Looking back

In January 2022 IT&T launched a new initiative to develop and inspire Oxford's finest student consort singers. A vocal consort of students from Oxford's universities joined the ensemble, soprano Miriam Allan and director Christopher Bucknall for Divine Music, songs and odes in praise of music by Purcell, Blow and Croft, at the Holywell Music Room on Friday 28 January 2022.

Alongside favourites such as Purcell's ode Welcome to all the Pleasures, the programme brought to light lesser-known works, including several written for performance in Oxford, some of which may not have been heard for over 350 years. The students sang alongside professional soloists and consort singers, with coaching from Christopher Bucknall through the rehearsal period.

Two days before the concert, Miriam and Christopher gave a public masterclass on English song written between 1650 and 1700, exploring stylistic interpretation and the communication of text, in which members of the consort were invited to take part.

We are grateful to the Continuo Foundation for supporting the project, whose success shaped the student side-by-side projects that followed.