Big Band Masterclass: Pete Churchill

On Thursday 27th November, Durham University Big Band welcomed Pete Churchill to the Music Department for an evening workshop (kindly supported by PwC).

Pete is regarded as one of the finest jazz educators in the UK and is currently head of Jazz Composition at the Royal Academy of Music as well as being in high demand for large scale singing projects, especially with youth music organisations.

It was, however, Pete’s expertise in the direction of Big Bands that DUBB were after. Pete has worked with the Kenny Wheeler Big Band on Kenny’s 80th birthday tour as well as on the critically acclaimed album “The Long Waiting”. (Well worth a listen- it’s incredible writing.)

Pete started the evening by running a sectional with Rhythm. In just over an hour he transformed the section, not only by tightening the group, but by unifying the sound and creating a solid base that the rest of the band could play against.

When the full band came together later in the evening, Pete workshopped 2 Kenny charts- “Enowena” and “How Deep Is The Ocean”, as well as “Barcarolle”- a chart composed by a recent graduate of the Royal Academy of Music. Pete’s enthusiasm, insight and expertise was most welcomed and enabled the band to instantly improve their playing as well as give them plenty to work on in the future.

To hear the results of this workshop you can see the band at A Jazzy Christmas 2 on Wednesday 10th December from 8pm. It’s free entry, so come along after formal and before LloydsShack, grab a drink at the bar and enjoy!

Michaelmas Dinner Photos!


University Sabbatical Jobs

Student Music Development Co-ordinator Sabbatical



Grade   Grade 1.1 - £13,953
Contract Full time, fixed of 11 months
Hours  37.5 hours per week

Overview
This is an exciting one-year opportunity for a current Durham University student who will be graduating at the end of the 2014/2015 academic year. The post holder will work as part of the developing partnership between the Students' Union and Experience Durham (the Partners).

The successful candidate will work closely with both Partners and the Durham University Music Society (DUMS) to:
     Assist in the development of a cohesive and coordinated approach to student music within the University
     Increase participation in student music within the University; and
     Enhance the profile and promotion of student music within the University.

Role and Duties
Society Development
     To support and encourage the on-going development of existing and new music groups and activities.
     To work with student music groups to research and provide activities and opportunities that meet the diverse needs and interests of students.
     To support student groups and societies in the administration, organisation and development of their activities, events and structures.
     To work to ensure a culture of participation, empowerment and personal development within student music groups and societies.
     To provide administrative support to societies and groups on budget, income and expenditure, student group plans and the end of year report.
     To ensure the successful implementation of policies and procedures for student music groups and societies.

Undergraduate V.C Scholars
     To support the development and engagement of V.C music scholars and report on their achievements.
     To ensure that all V.C Music scholars are fully engaged in Durham student music.
     To work with scholars to ensure that they understand and fulfil their responsibilities.
     To establish a mentor programme for incoming scholars

Marketing and Promotion
     To work with the Partners and individual student organisations to increase the profile of student music and enhance the promotion of individual productions within the University.
     To work within existing marketing and publicity frameworks to increase the profile if opportunities designed to increase levels of student participation.
     To work with Partners to improve the publicity and promotion of music events within the University.

Community Programme
• To coordinate the development and delivery of a community programme in conjunction with SCA.
• To signpost volunteer students towards SCA projects, encouraging them to work in local schools
and to support teachers in the delivery of school music.
• To work with SCA to target local schools to help expand and develop their curriculum time and
Extra-curricular programmes.
• To work alongside SCA to ensure volunteering projects are running to safe and professional
standards, DBS checks are completed and all volunteering hours are recorded accurately on the
volunteer data base.

Person Specification
Applications will be measured against the criteria listed below. Applications must provide evidence of how candidates meet the criteria.

