Events Calendar

Undergraduate Open Day will be taking place across our Southampton campuses including Highfield, Boldrewood, Avenue and NOCS. Prospective students and their guests are invited onto campus to come and experience what University of Southampton has to offer, with a full programme of talks, tours and other activities for them to explore. We'll be welcoming around 6000 guests onto campus!

For more information please contact randcevents@soton.ac.uk

This one-day online, interactive course will provide a practical introduction to Qualitative Secondary Analysis.

The morning session will explore key debates and histories characterising the beginnings of this methodology, including how and why we might use existing qualitative data, how to sample from and across datasets and repositories, the unique ethical considerations of using existing qualitative data, and the potential of Qualitative Secondary Analysis to produce new and relevant research findings.

The afternoon session will focus on the practicalities of analysing existing data, exploring the possibilities for these methods for delegates’ own research and the diversity of research designs made possible through data reuse.

The course is being run by the National Centre for Research Methods, which is based in the Faculty of Social Sciences.

Find out more and register: https://www.ncrm.ac.uk/training/show.php?article=14146

This event will also take place again on Tuesday 23rd September.

This workshop is an opportunity for all staff teaching University of Southampton students. Whether you are new to teaching in the UK or at this university, are returning to teaching after a research break or interact with students in your daily job this workshop is for you.

This brief Introduction to Learning and Teaching in HE will help you to make a start on developing your education practice and will support you in managing your education role/s (however big or small). This is a preliminary workshop to building your education portfolio and teaching expertise and will support your professional and academic development in the areas of learning and teaching.

By the end of this event, participants should be able to:

·       Identify key elements of learning and teaching practice in HE

·       Design a learning and teaching session (and/or critique the design of a L&T session)

·       Share examples of teaching and learning practice

·       Familiarise with the Professional Standard Framework 2023 for Learning and Teaching

This workshop is an opportunity for all staff teaching University of Southampton students. Whether you are new to teaching in the UK or at this university, are returning to teaching after a research break or interact with students in your daily job this workshop is for you.

This brief Introduction to Learning and Teaching in HE will help you to make a start on developing your education practice and will support you in managing your education role/s (however big or small). This is a preliminary workshop to building your education portfolio and teaching expertise and will support your professional and academic development in the areas of learning and teaching.

By the end of this event, participants should be able to:

·       Identify key elements of learning and teaching practice in HE

·       Design a learning and teaching session (and/or critique the design of a L&T session)

·       Share examples of teaching and learning practice

·       Familiarise with the Professional Standard Framework 2023 for Learning and Teaching

This workshop presents an opportunity for you to interact with me on key issues and challenges facing Chinese students as they embark on their U.K university studies.

We will delve deep into the mindset of a typical Chinese university students and develop clear strategies for enabling them to settle into a very different U.K university experience quickly and smoothly.

I will impart my encyclopaedic knowledge of the Chinese university experience, based on ongoing experience teaching and researching inside Chinese universities which began almost 30 years ago.

This session aligns with the following PSF 2023 Dimensions in that its content links to: (V1) Respect individual learners and diverse groups of learners; (V2) Promote engagement in learning and equity of opportunity for all; (V4) Respond to the wider context in which higher education operates; and (K1) How learners learn, generally and within specific subjects.

By the end of this event, participants should be able to:

·       Aware of the key features of a typical Chinese university experience

·       Understand and appreciate the mindset of a typical Chinese university student

·       Elaborate on the key issues and challenges facing a typical Chinese student when they start their U.K university experience

·       Articulate strategies for effecting a smooth settling in period to U.K university life for a typical Chinese student

The correct pronunciation of a Chinese student’s name and an understanding of its meaning is great way to establish an instant dialogue and effective rapport which paves the way for a far more productive learning experience.

In my experience, even those completely new to the Chinese language can learn to pronounce Chinese names within a very short space of time and this seminar will assume no prior knowledge of the Chinese language at all.

Chinese students studying outside China often assume that those around them not only lack knowledge of their culture but also lack interest too. By improving our ability to pronounce Chinese names and develop some understanding of their meaning we will break down these barriers very quickly and permanently.

