Welcome back to our third and final blog introducing the ULMS 2020/21 Committee, this time including Technician, PTM Coordinator, Publicity Officer and Socials Secretaries.
Technician – Tom Grainger
Instrument(s): Alto Saxophone, Tenor Horn
Ensemble(s): Wind Band, Brass Band, Saxophone Choir, Oompah Band
Tom studies Particle Physics and has been involved in ULMS for all three years of his degree so far – but this will be his first year on Committee. His highlight of ULMS over the past year was competing at UniBrass, which took the Brass Band to Bangor University back in February.
The Technician’s role in ULMS is not as big as some, but is still an important one: Tom will be responsible for overseeing concert recordings, maintaining and fixing society equipment and managing equipment hire. Having lived with previous Technician (and current Small Groups Rep) Nathan last year, Tom has a pretty good idea of what he’s doing!
Project Teach Music (PTM) Coordinator – Emily Hinks
Instrument(s): Flute, Saxophone, Drums
Ensemble(s): Wind Band, Big Band, Brass Band, Saxophone Choir, Inglourious Brassterds
Emily is about to start her third year studying Maths at Lancaster. She has been involved with just about every possible part of ULMS during her time her – taking up drums over the past year so she could join the Brass Band on top of all her other ensembles, she is a teacher for PTM and a conductor for Big Band, conducting them when they performed in the Great North Big Band Jazz Festival earlier in the year! While at home she has been spending her time reading, listening to music and learning how to knit.
The PTM Coordinator is in charge of Project Teach Music, in which students sign up to teach other students various musical instruments. Emily’s role will involve keeping records of who is teaching who and when, as well as keeping track of payments.
Publicity Officer – Beth Cook
Instrument(s): Flute
Ensemble(s): Wind Band, Flute Choir
Beth is an English Language student about to start her second year. Despite only having a limited experience of playing in groups before coming to university, she has loved being a part of ULMS so far, with the biggest highlight from her first year being playing with the Wind Band in the annual Charity Showcase alongside the University’s Theatre Group in their performance of Grease. An unapologetic stickler for correct grammar, Beth has been spending her time in lockdown doing lots of baking and learning to sew with mixed success, but can’t wait to get back to Lancaster!
As Publicity Officer, Beth’s responsibilities include designing flyers and programmes for concerts and performances and running the official ULMS social media accounts, as well as the blog.
Socials Secretaries – George Allin and Isha Robbie
Instrument(s): Violin, Voice (George); Voice, Clarinet, Ukulele, Saxophone (Isha)
Ensemble(s): String Orchestra, Choir, Chamber Choir (George); Choir, Big Band, Wind Band, Swing Group, Barbershop Group (Isha)
A third-year Religious Studies student and second-year Natural Sciences student respectively, George and Isha are taking on the Social Sec role together and have already done a brilliant job of putting on virtual socials for the society during lockdown. In her first year with ULMS, Isha had particular fun singing with Big Band – although it was equally fun making faces at the trumpet section in non-vocal pieces! In lockdown, has been expanding her musical knowledge by learning the saxophone.
George has been keeping in touch with friends and participating in Together in Music, in which the ULMS Chamber Choir has been putting together virtual performances (check out their YouTube channel here) whilst at home. His highlight of the past year was the Choirs Concert – a lot of work, but very rewarding!
The Socials Secretaries have the fun job of planning the society’s weekly socials! There are some that have become ULMS traditions, including the Carolling Bar Crawl, Winter and Summer Balls and the Summer Showcase Aftersocial, but throughout the year there are a huge range of others – last year we had scavenger hunts, quiz and game nights and went out bowling – which Isha and George will now be organising. Any new ULMS members who want to keep up to date with socials as well as general society news can join the ‘ULMS Socials’ Facebook group here. Socials are a great opportunity to meet members of the society who are not in your ensembles, so we’d highly recommend getting involved!
This wraps up our Meet the Committee 2020/21 series! Thanks for reading, and we look forward to seeing current members and meeting new ones very soon…