Love to sing?
Take your pick from our Choir, award-winning Chamber Choir, and Gospel Choir. You’ll have the opportunity to sing everything from choral music to rock and pop, and to perform at incredible venues across the city.
The NTU Choir welcomes singers of all abilities and is our largest ensemble with around 100 members. There’s no audition to join and you don't need to be able to read music, so it’s ideal if you’re new to group singing. And, best of all, it's completely free for NTU students to join!
We learn and perform everything from Christmas carols to tunes from musical and films, epic choral works and contemporary pop songs.
Who can join?
- NTU students
- NTU staff
- community members (subject to spaces available)
Is there an audition? No
What experience do I need? None
Led by: Tim Lole
Rehearsals (term time only):
Tuesdays, 6.15 - 8.30pm (Term 2), University Hall, City Campus (rehearsals start on Tuesday 14 January 2025)
Yearly cost
- Free for NTU students
- £40 NTU staff and alumni
- £80 community members
A discounted cost is available to singers joining after Christmas.
Performances:
You’ll perform in a variety of public events throughout the year – previous concerts include:
- February 2024: A Night in the West End with the International Film Orchestra and Kerry Ellis
- April 2023: Symphonic Pops with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra
- April 2022: A Night at the Movies with the BBC Concert Orchestra
- March 2020: The Magical Music of Harry Potter with the Hallé Orchestra
- April 2019: Symphonic Queen and The Beatles with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
- October 2018: The Star Wars Saga with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
- April 2018: Verdi Requiem with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Dame Sarah Connolly, Elizabeth Llewellyn, Gwyn Hughes Jones and Wojtek Gierlach.
Our award-winning Chamber Choir will help you take your singing skills to the next level. As an experienced singer, you'll learn to perform a wide variety of music – from baroque to contemporary – in a close-knit ensemble that feels like family.
In 2018 our Chamber Choir won a silver medal at the World Choir Games in Tshwane, South Africa.
Who can join?
- NTU students
- NTU staff
Is there an audition?
Yes – these take place during Welcome Week and at the start of Term One.
If you are interested in auditioning please fill in this form.
What experience do I need?
You need to be able sing to Grade 6 level and sight-read to Grade 5 level. Don't worry if you haven't taken any exams, and if you're not sure what level you're at – we'll assess your suitability during your audition.
Led by: Dexter Drown
Rehearsals (term time only):
Wednesdays, 2.15 – 4.15 pm, University Hall, City Campus (rehearsals start on Wednesday 2 October 2024)
Yearly cost?
There's no yearly cost but you'll need to purchase concert dress for performances
Performances:
You’ll perform in a variety of public events throughout the year – previous concerts include:
- March 2024: Kim André Arnesen's Magnificat at St Mary's Church
- March 2023: Passion Music at Southwell Minster
- March 2022: Paul Carr's Stabat Mater at Southwell Minster
- March 2019: John Rutter's Requiem at Southwell Minster
- October 2018: Sunrise Mass at Southwell Minster
- March 2017: Mass in Blue at Southwell Minster
- November 2016: North Wales Choral Festival at Venue Cymru, Llandudno.
- April 2016: with Russell Watson, during his tour, at the Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham
- April 2016: The Sagrada Familia, Monserrat Abbey, Barcelona Cathedral
Play an instrument
Join one of our relaxed and friendly instrumental ensembles, open to musicians of all abilities. You’ll perform in competitions and concerts across the UK and beyond.
Our Brass Ensemble was formed in 2013, and has since played as a full band (winning awards at the world's only university brass band competition – Unibrass) and a small group of musicians. Our Brass Ensemble is led by NTU's brass tutor and renowned French Horn player David Curtiss.
Who can join?
- NTU students
- NTU staff
- community members
Is there an audition? No
What experience do I need?
You should be able to play your instrument to around Grade 3 standard, but you don't need to have taken exams
Led by: Dave Curtiss
Rehearsals (term time only)
Wednesdays, 5.30 – 6.30 pm, Ensemble Room, NTU Music Centre, City Campus
Rehearsals will start on Wednesday 25 September 2024.
Yearly cost?
- £20 NTU students (free for NTU Bursary holders)
- £40 NTU staff and alumni
- £80 community members
Performances:
Our Brass Band regularly competes, and wins accolades, at Unibrass – the University Brass Band Championship of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The band also performs at seasonal NTU events, including our Christmas Spectacular and Summer Celebration, and joins the Chamber Choir for a popular public Christmas concert at Nottingham's Royal Concert Hall.
Members have had the opportunity to travel and perform abroad, touring recently to France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Germany.
If you're looking to play swing and jazz as part of a large and friendly ensemble, our Big Band is the ideal fit! Led by East Midlands-based musician Pete Wraight, you'll meet weekly to learn new pieces and practice those already in the band's repertoire.
Who can join?
- NTU students
- NTU staff
- community members
Is there an audition? Depending on numbers, rhythm section players may be auditioned.
What experience do I need?
You should be able to play your instrument and sight read to around Grade 6 standard, but you don't need to have taken exams
Led by: Pete Wraight
Rehearsals (term time only):
Mondays, 6.30 – 8 pm, Ensemble Room, NTU Music Centre, City Campus (Rehearsals will start on Monday 23 September 2024).
Yearly cost:
- £20 NTU students (free for NTU Bursary holders)
- £40 NTU staff and alumni
- £80 community members
Performances:
The Big Band performs biannually at our NTU Big Band Live events and is also a regular at the local jazz club Peggy's Skylight.