By the end of this event, participants should gain:

• An ability to pronounce Chinese (Pinyin) names much better where the sound is much closer to the sound produced by a native Chinese speaker

• An understanding of the most common male and female Chinese names, forenames and family names

• An understanding of the prepresentation of Chinese names

• An understanding of the meaning of common Chinese name

A double-bill of outstanding jazz as part of the Sounds of Denmark Festival, featuring some of the finest musicians from one of Europe’s most creative and vibrant jazz scenes.

Tonight opens with the warm, melancholic folk-influenced Nordic-jazz noir of tenor sax-led Cecilie Strange Quartet, followed by cinematically influenced, dreamy original soundscapes and trip-hop grooves from Astral Cinema.

To mark the centenary of the RRS Discovery, the exhibition will draw on material from the National Oceanography Library archive to highlight something of life on board in the 1920s.

The University's Palestine Solidarity Network and Palestine Solidarity Society invite all students and staff to join weekly Tuesday vigils in solidarity with Palestine. The vigils provide a welcoming space to discuss current events, engage in open and truthful discourse around Palestine, and empower those who feel helpless to stand together for justice and peace.

Feel the fire of Vivaldi

Baroque brilliance returns to Turner Sims as award-winning ensemble La Serenissima light up the stage. They present a rare and thrilling programme of Vivaldi’s music for plucked and bowed strings. Joining them is Italian mandolin virtuoso Raffaele La Ragione.

Hailed by The Telegraph for ‘whipping up a storm with Vivaldi,’ La Serenissima is the UK’s leading voice in Italian baroque. Their performances are bold, fresh, and full of energy. Every note is brought to life from original manuscripts, making each concert a deep dive into musical history with a modern heartbeat.

Founded in 1994 by violinist Adrian Chandler, the group has racked up Gramophone Awards, chart-topping albums, and millions of streams. Their recordings are regulars on BBC Radio 3, Classic FM, and beyond.

Named after Venice – Vivaldi’s magical hometown of canals and creativity – La Serenissima is on a mission to share the Red Priest’s genius with the world.

Don’t miss this electrifying celebration of Vivaldi’s legacy.

Undergraduate Open Day will be taking place across our Southampton and Winchester campuses including Highfield, Boldrewood, Avenue, NOCS and WSA. Prospective students and their guests are invited onto campus to come and experience what University of Southampton has to offer, with a full programme of talks, tours and other activities for them to explore. We'll be welcoming around 6000 guests onto campus!

For more information please contact randcevents@soton.ac.uk

Students and alumni, if you’re looking for opportunities with global or national recruiters, SMEs, third sector or charity organisations, the All-Sector Autumn Careers Fair will offer you a vibrant mix of employers to discover. Make sure you book to attend so you don’t miss out!

Why Attend?

• Explore opportunities: Discover a variety of work experience vacancies and graduate roles.
• Network: An invaluable opportunity to connect with employers and find out more about company culture, learning and development opportunities and gain an insight into available roles

This event will be taking place in Garden Court, Building 40. To receive reminder emails, updates, exhibitor information and more, book onto the event via MyCareer.  

Much loved Yorkshire folk duo, Belinda O’Hooley & Heidi Tidow, have made the momentous decision to say farewell for now to explore other adventures that are beckoning to them.

To help their incredibly loving and loyal audiences process this news, they are embarking upon one last tour of all their favourite venues from over the years.

They have been performing together for 15 years, in hundreds of venues and festivals across the UK and Europe. They have recorded eight studio albums and have achieved four BBC Folk Award nominations. They are known for composing ‘Gentleman Jack’ as the BBC/HBO drama theme tune.

Belinda and Heidi’s boundless songwriting has been described by The Guardian as ‘exceptional’ and The Independent as ‘defiant, robust, northern, poetical, political folk music for the times we live in.’ Moving, melodic, dramatic and tender, from stories of parenthood, the call of a song thrush, to a portrait of the last days of a touching relationship between their neighbour Matthew and his beloved Alsatian, Ted, and even a collaboration with Gentleman Jack herself, Suranne Jones on ‘The Ballad of Anne and Ann’, they explore, consider and connect subjects and stories in a distinctive, inventive and memorable way.

Belinda and Heidi have the originality and skill to invite comparison with the most celebrated harmony duos. 6 Music’s Tom Robinson says ‘They sing together in the way families do. Normally, you only get that closeness in the voices with family bands like The Coppers or The Watersons.’

Widely acclaimed for the rare beauty of her sound and her enchanting presence on stage, Irina Kulikova has established herself as one of today’s leading guitarists.

