Imperial News

Winter Music in Blackett concert 2016

by Meilin Sancho

Our most recent concert in Blackett took place on the 23 November and was one of the most joyful and lively held in the Common Room.

Topping the bill was Peter Davies, a Phd student from the Condensed Matter Theory section of Physics, who performed Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in C minor on our Haines baby grand piano. It was his first public recital and he produced a sterling rendition which was well received.

Joel Hayhow followed with three Rachmaninoff's preludes, Opus 32 no.3, Opus 23 no. 5 and Opus 23 no. 4. These were brilliantly performed by Joel, one of our gifted Physics with Music undergraduates.

Joel's tour de force was Beethoven’s piano Sonata no. 15, ‘Pastorale’, an epic piece lasting almost 21 minutes . It was quite astonishing and received high praise and loud applause.

After a pause for wine and nibbles the concert continued with Yuqing Luo, one of our Optics MSc students, who sang a delicate version of Lenka’s ‘Trouble is a friend’ to her own flowing guitar accompaniment - well done Yuqing!

Imperial’s world beating, prize winning, twelve man a cappella group -The Techtonics - took over the rest of the evening, fronted by Nicholas Bradley, a Physics undergraduate with an outstanding solo voice, and who was supported by a recent and brilliant addition to the group - Hugh Blayney, a first year Physics undergraduate. The thoroughly talented, harmonious and entertaining group is also made up of members from various Imperial College departments and it was a wonderful privilege to have them with us.

 

Their joy was contagious, a true ‘tonic’ for gloomy November days and the lively ‘grand finale’ of the concert was their complex vocal arrangements of four choreographed songs. The applause was thunderous. The evening stretched into an impromptu musical gathering which was perfect.

Three cheers and thanks to our wonderful, gifted musicians and the Physics Department for its continuing, generous support.

 

The Techtonics, Imperial's a cappella group, singing 'Bang, Bang' at the Winter Blackett Music concert 2016

Three cheers and thanks to our wonderful, gifted musicians and the Physics Department for its continuing, generous support.