top of page

LUUMS String ORCHESTRA

LUUMS String Orchestra is an auditioned ensemble that uses its smaller size to its advantage to produce a precisely balanced and impressive sound. We’re around 30 strong, although sometimes expand for larger pieces. Last year’s pieces included Beethoven’s 8th Symphony, Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony and the Doppler Flute Concerto.
Despite our smaller size, we want to create a strong community of players who want to challenge themselves and get involved with LUUMS. People who are interested in not just playing the rep, but getting stuck in with socials and making friends. We’ve got a lot of socials lined up over the year (including a fair few post-rehearsal trips to Old Bar), so please do try and come along! Regardless of the temperamental situation, we will do our best to make music to the high standard we have always maintained.
We also do a short tour each year within the UK, in the past we have been to Edinburgh and Cardiff which gives another wonderful opportunity to socialise as a group and explore different places.
We perform three concerts a year in Leeds with varying repertoire over the year, usually before Christmas, Easter and Summer respectively. There is also a concerto opportunity for those who want it. In past years we have sometimes split up into smaller chamber ensembles, such as a string orchestra and a 10-part wind ensemble meaning that some weeks you may not be needed, but we’ll want you back the following week!

Rehearsals begin on the 5th October 2022.

Wednesdays 5pm – 7pm

Rehearsal Hall, School of Music

Luums.chamber@gmail.com

47087323_2265911493442605_80069712635053
46911421_2265900470110374_76691170972087
46830943_2265911236775964_19015726669475
24068200_1787235707976855_83436564538485
23915474_1787235907976835_58346700004586
28575657_1890644747635950_11209444601433
28379656_1890644807635944_80393601321562
34708753_2000030813364009_36935727810745

CHECK OUT OUR VIDEO BELOW! 

To find out when our next concert is, click here:

charlie terry
ching kwok

Charlie Terry (he/him)

Conductor

Charlie is a fourth year Mathematics student from Bromley. In the past he has been heavily involved with LUUMS having been the principal trombonist of the Symphony Orchestra, Symphonic Wind Orchestra, and the Brass Band at some point during his many years in the society. He has also had many roles in LUUMS such as being the Freshers Rep in the academic year 2018-2019, manager of the Chamber Choir in 2019-2020, conductor of Sinfonia in 2020-2021 and last year he was the conductor of the Symphony Orchestra. Within the Symphony Orchestra he took on ambitious repertoire including the entirety of Holst’s Planets suite and Saint-Saëns’ Symphony No. 3 (often incorrectly nicknamed the “Organ Symphony”). This year he is very much looking forward to keeping up his conducting with the String Orchestra! Charlie’s musical experience began at age 6 when he started the piano. He then started learning the trombone aged 12 which was the best decision he ever made as it very quickly became his main instrument! In addition, he can play the saxophone to a very basic self-taught level. He has also been singing in choirs since he was 11, most notably the Bromley Boy Singers under the direction of Travis Baker and had the opportunity to perform in Notre-Dame. Nowadays with singing, he has become known for always singing the lowest part possible due to his unique lower range! Outside of music, Charlie’s main passion is roller coasters, not to mention having ridden over 100 different coasters across Europe and some of the US (including the world’s tallest roller coaster). He is often found making repeat visits to Alton Towers and other UK theme parks when he finds the time!

Ching Kwok (she/her)

Conductor

Ching is currently a third-year Music and Music Psychology Student at the University of Leeds. She started learning the violin at the age of 4 and the clarinet at the age of 13. She had studied the violin for 4 years with Antonio Cucchiara as well as clarinet with Maria Payne at school and she is now studying violin with Ralph Dawson (Director of the Sheffield Chamber Orchestra) at the University of Leeds.

Since coming to Leeds, she was an executive member as concert manager of 2021-22 of LUUMS planning, organising, and directing more than 15 concerts a year for over 350 members of the society. Ching also continuously participated in the University Symphony Orchestra and is now also a member of the Opera North Youth Orchestra.

In addition, Ching had also performed with The Sinfonia of Leeds as well as The Leeds Gilbert & Sullivan Society musical production of “Sweeney Todd”.

Ching is extremely excited to be starting her journey as an orchestral conductor, conducting as a duo with Charlie Terry in the newly formed String Orchestra coming and being part of a new chapter of LUUMS.

emmeline macdonald

Emmeline Macdonald (she/her)

Manager

Emmeline studies English Language and Literature and is in her second year at Leeds. She began learning the violin at age 6 and the piano at age 7. She also started the viola at age 11 and started singing lessons aged 13. She studied at the Centre for Young Musicians (CYM), every Saturday for 9 years where she was able to perform in string quartets, lead orchestras and receive individual lessons. She was also part of the London Schools Symphony Orchestra from 2017-2021 where she performed termly at the Barbican Centre and toured to Germany, Romania, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. In her time at CYM, she competed in a string quartet competition in Poland and also received a Masterclass over Zoom with violinist Nicola Benedetti. In her first year, she was Devonshire Hall Music President where she ran a choir and organised Winter and Summer Concerts. She was also Music Director for their musical production, High School Musical, and is Music Director for the West Yorkshire Musical Pantomime Society for their production of Jack and the Beanstalk. She has been a member of LUUMS Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra for the past year and is looking forward to becoming manager of the newly named String Orchestra alongside Oli, Ching and Charlie!

oliver paul

Oliver Paul (he/him)

Manager

Oli is a second year English and Music student from Camden in north London. An avid musician, he has played the violin from the age of 6 and has since dabbled in other instruments since such as the bass guitar - for which he has played in several bands and a theatre production. He has undertaken several orchestral ventures, including playing at the Royal Albert Hall, the Royal Festival Hall and being conducted by Simon Rattle. In his first year, Oli has hugely enjoyed being a part of the symphony orchestra within Luums and is eager to get started with his wonderful team on making String Orchestra an absolute blast! Oli is also an extremely unsuccessful dancer, giving up within one semester due to sheer embarrassment.

bottom of page