Here are the bios for the various different committee positions which are being elected tomorrow (Wednesday 23rd February) at the AGM. You will be able to vote for your preferred candidate either in person tomorrow if you attend the AGM, which is at 6pm in the Jack Hylton Room, or if you are unable to attend then you will be able to vote using the online voting link, which will be emailed out at some point tomorrow. If you vote online you will not be able to vote in person at the AGM. We would recommend coming to the AGM to hear the candidates speak and to listen to them answer questions if possible, however if you are unable to attend please make use of our online voting facility.<\/p>\n
PRESIDENT<\/strong><\/p>\n Tom Roblin<\/strong><\/p>\n Hello everyone, my name is Tom Roblin and I\u2019d love to tell you why I\u2019m running for ULMS president this year. I\u2019m a third year Physics student, and have been a member of ULMS since I first set eyes on the stand at freshers\u2019 fair oh so long ago. I\u2019m currently a part of Brass Band, Dance Band and have served as Wind Band rep for the past year. As part of committee over the past year I hope I have proven myself to be a very hard-working and dedicated member of the society, and I believe I can transfer the skills that I have demonstrated managing an ensemble to managing the society as a whole. I also have previous experience with running a band, as I assisted in setting up a student-run jazz band in my final year at school, and have also led a student team in a national engineering project in sixth form.<\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s you, the members of ULMS, who make this society so amazing, and so I\u2019d like more than anything to be a President who listens to everyone\u2019s concerns. With that in mind, as President I\u2019d take a leaf out of the University\u2019s book and have an \u2018Office Hour\u2019 in County bar once a week. Of course, I\u2019ll always have an ear free to listen, but this provides a scheduled time where members can voice their concerns or suggestions directly to me in a relaxed environment.<\/span><\/p>\n Another part of ULMS I\u2019d like to work on is the accessibility of the society. Primarily I\u2019d do this by following on from the extremely promising work that Project Teach Music has been doing so far, organizing a group for the teachers e.g on Facebook, and overseeing the distribution of resources to buy teaching materials. Now that we have a lack of music students, I\u2019d organize conductor workshops with previous conductors to give our amazing student conductors a helping hand if they need it. <\/span><\/p>\n I\u2019d like to reinvigorate small groups, and work with the small groups rep to try and form new function bands to replace Jazz Combo and the Daltons if possible, I would do this by organizing a jamming session early on in the term to get people to join up and form a couple of small bands. <\/span><\/p>\n Another aspect of the society that I think is fantastic is the ULMS in the community initiative begun this year. As part of supporting the program I\u2019d attempt to do some more charity gigging around town, and rebrand the concerto concert to be more of a charity event, with proceeds going to a charity of the committee\u2019s choice, as in the constitution. Work with schools and local groups such as Lancaster Singers (thanks Nick!) to boost ULMS\u2019 profile, with a possibility of a joint Christmas concert. <\/span><\/p>\n I am an extremely committed individual, and always around to lend a helping hand with the ensembles I participate in. With my organizational and problem solving skills and experience working as part of a team, I believe I am the right person to lead ULMS into another great year.<\/span><\/p>\n Suds Lakhani\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Hi, I\u2019m <\/span>Saday<\/span> though many of you may know me as Suds<\/span>. This year I have decided to run for the position of President.<\/span><\/p>\n I am a second year psychology student and will be moving on to my third and final year at the university. I joined ULMS at the beginning of my first year after a successful audition<\/span> with the Big Band. Soon after exploring the other <\/span>ensembles<\/span>, I was elected as <\/span>the<\/span> Big Band Rep. <\/span>As a musician, I am very affectionate about musicianship and sharing that musicianship. This aligns with my ideas regarding the future of ULMS which I shall explain later.<\/span><\/p>\n Being on committee has <\/span>allowed me to see the wide range of musicians we have in ULMS and how they work together. Most importantly, it has allowed to me to see how the society is run in all its aspects be it socials or the role of the treasurer or president.