Essential criteria
     Current Durham University undergraduate or postgraduate student, graduating in winter or summer 2015
     Experience of music performance
     Experience of organisation and leadership within student music groups
     Willing and able to work in student-led, democratic environment
     Commitment to equal opportunities and removing barriers to participation
     Able to work effectively in a team and using own initiative
     Detailed knowledge of music

Desirable criteria
     Knowledge of marketing
     Experience of broadening engagement and participation
     Excellent verbal and written communications skills, including use of Microsoft Office

Applications
The deadline for receipt of applications is 5.00 pm on Friday 16th January 2015. 
Interviews will be held on Thursday 22nd January 2015 and Monday 26th January 2015.
Applications should be submitted, by email, to c.a.walker@durham.ac.uk.
Applications should include an up-to-date curriculum vitae and a covering letter of no more than 500 words explaining why you would like to be offered the post and what skills and experience you possess to allow you to succeed in the role.


THEATRE DEVELOPMENT CO-ORDINATOR (SABBATICAL) 


Grade: 1.1 (£13,953)
Contract: Full-time, fixed term
Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Overview
This is an exciting one year opportunity for a current Durham University student who will be graduating at the end of the 2014/15 academic year.  The post holder will work as part of the developing partnership between the Students’ Union and Experience Durham (the Partners).

The successful candidate will work closely with both Partners and Durham Student Theatre (DST) to:

·     develop a cohesive and co-ordinated approach to the development of student theatre within the University;
·     increase participation in student theatre within the University;
·     enhance the profile and promotion of student theatre within the University and wider community.

Roles and Responsibilities
Society Development

·     Where appropriate work alongside the Students’ Union with individual societies and theatre companies to help them develop their strategy and programme.
·     To work closely with the President to ensure the ongoing development of the society and, in particular, to support the President throughout their time in office.
·     To bring forward any issues, concerns or ideas the DST Exec have to relevant University bodies.
·     Be visible and accessible to ordinary DST members who may need help and/or advice.
Community Programme

·     To coordinate the development and delivery of a community programme in conjunction with SCA.
·     To signpost volunteer students towards SCA projects, encouraging them to work in local schools and to support teachers in the delivery of school drama.
·     To work with SCA to target local schools to help expand and develop their curriculum time and extra-curricular programmes.
·     To work alongside SCA to ensure volunteering projects are running to safe and professional standards, DBS checks are completed and all volunteering hours are recorded accurately on the volunteer database.
·     To establish and develop mutually beneficial relationships with local and regional organisations.
·     ENTER CIC: To continue to develop this partnership between our students and theirs to create a beneficial relationship for all.
·     ZAMBIA: To work closely with the DST President, Experience Durham and the Zambia team leader to assist in the organisation of the trip.
Undergraduate VC Scholars

·     To support the recruitment, development and engagement of VC Theatre Scholars and report on their achievements.
·     To ensure that all VC Arts Scholars are fully engaged in Durham Student Theatre.
·     To work with scholars to ensure that they understand and fulfil their responsibilities.
·     To establish a mentor programme for incoming scholars.
Grant Allocation & Sponsorship Liaison

·     To work with DST to promote appropriate grants sourced from the Students’ Union.
·     To oversee the allocation of all sponsorship grants and all development bursaries associated with student theatre.
·     To act as the principle contact for with regard to all sponsorship matters associated with the current student theatre sponsorship contract.
·     To be the first point of contact on all sponsorship matters and to ensure all contracts are carried out in full.
Person Specification
Applications will be measured against the criteria listed below.  Applications must provide evidence of how candidates meet the criteria.

Essential Criteria

·     Current Durham University undergraduate or postgraduate student graduating in winter or summer 2015.
·     Experience of theatre performance.
·     Experience of organising and participating in student groups.
·     Willing and able to work in student-led, democratic environment.
·     Commitment to equal opportunities and removing barriers to participation.
·     Able to work effectively in a team and using own initiative.
·     Detailed knowledge of drama.

Desirable Criteria

·     Knowledge of marketing.
·     Experience of broadening engagement and participation.
·     Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including use of Microsoft Office.