Irina Kulikova presents an evening of sublime music for the guitar including classics by composers Sor, Mangore and Aguado.  These are interspersed with works dedicated to her by a range of composers.

Workplace stress conversations for line managers

You know the importance of addressing workplace stress and are familiar with the workplace stress assessments having read the guidance and/or having done the training. You just need some extra tips on things to look out for when having a workplace stress conversation. 

This course will help you to:

• Know the different responses you might get when having a workplace stress conversation.
• Put in place mitigations for common challenges you may face.
• Know the skills needed for a successful workplace stress conversation.
• Know what support is available to all staff.

Important information:

• Please be in a suitable space for cameras to be on and to talk in group discussions.
• Due to the sensitivity of discussions, this training will not be recorded. This includes the use of AI meeting notes which will be removed from the session. Training materials will be sent to attendees after the session.
• Our sessions have a minimum of 8 attendees. If the session does not reach this, we will cancel and provide an alternative to those who have booked.
• We have lots of content to get through so we will use all of the time.  

Undergraduate Open Day will be taking place across our Southampton campuses including Highfield, Boldrewood, Avenue and NOCS. Prospective students and their guests are invited onto campus to come and experience what University of Southampton has to offer, with a full programme of talks, tours and other activities for them to explore. We'll be welcoming around 6000 guests onto campus!

For more information please contact randcevents@soton.ac.uk

This course provides an introduction to National Pupil Database (NPD), an administrative data resource covering the education system in England.

It is suitable to anyone intending to undertake quantitative research on the school system in England. No prior knowledge of the NPD or statistical code is required to access the course.

The course is being run by the National Centre for Research Methods, which is based in the Faculty of Social Sciences.

Find out more and register: https://www.ncrm.ac.uk/training/show.php?article=14154

Entanglement, Topological Quantum States of Matter, and the “Second Quantum Revolution” by Nobel Laureate Professor Duncan Haldane, Princeton University.

The laws of quantum mechanics were discovered during a brief period starting one hundred years ago, and have survived all challenges, but some of the unexpected things they allow are only now being discovered. In particular, the strange property of “quantum entanglement” (pointed out by Einstein, as a property of quantum mechanics he felt had to be wrong) has been experimentally validated, and is central to current attempts to build powerful “quantum computers”.   It is also central to “topological quantum states”, which some believe hold the key to scalable quantum computing.

Our Speaker: Duncan Haldane is the Eugene Higgins Professor of Physics at Princeton University. In 2016 he received the Nobel Prize in Physics for his groundbreaking contributions to condensed matter physics. He obtained his Ph.D. in physics from the University of Cambridge in 1978 and joined the Princeton faculty in 1990. In addition to the Nobel Prize, he has also won several other prestigious prizes such as the Dirac Medal and Prize of the Abdus Salam International Center for Theoretical Physics and the Oliver E. Buckley Condensed Matter Physics Prize from the American Physical Society.

To purchase your ticket (£5pp) please visit the Turners Sim website STAG Public Lecture 2025 - Turner Sims

The Engineering & Physical Sciences Autumn Careers Fair will offer a vibrant mix of employers to discover. Make sure you book to attend so you don’t miss out!

Why Attend?

• Explore opportunities: Discover a variety of work experience vacancies and graduate roles.
• Network: An invaluable opportunity to connect with employers and find out more about company culture, learning and development opportunities and gain an insight into available roles

This event will be taking place in Garden Court, Building 40. To receive reminder emails, updates, exhibitor information and more, book onto the event via MyCareer.  

British jazz pianist and composer Julian Joseph and his exciting trio perform new jazz that explores immersive soundscape technology.

Described as a revolution in the way we perceive sound, this is a must see and hear. New music has been specifically composed by Julian to show how emotion and drama can be enhanced by the immersive technology. He and his trio marry acoustic sound with digital processing capability that can be achieved on the fly; in a split second.

Recognised as one of the finest jazz musicians this side of the Atlantic, Julian has been a towering figure in jazz for over two decades. He has devoted his long career to championing music, both across the UK and into the far corners of the world.

He has forged a reputation with his formidable skills as a composer and phenomenal performer. He is a highly knowledgeable and engaging broadcaster, musical ambassador and cultural advocate.

He is joined by Alok Verma on tablas, percussion and voice, and Kaidi Akinnibi on tenor saxophone.

