The month of March sees the Exeter College Music Academy presenting its third music festival. This year the focus is on Three Big Gigs! All happening in one week, this is set to be a terrific collection of music highlighting the music enrichment ensembles at Exeter College.

• Orchestra and Traditional Ensembles Tuesday 25th March 7:30pm St Davids Church £5 (£3) On the door
• Exeter College Big Band with the Darius Brubeck Quartet Wednesday 26th March 7:30pm Barnfield Theatre Exeter £14.50 (£9.50) Box Office 01392 271808/270891
• Jazz Toast! Featuring Jazz Project and Jambassadors Friday 28th March 8:00pm Barnfield Theatre Exeter £5 (£3) On the door

The festival opens with Chamber Orchestra, Student Choir, Toot Sweet flute group and Brass Group presenting a collection of music to include Berlioz 'Symphonie Fantastique' Mov 4, Beethoven 'Symphony 5' Mov 4, Mozart’s 'Mass in C Minor' K427 plus a selection of ragtime and jazz music.

Exeter College Big Band featuring Darius Brubeck is a rare and wonderful opportunity to see internationally renowned pianist, composer and jazz educator Darius Brubeck, son of jazz legend Dave Brubeck. Darius will be working with Exeter College Music Academy students to present a collection of South African Jazz inspired music, featuring a set from The Darius Brubeck Quartet, a set from the Exeter College Big Band plus pieces combining the two ensembles. Don’t miss the opportunity to hear this one off collaboration – world class musicians sharing their wealth of experience with our up and coming jazz musicians of the future.

Jazz Toast continues the Music Academy's local community links with this gig also being part of the new music series 'A Message From' – supporting musicians making original music in Devon. Enjoy a night celebrating youth music at its most funky and dynamic featuring Exeter College ensembles Jazz Project and Jambassadors. You can expect some grand music from these terrific young musicians – Cuban, funk, fusion, contemporary, West Coast jazz and bop sounds for starters. Showcasing original compositions and arrangements alongside some of the biggest grooves around!

Laura Wright Exeter College Music Academy coordinator states: “This Festival is a celebration of music: its diversity and its firmly rooted place in our society, culture, economy and education. Our music students are full of enthusiasm for live performance and for the creation and sharing of good music. They are all excited to be part of our third music festival”. Roz Harding Exeter College Music Academy administrator adds “It's a real joy to help arrange this music festival for our students. Each gig is going to be exciting and individual, not to mention of a great standard. These three big gigs are a superb selection of just some of the music this busy department produces throughout the year.”

Over 400 students study music at Exeter College and many progress to working in the industry as professional performers, composers and in other related fields. A high proportion gain entry into the country’s most prestigious music colleges, conservatoires and universities. Come along to our Festival performances and find out why!

www.exe-coll.ac.uk and www.facebook.com/Exetercollegemusicacademy for further details on these festival gigs and all forthcoming gigs – including the new Music Academy series at Mama Stones venue, Exeter.