Sydney University Musical Society

The Sydney University Musical Society (SUMS) is an undergraduate choral society at the University of Sydney.[1] Founded in 1878,[1] it is one of the oldest secular choirs in Australia, and the oldest Australian University Choir.[2]

Sydney University Musical Society
AbbreviationSUMS
Formation1878
TypeUniversity Choir
Location
  • The University of Sydney
Region
Sydney, Australia
Current Conductor
Michael Bradshaw
Current President
Daniel Saunders
Current Secretary
Maria Ferraris
Current Treasurer
Tahoora Jahanian
Websitesumschoir.org

SUMS has performed many great works over its lifetime, including the Australian premiere performances Bach's Mass in B minor and St Matthew Passion in 1880; premiere performances of Martin and Peter Wesley Smith's Songs of Australia for the Australian Bicentenary in 1988, the world premiere of Nicholas Routley's Mycenae Lookout in 1998, and world premiere of Anne Boyd's carol, A Lullaby of the Nativity, written for SUMS in 2003. The Musical Society has performed with orchestras such as the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, the Sydney Youth Orchestra and the SBS Youth Orchestra. SUMS' conductor of 23 years, Ben Macpherson, retired from his post of musical director in mid-2006, with his final performance with the society being Mendelssohn's Elijah, performed in the Great Hall of the University of Sydney.

In 2015, SUMS also hosted the 66th Annual Intervarsity Festival, delivering an astounding performance of Verdi's Messa da Requiem. Outside of rehearsals and performances, SUMS regularly hosts events for its members as well, including picnics, trivia nights at the pub, camps, and the annual Academic Dinner.[2]

Recent SUMS Performances
Year Program
2010 Mozart's Great Mass in C minor
Fauré's Requiem
2011 Duruflé's Requiem
2012 Verdi's Requiem ∞
2013 J.S. Bach's Magnificat in D major
Vivaldi's Gloria
2014 Vivaldi's Magnificat
Karl Jenkins' Stella Natalis
2015 Mendelssohn's Elijah †
Vaughan Williams' Mass in G minor
2016 Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 2 the Resurrection Symphony[2]
2017 Edward Elgar's The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38 ∞[3]
Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125 †[4]
2018 Sergei Prokofiev's Alexander Nevsky cantata ∞[5]
Paul Stanhope's The Land is Healed. Ban.garay![6]
Henry Purcell's Ode to St. Cecilia[6]

∞ Collaborate with Sydney Conservatorium of Music Symphony Orchestra, Choir and Chamber Choir

† Collaborate with Sydney University Symphony Orchestra

See also

Australian Intervarsity Choral Societies Association

References
  1. "University of Sydney Union - Our Clubs and Societies". www.usu.edu.au. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  2. "Sydney University Musical Society (SUMS)". Australian Intervarsity Choral Societies Association. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  3. The Sydney Conservatorium of Music (22 August 2017), The Dream of Gerontius - E. Elgar (1857-1934), archived from the original on 21 December 2021, retrieved 31 March 2019
  4. "Review: SUMSxSUSO Present Beethoven 9". Honi Soit. 8 October 2017. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  5. "Greenway Series: SCM Symphony Orchestra and SCM Choirs". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  6. Sydney University Musical Society (SUMS). "140 Years: A Carolfest Concert". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
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