Performance opportunities
There are a wide range of opportunities to play and sing at all levels across the university.
Students discuss the range and quality of performance opportunities at Nottingham
University orchestra and choirs
University Philharmonia
The University’s auditioned, dynamic, flagship orchestra made up of students, staff, and alumni.
Philharmonia is the University of Nottingham’s longstanding flagship orchestra. Each term, the Philharmonia performs a public concert in venues on the University Park campus or in Nottingham city. The orchestra plays inspiring, exciting, and challenging repertoire. Student soloists and world-renowned guest artists including Xuefei Yang, Natalie Clein, and the Amatis Trio have performed with the orchestra.
In 2025 the orchestra begins a new chapter under the direction of its freshly appointed, infectiously energetic, professional conductor Harry Lai. The group is managed by the Philharmonia Management Team, comprising staff and student Arts Management Trainees, who take an active role in shaping the orchestra’s artistic profile. To apply for one of these paid traineeship positions, please click HERE.
As a result of the unique partnership between the BBC Concert Orchestra and the University, in 2024 Philharmonia played its first side-by-side performance with this word-renowned ensemble, and in 2026 there will be a further performance of this nature. Harry Lai will conduct an opener to the concert, followed by BBC Concert Orchestra Chief Conductor Anna-Maria Helsing directing The Planets by Gustav Holst.
Rehearsals take place weekly on Tuesday evenings, 6.30-9pm in the Rehearsal Hall in the Department of Music, University Park.
Auditions for the orchestra take place 3-5 October 2025. Not only student, but current staff members, and alumni of the University of Nottingham can audition for University Philharmonia. First rehearsal will take place on 7 October. For further information on auditions and to sign up for a slot, please click HERE.
Sign-up deadline is noon Thursday 2 October.
Membership fees:
- Students: £20 per term + £10 music hire deposit
- Non-students: £45 per term + £10 music hire deposit
We are excited to welcome you to this fantastic ensemble!
For more information please email Lakeside Arts Head of Music Programmes, Dr Catherine Hocking (catherine.hocking@nottingham.ac.uk) and/or Department of Music Director of Performance, Dr Laszlo Rozsa (laszlo.rozsa@nottingham.ac.uk).
University Philharmonia performs Screen Sounds with BBC Concert Orchestra and NTU Players in NTU Newton Court as part of the Soundstage Festival
University Choir
The largest Choir of the University of Nottingham made up of students, staff, and alumni
The University Choir is the largest choir at the University. It is made up of students, staff, and alumni from the University of Nottingham.
Performing a wide range of choral music, the Choir is a great opportunity to experience singing in a large-scale choir, professionally led by hugely dynamic director Rachel Parkes. Open to all students, staff and alumni who can read music and love singing. The group is managed by the Choir Management Team, comprising staff and student Arts Management Trainees, who take an active role in shaping the choir’s artistic profile. To apply for one of these paid traineeship positions, please click HERE.
Beyond an eclectic autumn concert together with the University Chamber Choir (programme featuring a colourful mix of pieces by Bingham, Britten, Stanford, Purcell), after 2024’s incredible Carmina Burana project with the BBC Concert Orchestra in the Theatre Royal/Royal Concert Hall, in the spring of 2026 University Choir will join forces with NTU Choir, and will perform Verdi’s Requiem, yet again, together with the BBC Concert Orchestra in TRCH, directed on this occasion by BBC Concert Orchestra Chief Conductor, Anna-Maria Helsing.
Rehearsals take place weekly on Tuesday evenings, 6.30-8.45pm in the Recital Hall in the Department of Music, University Park. First rehearsal will take place on 30 September.
The Choir does not require an audition.
Membership fees:
- Students £20 per term + £10 music hire deposit
- Non-students £45 per term + £10 music hire deposit
We are excited to welcome you to this fantastic ensemble!
For more information please email Lakeside Arts Head of Music Programmes, Dr Catherine Hocking (catherine.hocking@nottingham.ac.uk) and/or Department of Music Director of Performance, Dr Laszlo Rozsa (laszlo.rozsa@nottingham.ac.uk).
