Soundtrack
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“The music was a visceral scream of being alive”
Bassoonist Rachel Gough (King’s 1984) discovered a deep love for music at King’s, even if it meant the odd all-nighter.
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“I found someone I could be serious about, and the focus of music was addictive”
Opera singer Gabrielle Haigh (Clare 2010) uses favourite memories to conjure emotions in her performances, and says her time at Cambridge is a rich source.
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“Nine to Five got me pumped to get going – you can’t let Dolly down
Comedian Alice Fraser (Sidney Sussex 2007) adapted to a newfound independence with opera, love songs and a turn on the banjo.
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“I feigned a headache, sneaked downstairs and bumped into the Pope!”
The 21-year-old Kit Hesketh-Harvey (Clare 1975) used his outlandish experiences as a Cambridge choral scholar to plot his course through a life in music.
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“The trick was to mix in stuff people didn’t know, but keep them on the dance floor”
Folk musician John Spiers (King’s 1994) got his first melodeon as a second year but didn’t learn how to get a crowd on its feet until DJ-ing in King’s bar.
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“Jessye Norman sounds like no one else on recordings – there are few voices as distinctive”
Jennifer Johnston (Caius 1995) can trace the start of her award-winning career back to a chance performance.
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“We were a load of 18-year-olds trying to feel our way into social networks.”
For internet sensations Ben and Danielle Marsh (both History, Downing 1995) and their four children lockdown won’t stop the music.
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“I have really intense memories of the ADC and it being the beginning of a lifelong friendship”
Creators of hit musical Six, Lucy Moss (Caius 2014) and Toby Marlow (Robinson 2014) have gone on to global success – but their friendship was forged in the ADC dressing room dancing to Rihanna.