Tonight’s performance links to the awarding of an honorary degree from the University of Southampton which Julian Joseph receives in Summer 2025.

This year's annual F. T. Prince Memorial Lecture will feature guest speaker Mary Jean Chan. It is organised in partnership with the English Department, School of Humanities (FAH) and Winchester Poetry Festival.

More details will be added here in due course.

For more information, please contact fahevent@soton.ac.uk. 

Undergraduate Open Day will be taking place on our Winchester School of Art campus. Prospective students and their guests are invited onto campus to experience what WSA has to offer, with a full programme of talks, tours and other activities for them to explore. We'll be welcoming around 250 guests onto campus!

For more information please contact randcevents@soton.ac.uk

One of the most distinctive voices in jazz and improvised music today, Laura Jurd’s unique approach to the trumpet is celebrated in the work that she creates.

Laura’s love of folk traditions can often be heard in her music, alongside a background in classical composition, taking twists and turns that both invite surprise and evoke the inevitable.

In the past couple of years, Laura’s love of traditional music has deepened having played alongside the likes of Irish fiddle player Ultan O’Brien and English accordionist Martin Green (one third of super-group Lau). This autumn sees Laura returning to the stage, presenting her astonishing new album, ‘Rites & Revelations’ release due October 2025. The music takes the listener on a journey of ritual and catharsis, propelled by the world-class rhythm section of Ruth Goller – bass and Corrie Dick – drums, alongside strikingly brilliant folk musicians Ultan O’Brien and Martin Green.

Join us on Highfield Campus for the opportunity to meet a range of employers and industry professionals in the fields of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Geography and Environmental Sciences, Psychology, Biological Sciences and Health Sciences. 

Why Attend?

• Explore opportunities: Discover a variety of work experience vacancies and graduate roles.
• Network: An invaluable opportunity to connect with employers and find out more about company culture, learning and development opportunities and gain an insight into available roles

To receive reminder emails, updates, exhibitor information and more, book onto the event via MyCareer.

A high energy 100% jazz show for jazz fans, rock fans and everything in between.

Jazz Sabbath is a jazz trio from the UK, helmed by pianist Adam Wakeman (Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne’s solo band since 2004). They play new jazz arrangements based on Black Sabbath songs. Jazz Sabbath explores the boundaries between jazz and the songs that defined heavy metal.

They have released three albums since 2020 which all charted high in the Billboard Jazz Chart. Their music streaming count is in the millions. All three albums got special Record Store Day Mono editions, which sold out within days.

Jazz Sabbath present themselves as a jazz trio formed in 1968 and the original writers of the tracks later made famous by Black Sabbath. They have played at international jazz festivals and toured worldwide since 2022. Almost all twenty-nine shows on their 2025 EU/UK tour sold out well in advance.

Over 200.000 people watched the live stream from their show at the Leverkusen Jazz Festival in Germany and a million have since.

Join two of the most revered female singer-songwriters for an evening of unparalleled music.

Appearing together on stage for the first time, Beth and Judie perform songs such as ‘Stay With Me Till Dawn’, ‘Sand and Water’, ‘Bring The Rain’, ‘This Kiss’ and their stunning collaboration, ‘Safe’. Alongside their musicians, this is set to be a beautiful night of lyric, song and harmony.

Beth Nielsen Chapman is an American singer and songwriter who has written hits for country and pop music performers. She was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2016. She is a two-time Grammy Award and an ACM Award nominee. She won the Country Music Association Award for Song of the Year in 1999 for writing Faith Hill’s ‘This Kiss’. Judie Tzuke is an English singer-songwriter. She is best known for her 1979 hit ‘Stay with Me till Dawn’, which reached number 16 on the UK singles chart.

This exhibition will look at the Hartley Library through its five distinct phases of development from pre first world war, through the Turner Sims and Gurney Dixon work of the 1930s and 1950s and on to the 1980s and the 2000 wrap around extension.  It will include a selection of items from our Archives and Special Collections, new digital content in response to the material in the archives alongside future development ideas.

There will also be a chance to view alumni memories of the Hartley Library, part of our Hartley History Postcard collaboration with ODAR, the Office of Development and Alumni Relations.

Run by Southampton Health Technology Assessments Centre (SHTAC) - An introduction to the basic concepts of health economics evaluation.

