Tasmania University Musical Society (TUMS)

Address: c/- University of Tasmania Union, PO Box 950, Sandy Bay TAS 7005
Newsletter: SMUT (a successor to the 1970s newsletter Applecrapple)

Hosted Festivals: HIV1968, HIV1976, MF1983, HIV1985, HIV1992, [:50IV:50IV (1999)], [:60IV:60IV (2009)]

Pedantically, TUMS has existed only since early 1973 when the Tasmania University Choral Society (TUCS) changed its name to reflect better its activities as a musical society. But TUMS grew out of several other musical bodies whose histories stretch back at least to 1955 when there was a Tasmanian University Glee Club. In 1956, four members of what was then known as the Tasmania University Singers (TUS) attended the [:SIV1956:seventh IV] in Sydney, and the group became one of the most active societies on campus, despite a membership of only 15 to 20 voices.

In September 1960, what was now called the Tasmania University Choral Society created the first minifest when MUCS came to Hobart for a concert. In 1962 Rex Hobcroft took up the position of Lecturer in Music at the University and became conductor of the choir. Under Hobcroft TUCS contributed much to the musical life of Hobart. TUCS presented a Gilbert and Sullivan operetta season in 1963, 1964, 1965 and 1971. The year 1964, however, will live long as a high point for the society. Not only did TUCS become entrepreneurs, bringing to Hobart the Deller Consort who were touring for Musica Viva, but they also participated in a minifest event three months after [:MIV1964:Melbourne IV], when the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra presented Verdi's Requiem. They hosted their first [:HIV1968:IV] in 1968 by which time Hobcroft had left to become Director of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

In the subsequent years, TUCS and then TUMS had a succession of conductors, in their words, "almost more conductors than parties". In 1972 they received an Australia Council grant to perform Donald Hollier's In Dulci Jubilo, which signalled the beginning of a considerable revival of the society's fortunes. Since that time, conductor have included Robert Karboh, Ian Elliot, Bruce Cornelius, Jeff Horsley, Edward Talbot, Ben Wilson, Robert Prero, Paul Oxley, Ian Burk, Mark Irwin, Anne Morgan, Isobel Ferrier, and Simon Reade.