University Choir performs Carl Orff's Carmina Burana with NTU Choir and BBC Concert Orchestra in Theatre Royal/Royal Concert Hall
University Chamber Choir
An auditioned choir that tackles a specifically written and challenging repertoire
University Chamber Choir is an auditioned choir, professionally led by its hugely dynamic director Rachel Parkes. The University Chamber Choir numbers around 35 student singers. As well as performing concerts of its own it also performs alongside the University Choir and University Philharmonia. The Choir usually performs two or three concerts a year.
Beyond an eclectic autumn 2025 concert together with University Choir (programme featuring a colourful mix of pieces by Bingham, Britten, Stanford, Purcell, Bridge and Elgar), in spring 2026, female voices of the Chamber Choir will feature in the University Philharmonia-BBC Concert Orchestra side-by-side performance of The Planets by Holst, and there will also be a further standalone performance of the full Chamber Choir.
Auditions for the Chamber Choir take place 3 and 5 October 2025. First rehearsal will take place on 7 October. For further information on auditions and sign up for a slot, please click HERE.
Sign-up deadline is noon Thursday 2 October.
Please note that Chamber Choir members are also required to join University Choir.
Membership fees:
- Students £20 per term + £10 music hire deposit
- Non-students £45 per term + £10 music hire deposit
We are excited to welcome you to this fantastic ensemble!
For more information please email Lakeside Arts Head of Music Programmes, Dr Catherine Hocking (catherine.hocking@nottingham.ac.uk) and/or Department of Music Director of Performance, Dr Laszlo Rozsa (laszlo.rozsa@nottingham.ac.uk).
Student-led societies
Mussoc
A collection of student-run, auditioned and non-auditioned music ensembles
Mussoc oversees 10 ensembles of all genres, a series of lunchtime concerts, and an annual European tour.
They work closely with both the Department of Music and Nottingham Lakeside Arts to achieve a high standard of music-making on and around campus.
Visit the Mussoc website
Lunchtime concert schedule
Mussoc promotional video
Blowsoc
The home for all brass, woodwind, percussion and string bass players
Blowsoc runs nine ensembles (both auditioned and unauditioned) across a range of genres. They perform regularly in prestigious concert venues, are involved in the official series of lunchtime concerts and go on tour every year.
They work closely with both the Department of Music and Nottingham Lakeside Arts and represent the University in concerts on campus and national competitions.
Visit the Blowsoc website
Lunchtime concert schedule
Listen to some Blowsoc tunes on Soundcloud
Other Student Union societies
Sing or play - there are performance opportunities for everyone
New Theatre
The only 100% student run theatre in the country
Producing work of a professional standard and offering hundreds of roles both on-stage and off-stage. Music and sound is an inegral part of many performances.
Small scale ensembles and chamber groups
Music students taking our Advanced Ensemble Performance module are assessed as ensemble musicians, preparing a public recital as a small chamber group. Ensembles receive coaching from a specialist tutor, and participate in whole-class workshops. Recent student ensembles to be assessed within this module include a saxophone quartet, a string trio, and a trio comprising horn, oboe and piano.
Students have also spontaneously formed many chamber groups, including several string quartets, a wind quintet, vocal groups, jazz ensembles and bands.
The Denis Arnold Music Library hosts an impressive array of sheet music for these and other ensembles.
Working with professional musicians
Music students have the opportunity to work with professional musicians in a variety of settings. In recent years we've hosted:
Ensemble 360
- Workshops for composition students followed by public performance of three works in lunchtime concerts.
- Coaching of student ensembles and individuals.
Fitzwilliam String Quartet
- Coaching of student quartets and individuals.
- Joint concert with Orlando Consort and University Philharmonia performing Vaughan Williams Fantasia on a theme of Thomas Tallis and Elgar Introduction and Allegro.
- Coaching and participation in University Philharmonia rehearsals.
Orlando Consort
- Performance of Tallis Spem in alium and Tarik O’Regan Scattered Rhymes with Viva Voce in joint concert with Fitzwilliam String Quartet and University Philharmonia.
- Composition and performance workshops.
One-off workshops
- Janina Fialkowska, pianist
- Clare Hammond, pianist
- Yossif Ivanov, violinist
- Sacconi String Quartet
Local churches
We have strong links to local churches and some music students take part in their choirs.
There are musical scholarships that cover both choristers and the organ.
Other opportunities
- Performing recitals on stage and in lunch hour public concerts at Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham (final-year recital students).
- Workshops with composers: Graham Fitkin, Gavin Bryars, Donnacha Dennehy.