About this course

This course provides an introduction to the basic concepts of health economics evaluation. It is for anyone who needs to understand the principles of health economics and how or when they are used in evaluating the costs and benefits of healthcare interventions and particularly for those used in the UK health service. The course is interactive and includes practical exercises. On completion of the course participants will be able to understand health economic evaluation terminology,  basic concepts and interpret aspects of a health economic evaluation. All participants receive a PDF course pack including useful tools and resources to use in health economic evaluations.
 

Who is this course for?

Anyone interested in health economics and how it is applied. Previous delegates have been:

•    principal investigators adding a health economic evaluation to their research
•    researchers
•    PhD and MSc students
•    academics
•    clinical trialists
•    health and social care workers
•    pharmaceutical employees
 

Learning outcomes

After completing this course, you will understand:

•    the basic concepts of health economics
•    how to measure health outcomes
•    how to measure costs
•    cost effectiveness analyses in decision making
•    reviewing economic evaluation
 

Course details

• 12 and 19 November 2025

• 09:00 – 13:00

• this is an online course conducted via Zoom

• 8 learning hours
   

Fees

• full time students: £150

• academic/public sector: £225

• private sector: £325

For more information and to book a place please visit our website.

Coping with stressful situations for student facing staff (Academic Staff)

This session is IN PERSON and is held on Highfield campus (Room TBC). 

An in-person workshop that covers keeping yourself well while dealing with difficult conversations and maintaining boundaries. You will learn practical tips that can be incorporated into practice and be given the opportunity to explore scenarios and identify unhelpful thinking.

This course will help you to:

• Know the boundaries and what actions to take when they are blurred.
• Recognise how different interactions impact on our thoughts, feelings and actions.
• Apply different strategies to reduce the impact.
• Know what support is available to you and students when needed.

Important information:

• Our sessions have a minimum of 8 attendees. If the session does not reach this, we will cancel and provide an alternative to those who have booked.
• We also run a version for non-academic staff, please make sure you are booked on the right one. 

Undergraduate Open Day will be taking place on our Winchester School of Art campus. Prospective students and their guests are invited onto campus to experience what WSA has to offer, with a full programme of talks, tours and other activities for them to explore. We'll be welcoming around 250 guests onto campus!

For more information please contact randcevents@soton.ac.uk

An interactive performance that blends poetry, rap, and music for a tongue-in-cheek rock show perfect for little people aged 0 to 5.

Poet and performer Arji Manuelpillai and jazz and rock guitarist Matt Smith join forces to create this unforgettable show full of energy, rhythm, and fun.

Sing along to timeless favourites like ‘Old MacDonald,’ ‘Wheels on the Bus,’ and ‘Sleeping Bunnies,’ all with a fresh, exciting twist that will have both children and grown-ups bopping along.

Prepare to be transported by the extraordinary, beautiful and ethereal sounds of ice.

The ice music pioneer, Terje Isungset, returns to the UK with his quartet, featuring voice, ice harp, ice horn, iceophone, ice percussion and ice bass.

This ice concert is a tribute to the most important thing in the whole world – nature. It is based on music from Terje’s albums, ‘Winter Songs’ and ‘Beauty of Winter’, alongside new material from their ‘Ice Quartet’ album, released in November 2024.

The instruments are made during Terje’s annual Ice Music Festival in Norway. They are carved and crafted using only natural frozen ice from the lakes.

​Please join the Evaluation Community of Practice Teams channel for full information and joining instructions.

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This session introduces advance literature searching skills for colleagues under taking a systematic or scoping review

Please Note: This session is only bookable on staffbook by those members of staff in Faculty of Medicine, School of Psychology, School of Health Sciences. 

If you have any questions about the session itself, please contact the facilitators listed below. 
If you have any issues with booking onto the event please contact CHEP@soton.ac.uk and the team will be able to assist you further. 

Addressing workplace stress training

For all staff and managers

Stress will impact how we feel physically, emotionally and the way we process information. Without a break or recovery from it, it will impact our health long term. Stopping or reducing the causes of stress is the most effective action we can take. The sooner we take action; the sooner we prevent illness. 

At the university, we all have a responsibility to assess and manage workplace stressors. To put people at the core of what we do, it’s important that we look after our health and wellbeing at work. We also have a legal duty of care to assess and manage workplace stress, and this training will show you how. 

This course will help you to:

• Know what workplace stress is and the consequences it brings.