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n As well as being the Big Band Rep. I volunteered to lead the ULMS in the Community project which is based on the idea of ULMS being a core part of the community around us. For this, I placed emphasis on ULMS breaking out of the <\/span>\u2018<\/span>campus bubble<\/span>\u2019<\/span>. I truly believe that <\/span>we have an incredible level of musicianship in ULMS and it would be a shame for that not to be shared. This required me to have meetings with everyone from LUSU to Lancashire County Council and Lancaster Music Festival Representatives. As a result, ULMS now has a large number of contacts who wish to <\/span>work with us<\/span>. In <\/span>the past five months<\/span>, ULMS has been featured by Lancashire Marketing, Lancaster Arts, Lancaster Music Festival, BBC Radio Lancashire and many more. I believe all of our ensembles, big or small, can be part a core part of<\/span> the<\/span> Lancaster<\/span> music scene<\/span>. I acknowledge that a part of this role is to aid in charity events, which we have done as a society, however more can be done in this area.<\/span><\/p>\n My vision for ULMS is very much based on the \u2018ethos\u2019 of how I play and listen to music. Music is there to be enjoyed and shared. It can be a competitive or casual as you like as long as you are happy. <\/span><\/p>\n There are a number of key things that I wish to carry forward. Firstly, we cannot escape the fact that we have no music department anymore. However<\/span>,<\/span> this does not mean that we <\/span>have dwindling numbers of musicians, eager to play music. We as a society have a responsibility to provide a chance to play and learn music to anyone who seeks it.<\/span> Especially due to the fact that Project Teach Music has started up.<\/span> <\/span>Secondly, I believe that there should be a stronger emphasis on all members regardless of genres socialising together which can be achieved through an imaginative and dedicated socials plan. Lastly, I want to make sure that ULMS is a solid part of the community around us. My ideal as president is to carry ULMS forward into a leading musical force for everyone to enjoy and appreciate both from a listening and performance perspective.<\/span><\/p>\n There are a number of other ideas I have which I shall not delve deep into due to the fact that this bio may be too long already. Despite this, if you do have any questions, please don\u2019t hesitate to contact me<\/span> at <\/span>saday.lakhani@gmail.com<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n SECRETARY<\/strong><\/p>\n Nick Barker<\/strong><\/p>\n Hello!<\/p>\n For those of you who don\u2019t know, my name is Nick Barker – I\u2019m in my second year, reading Mechanical Engineering.<\/p>\n Having been Choir Rep for the last year, I really want to carry on doing what I can to help and improve ULMS, and I think that being secretary will let me do that – as well as being something that I think I could do well and will enjoy. In addition to being Choir Rep on the ULMS committee, I have also been on the Gospel Choir exec, and I am a member of the Lancaster Singers committee. These things have given me a pretty good insight into the workings of committees and running a society, as well as different ways of doing things. Furthermore, having someone in this position who has been on the previous committee will help with a smoother handover, and will hopefully mean that there is better understanding of plans and projects that are ongoing and will continue into the next committee.<\/p>\n Being on both the Lancaster Singers and ULMS committees has allowed me to establish a connection between ULMS and another musical group in Lancaster \u2013 I have secured an official \u2018Working Relationship\u2019 between the two groups, and I am currently investigating a couple of things such as a conducting workshop and music lending, with hopes of joint concerts etc. to come. Hopefully the relationship being established here will encourage others to make further links with other musical groups in and around Lancaster.<\/p>\n There are also one or two other possibilities that I am currently investigating, which have great potential for boosting ULMS. Secretary is a position in which I think I would do a good job, as I already handle the administrative side of Barbershop and Chamber Choir, in addition to the Choir. I\u2019m organised, can work with all kinds of people, and I\u2019m enthusiastic \u2013 I like getting stuck into things, and being busy is something I relish. While I\u2019m sure there are a number of things about the role I have yet to learn or consider, I\u2019m determined to do the best job I can!