Making Music - Connecting Communities

Musician and activist Ezé joined us in Durham from 18 October – 8 November 2023, as a collaboration between Modern Languages and University College.  

With Making Music – Connecting Communities we invited all people from Durham and beyond to make music together, listen, ask, dance, share, and enjoy the experience together.  

The student-produced film of this creative project can be viewed below. Access the Ezé in Concert Booklet.

Annual Primary School Concert

University College holds an annual Primary School Concert for local state primary schools to come together and make music in Durham Castle. This location forms an exciting opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes look at a UNESCO World Heritage Site whilst engaging in a day of music and performance. We want to encourage creativity so throughout the day there were creative workshops all over college, along with practice sessions in the Hall.

The Disney-themed day, called ‘Disney Comes to Durham Castle’, consisted of three workshops for the students – a recorder workshop, a theatre workshop, and a chance to practice in the Hall. We also provided refreshments, and then hosted a concert for parents and guardians in the hall at the end.

We successfully secured a grant from the central outreach team, meaning the day was free for students to attend. We covered the cost of transportation from the schools to the Castle to assume the financial burden and provide a financially accessible event for students. We also bought each school a set of recorders, to provide a more permanent investment into their musical education.

It was an exciting initiative to plan and oversee, and it was immensely rewarding to see the children enjoy it! The musical opportunities at Castle are an amazing opportunity to get involved and give back to local communities, and have been a highlight of my time at Castle.

Theatre and Music

There’s a huge range of theatre, music and arts going on at University College. From our Castle Concert Orchestra to the Chapel Choir, Castle Big Band to Castle Theatre Company, there are events and opportunities for everyone. We regularly host productions and performances in our college spaces, from the Great Hall to our Norman Chapel. Our students get involved in a wide range of visual and performing arts in College and across the University and wider region. 

Durham Castle and our accommodation buildings has also featured as a venue for the biannual Lumiere light festival – the largest light festival in the UK.

Theatre 

We have a number of drama groups through which you can get involved either 'behind the scenes' or in performance (whether you have acted before or not!). Our longest-running group are called the 'Castle Theatre Company'. Our students put on outstanding performances throughout the year, performing in the University's assembly rooms theatre and in various venues around College including our atmospheric Norman chapel and our Undercroft bar. 

Music rooms 

There are two music practice rooms in Bailey Court and one room specifically for recording. We also have a boudoir grand piano of concert standard. The rooms are available for all Castle students, as well as students of the Music Department. Both practice rooms have claviola pianos. The recording studio is open for use for any student with appropriate previous experience.