In addition, the band is booked for several private parties and functions.
Led by Chris Toon, the Concert Band is a fun, friendly and relaxed ensemble who meet weekly to play movie scores, musical numbers and lots more.
Who can join?
- NTU students
- NTU staff
- community members
Is there an audition? No
What experience do I need? You should be able to play your instrument to around Grade 6 standard, but you don't need to have taken exams
Led by: Chris Toon
Rehearsals (term time only):
Thursdays, 6 – 7.30 pm, Ensemble Room, NTU Music Centre, City Campus.
Rehearsals will start on Thursday 26 September 2024.
Yearly cost:
- £20 NTU students (free for NTU Bursary holders)
- £40 NTU staff and alumni
- £80 community members
Performances:
Our Concert Band has won several awards at the National Concert Band Festival, and performs regularly in NTU Music's concert season.
Members have had the opportunity to travel and perform abroad, touring recently to France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Germany.
Every now and then, we bring our ensembles together for something special. The NTU Concert Orchestra combines the talents of the NTU Concert Band and the NTU String Sinfonia.
We play at NTU concerts throughout the season, particularly at Christmas and the final performance of the year – our Summer Celebration.
If you're a member of either of these ensembles, you'll have the chance to be a part of the orchestra. There are no additional membership fees, or regular rehearsal times.
Led by percussionist Steve Barwell, our Drumline plays pieces for marching snare drums and bass drums. We draw from the playing styles of some of the world's best drumlines, including the Top Secret Drum Corps. You'll hone your technical skills, and be part of performances that will turn heads.
Drumline is split into two sessions – Tech Class and Performance.
Who can join?
- NTU students
- NTU staff
- community members
Is there an audition?
- Tech Class – no
- Performance – yes
What experience do I need?
For Tech Class you don't need to have any previous experience, and you don't need to be able to read music.
For Performance drumline you should be able to play to Grade 5 standard or above, but you don't need to have taken the exams.
Led by: Steve Barwell
Rehearsals (term time only)
Tech Class: Thursdays, 7.45 – 8.30 pm, NTU Music Centre, City Campus
Performance: Thursdays, 8.30 – 9.30 pm, NTU Music Centre, City Campus
(Rehearsals will start on Thursday 26 September 2024)
Yearly cost
- £20 NTU students (free for NTU Bursary holders)
- £40 NTU staff and alumni
- £80 community members
Performances
Our Drumline perform at both the Christmas Spectacular and Summer Celebration. They also regularly perform at events across the university including Varsity.
If you want to perform in a string ensemble, our String Sinfonia, led by musician and violin tutor Rob Rosa, is a great chance to play in a group of enthusiastic musicians.
Who can join?
- NTU students
- NTU staff
- community members
Is there an audition? No
What experience do I need?
You should be able to play your instrument to around Grade 6 standard, but you don't need to have taken exams
Led by: Rob Rosa
Rehearsals (term time only)
Wednesdays, 6.30 – 8 pm, Studio, NTU Music Centre, City Campus
(Rehearsals will start on Wednesday 25 September 2024)
Yearly cost
- £20 NTU students (free for NTU Bursary holders)
- £40 NTU staff and alumni
- £80 community members
Performances
The String Sinfonia plays regularly at our free lunchtime concerts, as well as other NTU events. It also combines with the Concert Band to perform as the NTU Concert Orchestra, for special events.
Join a band
Calling all musicians, producers, vocalists and MCs! We're here to help you achieve your musical vision – whether that's millions of streams, touring the world or simply meeting up and playing some tunes. Sign up to our Band Programme now.
Our Band Programme is your opportunity to realise your musical vision. What to expect:
- Meet other musicians, producers, vocalists and MCs.
- Meet the professionals who can guide you through the maze of making music.
- Get to know the free rehearsal and production spaces.
We run an annual Battle of the Bands that takes place at Metronome – an outstanding live venue in Nottingham. Perform in front of a packed crowd and an industry panel for the chance to win recording time at our studios, A&R sessions with Denizen Music, and even sets at local music festivals.
Who can join?
- NTU students
Is there an audition? No - Just add your name to the band book and find some like-minded musicians to start playing with.
What experience do I need? None at all
Led by: Joe Egan
Rehearsals (term time only):
Wednesdays, 6.30 - 10 pm, NTU Music Centre, City Campus
Yearly cost: Free
Performances:
End of term gigs at venues in the city, monthly open mic nights, the opportunity to work with local promoters to put on your own gigs. As well as the chance to work with students to produce your own EPK, with professionally recorded tracks, photos and live video performances.
What's on, when and where
Rehearsals start from w/c 23 September 2024, with the exception of Chamber Choir which starts the following week.
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Band 6.30 – 8 pm Music Centre | Choir 6 – 9pm Music Centre | Chamber Choir 2.15 – 4.15 pm Music Centre | Concert Band 6 – 7.30 pm Music Centre |
| Brass Band 5.30 – 6.30 pm Music Centre | Drumline (Tech Class) 7.45 – 8.30 pm Music Centre | ||
| String Sinfonia 6.30 – 8 pm Music Centre | Drumline (Performance) 8.30 – 9.30 pm NTU Music Centre | ||
| Band Development Programme 6.30 – 10 pm Music Centre |
Interested in joining one of our ensembles or groups?
Come along to a rehearsal, or email music@ntu.ac.uk with any questions you have.