Music and drama
Making music for all
You do not have to be a Music student to enjoy music at York. Societies, student-run ensembles and the University itself provide countless opportunities to play, listen and perform, whatever your level of commitment. There are lunchtime and evening concerts virtually every week on campus, with dedicated performance venues including the Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall and Central Hall. Membership of the Music Society allows access to practice rooms in Langwith College for non-Music students.
Whatever your musical taste, we guarantee there will be a group for you!
Instrumentalists and singers can audition for the University Orchestra (at which you may be offered chances to play with other ensembles), the Baroque Ensemble, the Jazz Orchestra and the Chamber Choir. There are also several less formal ensembles, mostly run by students and non-auditioning, including the Concert Orchestra, Concert Band and Gospel Choir.
The Students' Union has several active music societies, including a Gilbert and Sullivan Society, a rock gospel choir and the Central Hall Musical Society. Fusion, a large annual fashion, dance and music show in Central Hall, involves a broad range of individuals, societies and organisations in and around York and raises thousands of pounds for charity. Last but not least, the University Choir performs major choral works every term in venues such as York Minster, and is open to students without audition.
Whatever your musical taste, we guarantee there will be a group for you!
Award-winning drama
York has a very active student drama scene, with recent productions including Journey's End, The Crucible, Closer and Measure for Measure.
The successful Drama Society makes it easy to get involved, producing numerous plays every term which are performed, directed and, in some cases, written by students. One production, Metamorphosis, scooped an unprecedented six awards at the National Student Drama Festival in 2008.
York graduates have gone on to successful careers in theatre and entertainment, including David Thacker (theatre and television director), Giles Foster (TV producer), Denise O'Donoghue (Hat Trick Productions), Simon Stephen (playwright) and Harry Enfield (comedian).