<\/p>\n TREASURER<\/strong><\/p>\n Emma Pritchard<\/strong><\/p>\n Hi I’m Emma, and I’m running for Treasurer. I have been involved in ULMS for the past year and a half, playing in Wind Band, Dance Band and Big Band, as well as conducting Wind Band this year. I have really enjoyed being part of ULMS, and would love the opportunity to be on committee this year. As a maths student, I enjoy working with numbers, and making excel spreadsheets. I feel like this makes me an able candidate, being able to keep an accurate record of financial activity. As an organised and trustworthy person I feel like I would make a reliable treasurer and I would love to carry on the great work that Joe has done with keeping the accounts this year.<\/p>\n Harry Smith<\/strong><\/p>\n BIG BAND REP<\/strong><\/p>\n Lily Wearden<\/strong><\/p>\n I am a first year English Lit student and<\/span> currently a<\/span> saxophonist in Big Band, Wind Band, Swing Group and Dance Band. <\/span>I\u2019ve had so much fun being a part of all of these bands so far and have had such a great experience of the society<\/span> \u2013 <\/span>especially<\/span> being given the opportunity to learn the baritone sax \u2013<\/span> <\/span>that<\/span> <\/span>I would love to be involved in bringing more people in and giving them the same experience I\u2019ve had.<\/span><\/p>\n I have always been massively passi<\/span>onate about music and performance,<\/span> and because of this I think I would be good at inspiring more people to join the society and audition for Big Band. <\/span>I like to think of myself as friendly and approachable<\/span>,<\/span> which I think is particularly important as a band rep so that people know they can always voice any concerns to me, and I hope I would be able<\/span> to<\/span> take everyone\u2019s ideas into account to keep the band running the best it possibly can. <\/span><\/p>\n I have a lot of things I\u2019d love to do with the ensemble, such as adding to our current repertoire and looking at the possibility of getting involved in jazz festivals and competitions. <\/span>Most importantly I want to make sure that everyone loves what they are doing and remains enthusiastic about the band and the society throughout the year.<\/span> <\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n BRASS BAND REP<\/strong><\/p>\n Annabel Miles &\u00a0Georgia Williams\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Hey everyone, we are Annabel Miles and Georgia Williams. We are 2nd year Accounting and Finance and 1st year Maths students respectively. We are both committed cornet players in Brass Band and Georgia also plays in Big Band. Between us we have a total of 19 years of banding experience including different types of bands but mostly brass. We have experience of the Brass Band\u2019s main events of the year having competed at UniBrass last week and we have also competed at Whit Friday and the regional Area competitions with our own external bands for many years. Annabel has experience of a variety of events from last year which occur on campus, such as Campus Fest and Roses. We are both sociable, outgoing and not afraid to get involved and take on responsibilities. We have a lot to live up to following Sinead’s excellent reign but we hope to do the role justice and be friendly faces that any member of the band or society could approach.<\/p>\n CHOIR REP<\/strong><\/p>\n Kathryn Williams<\/strong><\/p>\n Hi, I’m Kathryn and I’m a second year Biochemistry student. I’ve been in choir for nearly two years now and this year I have helped out at orchestra so I really appreciate the effort and organisation that is required to make everything come together. As choir rep I would try to carry on Nick’s good work and get the choir involved as much as possible with more opportunities to perform, for example carol singing in the city centre at Christmas, as well as trying to support a more community feel among the whole choir.<\/p>\n STRING ORCHESTRA REP<\/strong><\/p>\n Holly Cantley<\/strong><\/p>\n Hi! My name is Holly. I am a first year student, studying Fine Art and I am running for String Orchestra rep. I think that I would make a good String Orchestra rep, because I have a passion for music and love to play the cello in the String Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra and to sing in the Choir. I am friendly, fun-loving, committed, enthusiastic, caring and hard-working! I enjoy working in a team, being informative and helping others. I am a good listener, who enjoys to take notes and enter into discussions in meetings, finding alternative solutions to problems. What\u2019s more, I am tidy, efficient, organised and I will make sure that the cake rota continues! \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n SWING GROUP REP<\/strong><\/p>\n Elly Spiers<\/strong><\/p>\n I am a first year biological sciences student and a member of the swing band, wind band and Fame band, where I play the alto saxophone and clarinet. <\/span><\/p>\n I am an <\/span>organised person, something I feel <\/span>will<\/span> benefit the committee<\/span>,<\/span> along with my dedication<\/span> and enthusiasm for <\/span>music<\/span>. I listen to a lot of jazz and swing music; therefore I could contribute to deciding new pieces to play in the band. <\/span><\/p>\n I would like the swing band to gain more members next year. This could be achieved by performing during fresher week or the first week of term to show o<\/span>ff our skills to potential members. Posters could also be displayed around campus. <\/span><\/p>\n Connections could also be made to owners of pubs and bars in Lancaster town centre and beyond in order to give the swing band the opportunity to have performances that aren\u2019t limited to the university campus.