• Use a stress assessment to identify the causes of workplace stress and plan actions to reduce it.

• Identify ways to reduce stress and build up personal resilience.

• Know what support is available to you when you need it.

Important information:

• Please be in a suitable space for cameras to be on and to talk in group discussions.
• Due to the sensitivity of discussions, this training will not be recorded. This includes the use of AI meeting notes which will be removed from the session. Training materials will be sent to attendees after the session.
• Our sessions have a minimum of 8 attendees. If the session does not reach this, we will cancel and provide an alternative to those who have booked.
• We have lots of content to get through so we will use all of the time.  

Please note, if you attended workplace stress risk assessment, or workplace stress awareness training in 2024 you will not need to attend this as the same key messages are within this training.

Three of the UK’s most celebrated folk and jazz musicians come together to create mesmerising, lyrical music.

Three of the UK’s most creative, multi award winning musicians create music that weaves together the essence of folk and jazz.

Two time winner of the BBC Folk Awards Singer of the Year, June Tabor rose to fame in the mid ‘70’s. She has maintained a high profile career ever since, working with the likes of Maddy Prior and the Oyster Band amongst many others. Listed in the BBC’s 100 Jazz Legends, Iain Ballamy is one of the UK’s most celebrated jazz musicians and composers. Welsh pianist Huw Warren’s distinctive and enticing music has led to collaborations with Maria Pia de Vito, Mark Feldman and Erik Truffaz.

Drawing on original compositions, traditional folk songs and reclaimed standards, Quercus create a magical atmosphere. They combine June’s passionate voice with Iain’s glorious melodies and Huw’s off-kilter musicality. Together they create beautifully poignant music that tells life’s bittersweet tales.

Workplace stress conversations for line managers

You know the importance of addressing workplace stress and are familiar with the workplace stress assessments having read the guidance and/or having done the training. You just need some extra tips on things to look out for when having a workplace stress conversation. 

This course will help you to:

• Know the different responses you might get when having a workplace stress conversation.
• Put in place mitigations for common challenges you may face.
• Know the skills needed for a successful workplace stress conversation.
• Know what support is available to all staff.

Important information:

• Please be in a suitable space for cameras to be on and to talk in group discussions.
• Due to the sensitivity of discussions, this training will not be recorded. This includes the use of AI meeting notes which will be removed from the session. Training materials will be sent to attendees after the session.
• Our sessions have a minimum of 8 attendees. If the session does not reach this, we will cancel and provide an alternative to those who have booked.
• We have lots of content to get through so we will use all of the time.  

The following session will provide participants with an introduction to supporting Autistic students at the University. 

It will include interactive case studies and discussions and will encourage participants to reflect on their roles and how they can provide better experience for Autistic students.

By the end of this event, participants should be able to:

-          Feel confident in basic understanding of Autism.

-          Be able to identify barriers some autistic students may face at university.

-          Reflect on their own practice and role at University and consider ways in which they may be able to make this more inclusive and supportive for neurodivergent students.

Session led by:

Anna McCann, Beth Lawson & Lizzie Nash (Student Disability & Inclusion)

The perfect opportunity to have some special time with your baby, connecting through music and sensory play.

Presented by Concerteenies, this relaxed concert will offer a calm and welcoming environment for you to share with your baby. Join Annabelle Lawson (piano), Meera Maharaj (flutes) and creative practitioners Polly Ives and Sarah Carroll for lullabies as we slow down and cosy up for winter. With sound-healing percussion including gongs, sansula and koshi chimes, bubbles, scarves and more!

Experience the beloved Christmas tale of redemption and goodwill through the power of cinema and sound.

The classic 1951 film Scrooge, starring the legendary Alastair Sim as Ebenezer Scrooge, is brought to life with live music. An enchanting newly orchestrated live score is performed by the three-piece FB Pocket Orchestra. Let their reimagined music and atmospheric sound effects immerse you in Scrooge’s journey with the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future.

Expect exquisite musicianship, enchanting visuals, and a fresh take on Dickens’ timeless story.

About FB Pocket Orchestra

At the heart of ‘Scrooge Live’ is the FB Pocket Orchestra, a trio of highly skilled musicians who bring a fresh perspective to live performance. Celebrated for their meticulous attention to detail and creative versatility, the ensemble transforms classic works into immersive musical experiences. Their approach combines thoughtful arrangement, skilled transcription, and seamless production to deliver performances that resonate with audiences in intimate and impactful ways.

