The unique Andean Band, the only one of its type in the UK, specialises in the performance of music from the Bolivian Andes and gives a diverse range of performances, often in collaboration with the UK-based Andean musicians. It is directed by Reader in Music Dr Henry Stobart and performs on his collection of several hundred instruments (panpipes, flutes, drums, and guitars).

Andean Band is usually offered as an undergraduate Ensemble Performance course unit on alternate years (alternating with the Gamelan Ensemble 'Puloganti'), and runs as an extrcurricular ensemble open to all at other times.

How to get involved  

The Choir of Royal Holloway is considered to be one of the finest university choirs in Britain. The choir was created at the time of the foundation of Royal Holloway College in 1886, and was originally only for women’s voices. The group, comprised of 24 choral scholars and 2 organ scholars, is directed by Rupert Gough and undertakes a busy schedule of weekly services and concerts, international tours, recordings and live broadcasts. Royal Holloway is the only university that maintains a tradition of singing daily morning services, and is home to the only choir in the country performing weekly live streamed concerts.

As part of the choir’s 50+ concerts a year, they regularly collaborate with and perform alongside many famous ensembles. These have included the King’s Singers, the BBC Singers, Britten Sinfonia, London Mozart Players, Onyx Brass, Fretwork and the jazz-trio Acoustic Triangle, with whom they broadcast live on BBC radio. The group also celebrates the work of living composers, and have commissioned works from Sir James MacMillan, Gabriel Jackson, Richard Rodney Bennett, Cecilia McDowall and Paul Mealor. The choir’s diverse repertoire also includes larger-scale works including Vespers by Monteverdi, Rachmaninov and Rautavaara, Requiems by Mozart and Howells, and Gabriel Jackson’s Ave regina coelorum for choir and electric guitar which they also broadcast live on BBC Radio 3.

International performances are also an integral part of the choir’s work. They have toured most European countries, visited Beijing, and have had a number of successful tours to North America, as well as having been broadcast on national television and radio all over the world. The choir regularly sing at high-profile events which have included the Annual Festival of Remembrance at the Albert Hall (live on BBC television), and for an awards ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

The choir has an extensive and highly acclaimed discography with Hyperion, Decca, Signum and Naxos amongst others. Many of these feature works by northern European composers, Vytautas Miškinis, Rihards Dubra, Bo Hansson, Tõnu Kõrvits (with the Britten Sinfonia) and Ola Gjeilo (which was No. 1 in the UK and US classical charts). Upcoming releases feature the music of Ben Parry and Joanna Marsh, a live-concert recording of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with Thomas Adès and the Britten Sinfonia, and a recently rediscovered work by Pierre Villette with alumna Sarah Fox. Future projects include works by George Arthur, and Dan Locklair.

How to get involved

Royal Holloway's Department of Music hosts several staff who are specialists in the performance of early instrumental and vocal music, and owns a double-manual harpsichord, a chamber organ, a fortepiano and a chest of viols. The Early Music Ensemble, composed of students and staff, regularly rehearse and perform in the department's concert series and fringe events.

Students receive incomparable mentoring from in-house experts such as Dr Stephen Rose, plus coaching from visiting specialists in period performance such as the one of the UK's leading concert countertenors, Tim Travers-Brown, to Baroque violinist and Leader at the Academty of Ancient Music, Pavlo Beznosiuk.

Entry is open to all students with an interest in early music performance (priority given to this specialising in this field as part of their enrolled degree). Please contact Dr Stephen Rose for more information. 

How to get involved

The Founder's Choir is an auditioned group of around 30 singers who study a range of subjects at Royal Holloway, University of London. The choir meets every Monday from 7:30-9:00pm in the beautiful Chapel in the Founder's Building.

We perform in services and concerts at local churches as well as in Evening Worship at Royal Holloway and, a particular highlight for us, at the College's annual Carol Service. The choir also undertakes a European Tour each year with past destinations including, Rome and Vienna. The Founder's Choir is run by an elected Student Comittee and overseen by the Director of Choral Music, Rupert Gough.

A lively social life is also encouraged with events including bingo, days out and trips to the pub. 

How to get involved

The Gamelan Ensemble ‘Puloganti’, directed by Honorary Lecturer Simon Cook, performs Sundanese music from West Java, Indonesia on the Royal Holloway gamelan degung. This ensemble comprises bronze gongs and metallophones, with drums and flute.

How to get involved

The Jane Holloway Choir was set up in January 2018 as a non-auditioned choir for students, and prides itself on being run by student committee for the benefit of students. The choir also benefits from regular masterclass and workshop opportunities with Royal Holloway's Director of Choral Music, Rupert Gough. The student conductor's for this ensemble will also recieve mentoring from Rupert Gough, and will recieve opportunities to perform as part of both the International Concert Series and liturgical services. 

We will be sorting members into voice parts so don’t worry if you’re new to choral singing and don’t know what voice part you are. Although we are a non-auditioned choir, we still like to challenge ourselves with a diverse repertoire and technical training, interspersed with fun and jokes. We are a super friendly and supportive choir so please don’t be afraid to join in!

