Moon Chun Memorial College was delighted to present an Open Rehearsal by Clare College Choir, University of Cambridge, to a capacity audience in College Hall.

Clare College Choir’s Director of Music, Graham Ross, led the Choir through choral works by English composers, Ralph Vaughan Williams and John Rutter. Graham also bravely rehearsed the Choir singing the Chinese Folk Song, Jasmine Flower, admitting that additional initial help had been provided by a German undergrad and Choir member who had come to Cambridge to study the Chinese Language as her Major. True internationalism indeed!

The audience was fascinated by the traditional Oxbridge ways of rehearsing choral works, subtly underpinned by the Director of Music’s charming whilst exacting direction, and all infused with a delightful sense of humour.
There was only one choir member who was a Music Major, and yet the commitment to musical excellence by these busy undergrads studying a range of subjects including Anglo Saxon Law and Physics shone through like a beacon. This dedication, together with the expert musical direction from Graham Ross, contributes to the beautiful sound, consummate artistry and musicianship demonstrated by the Choir in its live performances and recordings.
Chair of UM Council, Dr Peter Lam and VRSA, Prof Haydn Chen, presented the Choir with a small memento of their first visit to Macao and UM: hopefully followed by many more visits in the future.

In what has become something of an MCMC tradition, the Choir performed a lively and fun piece by a previous Director of Music, internationally renowned composer, Ward Swingle in MCMC’s Courtyard Garden from the College’s Amphitheatre.

Audience members drawn from UM Faculty and students, undergrads and postgrads across UM together with town and gown guests from Macao and Hong Kong, enjoyed meeting the Choir afterwards in a reception with refreshments generously provided by local businesses. Students especially valued making links with Cambridge undergrads of similar ages and interests.