Every Thursday evening, the Red House in Longstowe features piano jazz on their beautiful grand piano, played by one of Cambridgeshire's top jazz pianists. 8:00 to 10:30.

7pm - Cambridge Guitar Ensemble: A new group for local guitarists who want to enjoy playing music together.
For guitarists with at least six months experience - you may have more! Have fun at these informal one-hour ensemble playing sessions. Classical, Spanish or acoustic guitars are required. You need to read from standard music notation. Improve your guitar skills, musical knowledge and understanding. Sheet music can be provided beforehand so you can try it out at home.

The one-hour sessions run from 7pm to 8pm and cost £5 for adults, and £1 for under 16s who must be accompanied by an adult.

Followed at 8pm by Cambridge Guitar Club: For everyone who enjoys guitar music, and for local classical and acoustic guitarists, nylon or steel string.

Come and listen. Bring your guitar if you play. Everone who wishes has the chance to perform for the audience. Beginners are welcome.

More info on the web at http://cambridgeguitarclub.50webs.com

Wagner Siegfried Idyll
Stravinsky Octet
Villa-Lobos Bachianas Brasileiras No. 9
Bruch Kol Nidrei

CUMS II

Daniel Hill conductor
Sophie Gledhill cello

Tickets: £10/£8/£5 from http://www.cumss.org.uk or Maggie Heywood (01223 365110)

Sat 13th June 2009, 19:30, King's College Chapel
Cambridge University Musical Society
CUMS 1 and CHORUS

BEETHOVEN - SYMPHONY No. 9
PETER MAXWELL DAVIES - "The Sorcerer's Mirror"
World Premiere commissioned by CUMS in celebration of the University of Cambridge's 800th anniversary.

Libretto by Andrew Motion

Free pre-concert talk in Keynes Hall at 6.30pm by Robert Culshaw

Lynne Dawson soprano'
Madeleine Shaw mezzo'
Robin Leggate tenor'
Gerald Finley bass,
Stephen Cleobury conductor

Tickets: £30/£25/£20 with £4 off for CUMS members and a further £4 off for students. £5 student standbys on the door.

From: The Cambridge Corn Exchange (01223 357 851)

http://www.cums.org.uk

In celebration of Cambridge's 800th anniversary, the University Musical Society continues a long tradition of commissioning new music for great occasions which was originally initiated during Sir Charles Villiers Stanford's conductorship in the late nineteenth century. The Society has commissioned Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, Master of the Queen's Music, to write a new piece for symphony orchestra and chorus which will be premiered at the CUMS May Week Concert in King's College Chapel on 13 June 2009. The text for this new work will be written by Poet Laureate Andrew Motion. The work will be performed alongside Beethoven's Symphony No.9.

CUMS has a distinguished history of working with composers. Many of the great composers of the late nineteenth century - including Dvorak, Tchaikovsky, Bruch and Grieg - conducted its orchestra and chorus. The Society enjoyed a very close relationship with Benjamin Britten and his partner Peter Pears, performing most years at the Aldeburgh festival during the 1960s and early 1970s. Ralph Vaughan Williams was a member, and The Society has premiered works by Rutter, Holloway and Saxton in recent years as well as premiering at least one new undergraduate composition each year.

Programme to include
Overture to 'Candide' - Bernstein
Rhapsody in Blue - Gershwin
East Coast Pictures - Nigel Hess

CUWO

Simon Thomas Jacobs conductor
Richard Uttley piano

Tickets: £10/£8/£5 from http://www.cums.org.uk or Maggie Heywood (01223 365110)

Obviously we can't go into too many details (that would spoil the surprise), However, you can look forward to:

A massed parade of samba bands, steel drums and stunning costumed creatures,

The engaging and entertaining Strawberry Fair Film Festival,

The amazing kids entertainments area - containing, amongst other things, a circus big top, face painting, story telling, a bouncy castle, and plenty of opportunities for fun,

The dynamic, creative and unpredictable Arts Area showcasing some of the Fair's more colourful entertainment,

A wide selection of acts performing on the (main) ‘East Stage', the Future Stage (showcasing the area's amazing young performers), the mysterious Bigwam stage, The relaxing Acoustic Stage, the chilled vibes of the Green Area, a World Music stage - Strawberry World, and the Blaggers Stage for impromptu entertainment in many guises.

Across the Fair, Strawberry Essence aims to make the site an altogether nicer, happier, more colourful place through static and more imaginative décor, and wandering entertainment.