How to get involved

This Percussion Group Ensemble is led by percussionist and ethnomusicologist Dr Tom Wagner. Students will explore the sounds and rhythms for an array of percussion instruments. This is a free-form ensemble in which all types of percussionsts welcome (tuned/untuned, kit specialists, varied genres, etc.)

How to get involved

The New Music Collective and New Voices Consort produces a series of new music events and opportunties every year at Royal Holloway. They are dynamic ensembles whose aim is to present a diverse blend of instrumental and vocal music of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries to the highest standard, facilitating the opportunity for musicians and audiences alike to experience new and exciting music. Led by Royal Holloway composer and conductor, Nathan James Dearden, its programme features contemporary music by established and emerging composers such as Caroline Shaw, Judith Weir, Michael Finnissy, Robert Ashley, David Lang, Howard Skempton, Oliver Knussen, and Nico Muhly, and regularly features the music of Royal Holloway composers. Recent repertoire has included John Adams's Chamber Symphony, Ligeti’s Sech Bagatellen, Messiaen’s Oiseaux Exotiques, Steve Martland's American Invention, Caroline Shaw's To the hands, Terry Riley's In C, and a much anticipated performance of Gavin Bryars’ Jesus' blood never failed me yet as part of the 2023 PLAY! Festival. 

Entry to both groups is open to all, however good sight-reading is essential. 

How to get involved

Orchestras bring people together - they employ on a daily basis skills we all need in our day-to-day lives - collaboration, listening, respect, humility, discipline, and commitment. Through participation in orchestra, students are given a chance to develop their confidence - not only in their playing, but also in their communication and leadership skills, and we hope that they then transfer these experiences into whatever path they choose in life.

Led by Royal Holloway's dedicated Director of Orchestras, international conductor Rebecca Miller, orchestral performance has become one of the most vibrant and active musical specialisms at Royal Holloway. 

How to get involved

A professional development programme for jazz, popular music and musical theatre specialists

The Department of Music launched a new programme in 2020 where the College's finest musical theatre, acoustic pop and jazz acts (two or more participants in each group) can receive professional feedback and training on their setlist, prepared music to their performance technique. If you are a musical theatre chorus, jazz quintet to a vocalist and guitarist, this is the programme for you. 

This special programme has seen award-winning jazz singer Irene give a session on gig preparation and performance technique, acclaimed vocal coach Robert Greenhill give a masterclass to our musical theatre specialists, plus a series of digital forums on the music industry with Irene Serra and PRS for Music. 

How to get involved

Want to be part of a chamber music ensemble? Already have one set-up but would like performance opportunities or professional training?

A special initiative established in 2015 by our Quartet-in-Residence, this year-long programme enables the creation and nurturing of chamber music groups at Royal Holloway, coached by leading professionals in the industry and receive regular training from members of our Quartet-in-Residence, the Tippett Quartet.

At the end of the programme, all participants are invited to perform in an informal sharing as part of the International Concert Series, and for 2023-24, each group will recieve a unique recording opportunity, coached through the process by the Tippett Quartet. 

How to get involved

Ever wondered what goes on behind-the-scenes? Who organises the publicity for an event? How to coordinate and manage a rehearsal schedule?

This special programme is a professional development scheme for those who have a thirst for this field of arts administration or would like to explore a behind-the-scenes view of music. Many of the successful applicants who have participated in this programme have gone on to work in arts administration having graduated, working at institutions such as the Royal Opera House, Southbank Centre, Winchester College and many more. 

This is a special staff-led programme in which students can apply for positions in one of four teams; Programme Production Team; Publicity & Promotion Team; Quartet-in-Residence Liaison Team; New Music Artist Personnel Team. Mentored by curator, event manager and Music Performance Manager at Royal Holloway, Eleanor Sperling, twelve successful applicants will be placed into a team based on their strengths and interests as shown in their application and interview.

Applications open in September of every academic year. This opportunity is open to undergraduate music students.

For more information about the roles within each team, please click here. 

How to get involved

The Front of House Initiave is an opportunity for undergraduate students in 2022-23 to be the face for the Department of Music during our International Concert Series and assist with the management and operations of 'The Platform'.

Ten students will be selected and will be assigned specific projects/events throughout the academic year. 

Roles and responsibilities may include:

• Monitor and address queries during any Department of Music concert or International Concert Series event;
• Assist with audience patron questions;
• Be an ambassador and local 'voice' for the International Concert Series and Department of Music events;
• Manage rehearsal and recording sessions, from scheduling to on-hand support, and assist with the running of the concert;
• Be the face of Royal Holloway Music Department, welcoming audience members, checking tickets, guiding to seats, receving feedback and making an all-round positive experience for visitors to our university.

This role can be used as an alternative for participation in any other staff-led music ensemble such as an orchestra or choir and will count towards your participation remit in your Performance-based undergraduate module. 

How to get involved