Applications
The deadline for receipt of applications is 5.00 pm on Friday 16thJanuary 2015.
Interviews will be held on Thursday 22nd January 2015 and Monday 26th January 2015.
Applications should be submitted, by email, to c.a.walker@durham.ac.uk.
Applications should include an up-to-date curriculum vitae and a covering letter of no more than 500 words explaining why you would like to be offered the post and what skills and experience you possess to allow you to succeed in the role.


THEATRE MANAGER (SABBATICAL)


Grade: 1.1 (£13,953)
Contract: Full-time, fixed term
Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Overview
This post would be ideally suited to an individual with experience of, or who has been involved with, theatre and is interested in pursuing a career in theatre management on a larger scale.  The successful candidate will be responsible for:

·     ensuring the development of the Assembly Rooms as a full-time professional theatre;
·     co-ordinating external hires in order to generate enough income to support the post as well as establishing a respected reputation with local and national theatre groups;
·     working alongside the Theatre Sabbatical and Durham Student Theatre (DST) President to ensure students gain maximum benefit from the use of the Assembly Rooms and their interests in the building during term time are protected;
·     marketing and promoting theatre at Durham both within the University and the wider UK/ Global setting;
·     developing relationships with Alumni, in conjunction with Experience Durham, to establish longer term projects to benefit the theatre, the students and the University.
Roles and Responsibilities
Assembly Rooms

·     To act as Secretary to the Assembly Rooms Management Group; co-ordinating and acting upon identified priorities as determined by the group.
·     To liaise with E&B staff with regard to the theatre building and any inspections or repairs that need to take place.
·     To continue to develop the Assembly Rooms in order to establish it as a full-time professional theatre.
·     To safeguard the use of the theatre by students during term time and to liaise with the Theatre Sabbatical and DST President on their use of the theatre as well as future improvements to the building.
·     To co-ordinate and organise External Hires, following up enquiries with theatre viewings in order to generate enough income from External Hires to fund this position.
·     To manage the Assembly Rooms Theatre Box Office, including cash handling and regular banking, confectionery stock management and ordering, and staff training.
·     To ensure External Hires are invoiced by liaising with the Experience Durham Finance Department.
To work with the DST Technical Manager to ensure that equipment is maintained and any other business is adhered to. Marketing & Promotion

·     To promote and market the variety of events at the Assembly Rooms and as a theatre venue as a whole.
·     To work with Experience Durham and individual student organisations to increase the profile of student theatre and enhance the promotion of individual productions.
·     To work with Experience Durham and DST to improve the publicity and promotion of theatre events within the University and to the wider community.
·     To ensure, above all, that all Durham productions taken outside the University are well documented and publicised, including the Edinburgh Fringe and National Student Drama Festival.
Alumni connections and long term projects

·     To develop, alongside Experience Durham, relationships with theatre alumni.
·     To organise theatre alumni events annually and to keep them up-to-date with theatre at Durham.
·     To consider, plan and see through longer term projects to benefit theatre at Durham.
Person Specification
Applications will be measured against the criteria listed below.  Applications must provide evidence of how candidates meet the criteria.

Essential Criteria

·     Current Durham University undergraduate or postgraduate, graduating in Winter or Summer 2015.
·     Knowledge of running and organising a theatre.
·     Experience of day to day running of a student theatre.
·     Experience of organising and participating in student groups.
·     Willing and able to work in a student-led, democratic environment.
·     Strong organisational, verbal and written communication skills, including Microsoft Office.
·     Able to work effectively in a team and using own initiative.
Desirable Criteria

·     Knowledge and experience of marketing.
Applications
The deadline for receipt of applications is 5.00 pm on Friday 16thJanuary 2015.
Interviews will be held on Thursday 22nd January 2015 and Monday 26th January 2015.
Applications should be submitted, by email, to c.a.walker@durham.ac.uk.
Applications should include an up-to-date curriculum vitae and a covering letter of no more than 500 words explaining why you would like to be offered the post and what skills and experience you possess to allow you to succeed in the role.