A warm evening of stunning festive music from the multi-prize-winning Connaught Brass.

Christmas is a time for tradition. This cracker of a programme romps through the exuberant final chorus of Bach’s Christmas Oratorio and seasonal Tchaikovsky. Traditional tunes and baroque classics are rounded off with the seasonal favourite ‘Have yourself a merry little Christmas’.

Connaught Brass are quickly making a name for themselves as a fresh talent in the chamber music world. They have already made their debut at the Lucerne Festival and London’s Wigmore Hall. Their ability to manipulate and unify sound earned them 1st Prize in the Inaugural Philip Jones International Brass Ensemble Competition (2019) and the Royal Overseas League Mixed Ensemble Competition (2022). Vibrant, spirited and bold, Connaught Brass place emphasis on their friendship with one another to showcase their individual musical personalities within a unique collective sound.

Join us for music that gift wraps festive joy with interludes of serene reflection.

We are delighted to welcome back Cara Dillon, possessed of one of the most celebrated folk voices to have come out of Ireland, with her popular annual Christmas show ‘Upon A Winter’s Night’.

Cara and her band will once again capture the magic and mystery of Christmas with a collection of songs ancient and modern providing a welcome reminder that the festive season can be about more than just commercialism. A far cry from ‘Jingle Bells’ and ‘Santa Baby’, Cara is joined by her wonderful band who weave Celtic and folksy rhythms alongside reverent and atmospheric carols, while Cara holds the darkness at bay with the purity of her voice.

Cara occupies a position at the very top of the folk genre, with a career spanning 30 years. This extraordinary Irish singer has captivated audiences, won many awards, and achieved exceptional acclaim. Mojo magazine describes her as having ‘quite possibly the world’s most beautiful female voice’.

She remains a towering figure in the Irish folk scene, bewitching audiences and critics with her spellbinding voice. More recently, three of her songs were featured on the hit comedy ‘Derry Girls’. Her seminal 2024 release, ‘Coming Home’, was shortlisted for ‘Album of the Year’ at the 2024 NI Music Prize.

Cara invites us to step away from the noise of the season and rediscover the quiet magic at its heart – an invitation that, for many, has become an essential part of Christmas itself.

Afel Bocoum brings the soul of the Sahara to Turner Sims!

An unforgettable night of music as legendary Malian guitarist and songwriter Afel Bocoum brings the hypnotic rhythms of ‘desert blues’ to life.

Hailing from the town of Niafunké on the banks of the Niger River – whose other honoured son is the late, great Ali Farka Touré – Bocoum carries the torch of a rich musical legacy. He joined Touré’s band at just 13, and has since carved out his own path, blending traditional Malian sounds with blues, folk, and global influences.

His breakthrough album ‘Alkibar’ (1999) captivated audiences worldwide, and his latest release, ‘Lindé’ (2020), cemented his place among the greats of West African music. Collaborations with stars like Damon Albarn and Toumani Diabaté have only added to his global acclaim.

In this rare UK appearance, Afel Bocoum performs with his trio. They offer an intimate and powerful experience that will transport you straight to the heart of the Sahara. Don’t miss this chance to witness a true master of desert blues live on stage!

Two extraordinary artists join forces to perform one of the greatest song cycles.

Internationally renowned tenor Allan Clayton has a magnetic stage presence and and extraordinarily flexible and consistent vocal range. He is the recent winner of the Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Opera for his role in Mark-Anthony Turnage’s new opera ‘Festen’ at Royal Ballet & Opera, Covent Garden. He performs repertoire from the Baroque through to works by the leading composers of today. Tonight, he combines with another giant of the classical music world, pianist Paul Lewis. Together they bring Schubert’s setting of 24 poems by Wilhelm Müller to life.

Composed in 1827, just a year before Schubert’s premature death, ‘Winterreise’ is by turn highly emotional, desolate and spare. Writing to his friend and fellow composer Josef von Spaun Schubert declared: ‘I will sing you a cycle of eerie songs. I am keen to see what you will make of them. They have affected me more than any other songs’.

​Please join the Evaluation Community of Practice for full information and joining instructions. 

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​Please join the Evaluation Community of Practice Teams channel for full information and joining instructions. 

Evaluation Community of Practice - Home