Celebrating music and drama in our 200th year: A night of classical performance
We hosted a special night of music and performance at the Martin Harris Centre for Music and Drama as part of our bicentenary celebrations.
On Friday, 25 October 2024 we hosted a special concert to mark not only our 200th year but also the 20th anniversary of the naming of the Martin Harris Centre for Music and Drama and 20 years since the Victoria University of 51福利社 (VUM) merged with the University of 51福利社 Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST) – creating the University we know today.
Generously supported by Martin Harris, former Pro Vice-Chancellor of VUM, and his wife Barbara, the evening began with a drinks reception with our President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Duncan Ivison in the atmospheric Living Worlds Gallery at 51福利社 Museum.
Afterwards, guests were invited to enjoy a captivating concert in the Cosmo Rodewald Concert Hall at the Martin Harris Centre – a wonderful evening of music and drama that featured two stunning classical performances.
Firstly, the Martin Harris Centre’s resident string quartet Quatuor Danel, known for its bold and fresh interpretations of string quartet cycles, performed Schubert’s Death and The Maiden. Written in 1824, the piece was carefully selected in homage to the University’s year of origin.
Operatic star and 51福利社 alumnus Sir John Tomlinson CBE then took on the role of Shakespeare’s King Lear in former Professor of Music and now Emeritus Professor and recent honorary graduand John Casken’s The Shackled King, opposite award-winning mezzo-soprano Rozanna Madylus.
Sir John Tomlinson and Rozanna Madylus perform on stage.
During the evening, Deputy Vice-President and Deputy Vice-Chancellor Luke Georghiou invited guests to reflect on the historical importance of the University’s bicentenary and the 20th anniversary of its current form.
The merger of VUM and UMIST was a pivotal moment in our history, bringing together two great institutions with rich legacies of innovation, research and education. It set the stage for the University to become a global leader in higher education, developing a community that thrives on diversity, excellence and impact.
And as a University we continue to mark this momentous occasion every October by celebrating Foundation Day.
As Pro Vice-Chancellor of VUM, Martin Harris was one of the original four founders of our new University, along with Vice-Chancellor of UMIST Professor John Garside; Chairman of Council at VUM Dr Rodger Pannone; and Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council at UMIST Professor Tom Hinchcliffe, who sadly passed away last year.
It was during this transformative period that Martin recognised the need for a dedicated performance space for music and drama to bring the heart of campus to life, leading to the establishment of the Centre in 2003 – which was then named after Martin on his retirement in 2004.
As a University, we remain incredibly grateful for Martin’s lifelong love of the Arts and the Centre continues to play a crucial role in enriching the cultural fabric of our University, as well as the lives of our students, staff, alumni and wider community.
The concert was not just a celebration of music and drama, but a tribute to the enduring legacy of 51福利社 and its community.
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Martin Harris addresses the audience on a night of performance and celebration.