumentalists in Cambridge. The Sinfonia rehearses once a week, on a Thursday, in a relaxed and sociable environment, and performs a wide range of repertoire under its student Conducting Scholar, Max Todes. With each project, CUS members receive coaching from professional orchestral musicians and benefit from professional marketing and orchestral management.
This year’s highlights include Mozart’s Requiem in King’s College Chapel and Beethoven’s Violin Concerto, Sibelius’ Symphony No.1 and Beethoven Symphony No.7.
Cambridge University Sinfonia perform three concerts per year: one in Michaelmas term, one in Lent term and one in Easter term at the end of the year. CUS have also enjoyed highly successful joint tours with CUO over previous years, most recently travelling to Krakow, Poland in July 2019.
If you are offered a place in Cambridge University Sinfonia you will need to become a member of the Cambridge University Musical Society. Membership rates are £20 per year for students.
Cambridge University Sinfonia is run with support from the Centre for Music Performance in partnership with the Cambridge University Musical Society
Our Lent Term open rehearsal has now taken place, but we still have opportunities for two trombone players, a tuba player, a viola player, a double bass player and a harpist to join the orchestra. If you're interested, please email info@cmp.cam.ac.uk.
If you are offered a place in Cambridge University Sinfonia you will need to become a member of the Cambridge University Musical Society. Membership rates are £20 per year for students.
CUS performs a wide variety of repertoire. This year’s highlights include Mozart’s Requiem in King’s College Chapel and Beethoven’s Violin Concerto, Sibelius’ Symphony No.1 and Beethoven's Symphony No.7.
Highlights from the 2021-22 season included pieces by Eleanor Alberga, Florence Price, Mendelssohn, and Gershwin. The Sinfonia also presented the inaugural collaboration with the Cambridge University Musical Theatre Society at the Cambridge Junction.
Coaches:
Charles Mutter, leader of the BBC Concert Orchestra
Simon Channing, head of woodwind at Royal College of Music
David McCallum, trumpeter in BBC Concert Orchestra
Keith Bragg, head of woodwind at Royal Academy of Music
This ensemble has its own student committee, which runs the ensemble’s rehearsals, concerts and social events. They are supported by a team of industry professionals at the Centre for Music Performance. If you would like to get in touch or have a suggestion about the ensemble, the Ensemble President is a good place to start. The full committee will be announced shortly.
How can I perform with Cambridge University Sinfonia?
If you wish to be considered for a place in CUS, please email info@cmp.cam.ac.uk. Alternatively, you can come along to our open rehearsal on 26 January 2023.
How are CUS places allocated?
Following your audition, if successful, you will most likely be offered one or both of the following options:
1. A place in all CUS concerts for the year (December 2022, March 2023, May 2023).
2. Some members will be given the chance to play along side members of CUO and CUWO in the big concert in January 2023 in King’s College Chapel.
Please note that there may be exceptions to this for some instruments, depending on orchestration. Your concert commitments for the year will be made very clear following your audition.
