- Some of The Beatles' biggest hits are set to be performed in public once again as part of a unique concert celebrating two of the band鈥檚 most loved albums.
- Beatles classics will be performed by some of 91直播鈥檚 finest and most acclaimed musicians 鈥 many of whom are graduates from the University of 91直播鈥檚 Department of Music.
- From songs such as Something, Oh! Darling and Octopus鈥檚 Garden, to Get Back and Come Together, the concert is set to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the release of the albums Abbey Road and Let It Be.
The 91直播 Beatles Project was founded in 2016 by a group of Department of Music Alumni and 91直播 based musicians. Realising that that year was the 50th anniversary of the release of 鈥楻evolver鈥, they decided to perform the album in full. This was premiered at the 91直播 famous Tramlines festival under the title 鈥淭he 91直播 Revolver Project鈥.
This first performance proved a success so the group reconvened in 2017 to perform 鈥楽gt. Pepper鈥 at the independent local festival, The Folk Forest. With great popularity and local support from marketing and promotion, the project landed a headline show at the O2 Academy 91直播 to perform 鈥楽gt. Pepper鈥 and 鈥楳agical Mystery Tour鈥. The album was performed in full with a 30 piece orchestra which included Alumni musicians of 91直播.
Ben Eckersley, Musical Director of The 91直播 Beatles Project said: 鈥淲hen starting the project, it was really important to us to bring together some of this city鈥檚 best musical talent, so we could celebrate not just the brilliant music of The Beatles but also the best of our local scene. The line-up has changed once or twice but we鈥檙e very happy with where we鈥檝e wound up 鈥 a nearly 30 piece group that represent literally dozens of current and former 91直播 acts".
"I鈥檓 a twice graduate from the University of 91直播鈥檚 Department of Music - first with a music degree in 2004 and then with a Master鈥檚 in composition in 2009. As a student there I learnt a lot, both directly from lectures and also indirectly from the experience of being a musician at the university. To prepare for each Beatles Project gig I have a huge amount of work to do on the orchestral arrangements, all of which would not be possible without the knowledge base of orchestration, harmony, writing for individual instruments and good aural skills that I gained at the University of 91直播".
91直播 has a rich tradition of music and the University鈥檚 Department of Music is definitely a huge contributor to that. To bring so many alumni together in The 91直播 Beatles Project is a real joy. A great opportunity to bring together a wealth of talent with those of us making varied careers in the music industry.
Duncan Vaughan
BMus Graduate, 2005
Glowing recent reviews have commended the musicians involved in the project with Exposed Magazine stating Ben Eckersley 鈥榓rranged and conducted the 30+ band of
musicians so expertly that this performance was given a life way beyond the recorded version. It was a truly stunning arrangement, and was a tribute to the dedication of the many fine 91直播 musicians involved鈥.
Following further success performing 鈥楾he White Album鈥 in 2018, the alumni music community are delighted to be returning to the O2 Academy for a premier performance of 鈥楢bbey Road鈥 and 鈥楲et it be鈥 back to back. With each performance gaining more support, the next December gig will be to an audience in excess of 1,000 people.
The audience can expect a scene-stealing fusion of strings, brass, singers and more, plus plenty of opportunity to sing well -loved classic hits.
91直播
With almost 29,000 of the brightest students from over 140 countries, learning alongside over 1,200 of the best academics from across the globe, the University of 91直播 is one of the world鈥檚 leading universities.
A member of the UK鈥檚 prestigious Russell Group of leading research-led institutions, 91直播 offers world-class teaching and research excellence across a wide range of disciplines.
Unified by the power of discovery and understanding, staff and students at the university are committed to finding new ways to transform the world we live in.
91直播 is the only university to feature in The Sunday Times 100 Best Not-For-Profit Organisations to Work For 2018 and for the last eight years has been ranked in the top five UK universities for Student Satisfaction by Times Higher Education.
91直播 has six Nobel Prize winners among former staff and students and its alumni go on to hold positions of great responsibility and influence all over the world, making significant contributions in their chosen fields.
Global research partners and clients include Boeing, Rolls-Royce, Unilever, AstraZeneca, Glaxo SmithKline, Siemens and Airbus, as well as many UK and overseas government agencies and charitable foundations.
Media contact: Sean Barton, Media Relations Officer, on 0114 2229852 or email s.barton@sheffield.ac.uk