<\/span><\/p>\n SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA REP<\/strong><\/p>\n Phillip Kennedy\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n My name’s Philip, WIND BAND REP<\/strong><\/p>\n Claire Dickinson & Andy Walker<\/strong><\/p>\n (Claire) I\u2019m a first year oboist in wind band and orchestra <\/span>as well as<\/span> play<\/span>ing<\/span> the piano. I would love to be wind band rep as it sounds like a fantastic opportunity to get involved in the society and build on past successes. Music has been my passion and the thing that has kept me going for many years. <\/span><\/p>\n Not only do I love playing and listening to music, but being involved in ensembles <\/span>is<\/span> particularly important for me. Before coming to Lancaster I was a member of my county youth orchestra for ten years. This <\/span>gave <\/span>me a wealth of musical knowledge and experience. At school I was chair of my school council giving me the opportunity to develop my communication and leadership skills, both of which I <\/span>consider vital for<\/span> this <\/span>role.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n If I were to become wind b<\/span>and rep I would look at continuing<\/span> to maintain the inclusive and<\/span> enjoyable community.<\/span> I would listen to the views and suggestions from members to ensure everyone gets the most out of the band.<\/span> I would also be interested in looking at setting <\/span>up links with local schools to showcase<\/span> a range of music and experience to local school children.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span>(Andy) I am a first year student studying modern languages. I play the tenor saxophone in big band, wind band, dance band and also the cornet in brass band. I have been playing the saxophone for seven <\/span>years <\/span>and the cornet for six<\/span>. I have been involved with several music ensembles since <\/span>beginning to learn <\/span>both instruments<\/span>. <\/span>For instance, <\/span>I was<\/span> a member of <\/span>the <\/span>Staffordshire Performing Arts <\/span>Centre, a music centre in which I was a member of its wind band and jazz band. <\/span>I was<\/span> also a member of <\/span>the <\/span>North Staffor<\/span>dshire Youth Orchestra and <\/span>participated in a numbe<\/span>r of concerts, g<\/span>igs and small music festivals. <\/span>I am running for <\/span>the position of <\/span>wind band rep<\/span> as <\/span>I believe my experiences and <\/span>skills <\/span>will be beneficial in the management and organisation of the band. <\/span>I am organized and dedicated<\/span> <\/span>and like new challenges, <\/span>which I see this position as. <\/span>I am also very approachable, a key aspect o<\/span>f any ensemble representative which is very <\/span>useful in getting new students to join the band<\/span>, particularly<\/span> in the next academic year. <\/span>If I am elected for wind band rep, my aims would be to <\/span>expand the band\u2019s repertoire, perhaps introducing mor<\/span>e diverse<\/span> and challenging music. <\/span> <\/span>T<\/span>o <\/span>introduce the idea of having sectionals <\/span>in order to make <\/span>rehearsals <\/span>more constructive for t<\/span>he conductor and the musicians. F<\/span>inally, <\/span>to or<\/span>ganize more concerts and gigs, and maybe collaborati<\/span>ons with other ensembles<\/span>, <\/span>such as the <\/span>choir or the orchestra. Gaining this position would be a great responsibility<\/span> <\/span>which I would be willing to undertake <\/span>and to fulfil <\/span>until the next committee elections. <\/span><\/p>\n
\nI’m a first year physics student, my primary instruments are viola and organ piano, I also play bassoon and violin. Music is my main hobby, I enjoy both the playing and conducting side of my music. I am well organised and hope this would help in the running of the orchestra. My knowledge of both the conducting and playing would give me good understanding of what the players and conductors of this ensemble want and allow me to act as a liason between them.<\/p>\n