Students on the new HND Music course at Stratford-upon-Avon College gave Christmas a twist at the end of last term as they took part in the show ‘Twisted Christmas’ at the Barbican in London.  

The show, which is in its second year, featured alternative arrangements of Christmas-related songs, billing itself as ‘a deliciously dark evening of festive entertainment. Six HND Music students performed a 30 minute set of original compositions and arrangements in the Barbican foyer, in a pre-show presentation which was well received by the large audience.

This year the show featured luminaries of the alternative and folk music scenes such as Ed Harcourt, Eliza Carthy, Richard Hawley (from ‘Pulp’) and the Sense of Sound choir (seen in TV’s ‘Last Choir Standing’). The show was presented by well-known radio and TV comic Jeremy Hardy, and live art was projected throughout by ‘The House of Fairy Tales’, an art project funded by leading British artist Gavin Turk.

The students’ participation in the show came about through its musical director, David Coulter, who has worked as a lecturer at the college and still returns for occasional projects with the students. During November, David spent a day with the students in Stratford, after which they were guided through their preparations by course tutors.

The main show also featured an ex-college music student, Joel Stanley on percussion. Joel has worked alongside David Coulter on projects with Damon Albarn (‘Blur’) and now works in the music industry as a tour manager and performer.

For more information, please contact Marketing on 01789 266245 or email marketing@stratford.ac.uk|.