A Blyth Concert on 19 March was the first event of the Humanities@70 programme to be postponed. There event promised a performance of Florilegium, an acclaimed period instrument ensemble performs Telemann, Vivaldi and J.C. Bach.

A famous physicist once said: “After a certain high level of technical skill is achieved, science and art tend to coalesce in aesthetics, plasticity, and form. The greatest scientists are always artists as well.”

An accomplished violinist himself, Albert Einstein is just one of many celebrated figures - from the polymath Leonardo de Vinci to author and naturalist Beatrix Potter, whose talents embrace both science and the arts.

Imperial alumni are no exception –  among them H.G. Wells and legendary guitarist Brian May. They, like many others, see the arts and sciences not as opposites, but as complementary – two ways to comprehend, communicate and marvel at the beauty and mystery of the world around us. Recent research shows that playing music is associated with cognitive gains; making art can reduce stress and anxiety; creating visual art improves connections in the brain; art-making can help us get over trauma; sketching can help us focus; and making art/performing music can help achieve ‘flow’ where the maker is not motivated by some end goal, but is fully engaged in the process itself.

Imperial has a long-standing Music and Visual Arts programme. The Blyth Centre, led by Director, Oliver Gooch (former Associate Conductor at the Royal Opera House) is fast approaching its twentieth anniversary. The College now boasts five orchestras (including the 2008 winners of the Symphony Orchestra of the Year competition), five choirs, a jazz big band (gold medal winners 2009 National Concert Band Festival) and a wind band, which collaborates with the band of the Coldstream Guards. Most notably, the Techtonics were crowned International Champions of Collegiate A Capella in the USA in 2016.

The Visual Art programme has grown significantly and now provides a valuable and much enjoyed facility. Both the Blyth Gallery and Blyth Studio enhance greatly the experience of both staff and students, led by Head of Art, Mindy Lee (professional artist, lecturer and curator and alumna of the RCA). The Centre supports the popular Art Club and Artisans alongside other student societies including Calligraphy, Design Engineering, Fashion and Photography. In 2019, the Blyth Art Fellowship and Art Award was inaugurated, a one year development programme for Imperial students to further their own practice with specialist training and funding.

Some may wonder at first why a STEM university needs a music and art programme. In fact, it is because Imperial is a world-class technical university that we must champion the arts as we do. For our mission is not just to train students to become great scientists, medics, engineers and business leaders – it is to support them to become great people. To provide a rich, full university experience, so they may lead richer and more fulfilling lives.