Showcase of Hills Road music stuns at University Concert Hall

This year's edition of the Spring concert marked a welcome return to the prestigious Cambridge University Concert Hall on West Road, an ideal backdrop for this year's ambitious and varied programme.

The Symphony Orchestra opened with Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G, featuring soloist Matteo Nacher Saltara and conducted by Head of Music, Kate Murdoch. 

The performance combined technical precision with expressive contrast, as the piano’s light, agile lines interacted with colourful orchestral textures. 

This was followed by Shostakovich's Suite for Variety Orchestra, where the ensemble moved confidently between bold, theatrical moments and more lyrical passages.

Choral music formed a central pillar of the evening. The College Choir, conducted by Ros Couchman, performed excerpts from Mozart’s Requiem in a piano duet arrangement by Neirin O’Reilly and Chris Reid, delivering both dramatic intensity and controlled restraint. The Chamber Choir continued this standard with poised performances of works by Finzi and Parry, demonstrating careful musical shaping and balance.

Elsewhere, the programme reflected the college’s stylistic range. The Folk Roots ensemble brought a relaxed, narrative quality to traditional material, while a Beach Boys medley introduced a lighter, contemporary contrast.

The concert concluded with the Jazz Orchestra, conducted by Trevor Barlow, whose energetic and rhythmically assured set provided a strong and confident finish.

Across all ensembles, the evening highlighted not only individual musicianship but also a clear sense of collaboration and musical ambition. Congratulations to all!

Photography accompanying this article is by A Cambridge Diary photographer, Martin Bond.