On Saturday 9 May, members of the College community were invited to attend the inaugural Sir Ivor and Lady Crewe Chamber Concert. Dr Na Li (2016, Oriental Studies) has kindly provided the following event report.

On the evening of 9 May, our beloved Chapel at University College became a lively hub of musical inspiration during the inaugural Sir Ivor and Lady Crewe Chamber Concert. This joyful event was supported by a former Director of Development at Univ, William Roth, in acknowledgement of the vital contributions of Sir Ivor and Lady Crewe to the College community.

The concert featured the talented Univ Chapel Choir and Martlet Voices in a delightful musical dialogue across time, weaving together a lovely fusion of traditional and contemporary pieces. While Master Baroness Valerie Amos couldn’t join us in person, she sent her heartfelt wishes.

Speeches were given by William Roth and the current Director of Development, Communications and Alumni Relations at Univ, Felice Nassar, who highlighted Sir Ivor’s lasting legacy to College, and introduced the newly named “Crewe House” at Univ North which was named in his honour. The evening concluded with a drinks reception in the Alington Room. We were, of course, all delighted to have Sir Ivor and Lady Crewe with us for the entire evening. Their presence made the evening feel special and familiar, giving it a warm charm that took us back to bygone years.

Concert programme

The programme was nothing short of inspiring, showcasing re-imagined classics from masters like William Byrd, Thomas Tallis, and John Dowland, alongside contemporary compositions by Roderick Williams, Roxanna Panufnik, and Bob Chilcott. One of the standout moments was Kurt Nystedt’s innovative arrangement, which divided singers into groups, creating an enchanting tapestry of harmonies that left the audience breathless.

Giles Underwood, our brilliant Director of Music, conducted with his trademark flair. Since founding the Martlet Ensemble in 2014 and Martlet Voices in 2017, his efforts have allowed our student musicians to shine alongside professionals, enriching the musical landscape at Univ.

Musical perspective: Director of Music

Giles Underwood, Director of Music at Univ, said,
“I really relish the opportunity to put these concerts on in Univ. I find that working with the students both as conductor and singer not only gives me an insight into the way they think and work as musicians, but also gives me the chance to work alongside them and influence the way they think about music in general. I know this is the same for my Martlet Voices colleagues and I have chosen them specifically because I know the way they work and think, having been singing with them for years.

This concert was slightly different, as one of the professional singers was relatively new to me, filling in for someone who couldn’t be there, but I knew enough about his singing to be confident that he would be a supportive presence.

From a musical perspective, I enjoy the putting together of each programme. The process of finding a theme and fitting music into that theme is a slow one, but very fulfilling. Sometimes it starts with a particular piece that I have been waiting to schedule for some time. At other times, a concert programme starts with a theme, and then I hunt for pieces to fit the brief. All the time, I am looking at the levels of difficulty for the singers — the music needs to be challenging enough that the student singers stand a chance of being able to reach a level of proficiency that, with a little work, they can feel a sense of achievement in performance. I can also rely on the professionals in the room to give advice where needed, to be musically solid, so that the students feel supported by the group. But it can’t be so fiendish that we won’t be able to put out a convincing performance.”

Thematic design of the programme

Commenting on the thematic design of the Programme, Giles Underwood said,
“This concert was a long time in the planning, and I was thrilled to see it come to fruition. There have been quite a few pieces written over the last 20 years or so which have been responses and reflections on great works of the past, especially from the English Renaissance. Composers such as Byrd and Tallis have been hugely influential in the shaping of music across Europe and we are so fortunate to have so many examples of their music still in existence. Having the two different sized groups performing the original and the response, side by side, was a scheme designed to give the ear of the listener as much variety as possible within the confines of these two genres — the old and the modern. When I found out about Cassandra Miller’s extended piece based on the final phrase of Tallis’ Lamentations, I knew this would be a challenge for singer and listener alike, but I was convinced that it was a worthwhile project.

In the concert, I used the word ‘kaleidoscope’ to describe the effect of this piece, but afterwards, some audience members came up to me and spoke about their own experiences of hearing this music. One said it felt more like waves on the shore, overlapping and tumbling in on themselves. Another said that it was more like seeing some grand landscape unfold and be revealed. As Benjamin Britten once said, listening to live music should be an active experience, not a passive one, and any response, even a negative one is valid! After all, if you don’t like something, it is essential that you understand why.”

Music at Univ during Sir Ivor’s Mastership

Both Sir Ivor and Baroness Amos are strong supporters of the arts, especially music. Sir Ivor expanded the remit of the Director of Music’s role at Univ, turning it into a more inclusive post that went beyond running the Chapel Choir to promoting music across the College and encouraging students to take part in university-wide music-making. The founding of the Martlet Ensemble and Martlet Voices has embodied that vision, bringing professional musicians into College to coach, mentor, rehearse with and ultimately perform alongside students. Since its inception, Martlet Voices has given more than 70 student singers the opportunity to perform at this level.

The concert series and future plans

William Roth was a dedicated supporter of the various music initiatives, even singing in the College choir himself when he was Development Director. The fact that he has been so thoughtful and generous to donate enough money to fund two new projects is truly wonderful. He has done this to honour the people who he felt had the most profound impact on the life of the College, namely Sir Ivor and Jill Crewe and Frank Marshall.

So a new, auditioned instrumental prize, the Frank Marshall Instrumental Prize, was set up at Univ, which gives the winner £500 to further their musical studies, as well as the chance to give a recital in College. The second initiative is the Sir Ivor and Lady Jill Crewe Chamber Concert. This year it was a concert of vocal music; next year will be instrumental. Both will run for the next five years, and it is our hope that other donors can be found who will enable them to run for far longer.

The plan for next summer (date tbc) is that the centerpiece of the concert will be Schoenberg’s Verklärte Nacht (Transfigured Night) for string sextet. This will be complemented by other music still to be decided.

Reflections and thanks

The spirit of the evening was perfectly captured by Sir Ivor Crewe in his closing reflections on the vital role of music in education. Sir Ivor Crewe also said,
“We were entranced by this wonderful concert. The Univ Choir, with the Martlets Singers, mastered Giles Underwood’s ambitious programme and performed at the peak of their powers. We are delighted that music-making is again at the heart of the College”.

The following are particularly thanked by the Director of Music for their contributions to the event:
-Baroness Amos, Andrew Gregory and Felice Nassar are thanked for their encouragement of musical events in the College.
-The concert was promoted by the Development team, and last‑minute requests for room availability and refreshments were accommodated by the Domestic Bursary team.
-Time was given by the professional musicians who worked with students: singers Anna Crookes, Carys Lane, Sadie Bosher, James Oxley and Mattias Lundberg, and oboist Laura Roberts‑Campbell.
-Assistance with auditioning and selecting the winner of the Frank Marshall Prize was provided by Caroline Balding, violinist and leader of The Martlet Ensemble.
-Both the concert series and the Frank Marshall Instrumental Prize were made possible by the generosity and vision of William Roth.

Univ, founded in 1249, is one of Oxford’s oldest colleges, with a long tradition of scholarship, intellectual curiosity and pastoral care. Music has always been woven into that tradition: as a means of opening the imagination, sharpening the mind and deepening theological and philosophical reflection. Whether in informal student gatherings, formal chapel services or academic study, music at Univ enriches communal life, stimulates creative thought and offers a unique path to understanding the human and the divine.

Dr Na Li (2016, Oriental Studies)

Published: 22 June 2026

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