Jen Bowden meets Charles Finn, President/Maestro of Edinburgh University’s Music Society Edinburgh is potentially one of the most musically diverse cities in the U.K: with a range from opera to rock and classical to cheesy pop, there’s more often than not something for everyone. But how would it feel to be at the head of one of Edinburgh University’s oldest musical societies? Add the usual society president’s role to a 140-year-old tradition and throw in more than 270 members and you arrive at Charles Finn, 2008-9 President of the Music Society.

Whilst this may not impress a lot of people - after all, each society has a history and a worthy President - Finn is in charge of three of the university’s most celebrated musical groups, not to mention making sure that Edinburgh University Music Society continue to enhance the cultural excellency of Edinburgh. Finn insists that the key to a smooth running society is delegation. The Music Society has a staggering 20-strong committee, each with their own part to play in ensuring that everything is kept in order. They run three different groups; the Symfonia Orchestra, which is part-auditioning and contains about seventy members, the Symphony Orchestra, again containing 70 members, but all have to audition, and the Chorus, a 130-strong choir with no auditioning necessary.

The fact is that the job is a big one, though Finn continually emphasises the imperative role of the ‘fantastic’ committee. Somewhat naïvely, I presumed that all the decisions were made by the president, but in fact the entire committee makes most decisions, though the larger ones tend to eventually fall to the President, Secretary and Treasurer.

Freshers’ Week, according to Finn, was the most stressful aspect of the job. Organising stalls, recruiting new members and trying to know everything that’s going on without being able to be everywhere at once. Of course, the new experience of chairing meetings can be a daunting one, but Finn insists he’s “getting used to it, slowly.” It appears that the MusSoc, as they are affectionately known, have a few things up their sleeve for the coming year. A new commission for Symphony Orchestra is in the pipeline, potentially to be performed in November 2009 and plans are under way via the committee to make sure it’s as much a success as the impressive Verdi’s Requiem concert in November last year. The composer for this new piece ‘Dark Rain’ is a man called Andy Scott, maybe not such a big name to the occasional classical dabbler, but having won the Wind and Brass Band category of the British Composers Awards in 2006, it seems that MusSoc have got their fingers on the cultural pulse. The piece is a jazz composition, arranged for Symphony Orchestra, which should have audiences flocking in doves, if not for the musical renown of the orchestra, at least to hear this potentially unusual piece.

All of this seems like a lot to organise and a lot to be responsible for, but Finn remains unfazed. Having played for Symphony Orchestra for two years (he’s one of several first violins), he’s a MusSoc veteran and said he was ‘touched’ that so many people thought he was up to the job. He insists that it’s a tough job, but he’s confident that he can live up to the reputation already attached to the 140-year society. He admits that there’s a certain amount of pressure in keeping Edinburgh University top in the musical culture stakes, though tells me that a lot of that comes down to professionalism. Each ensemble has its own professional conductor, who ultimately chooses the pieces, although the committee can step in if there’s a dispute, and lends a definite gravitas to the classical sound and standard that MusSoc maintain so well.

When asked if there’s anything particular that MusSoc would like to achieve, it takes a moment to think of something that hasn’t been done. In the end, Finn opts for an improvement of popularity and success in their tours abroad. Also, admirably, another scheme is being continued under his watchful eye and that involves elements of school liaison in the area. Their aim is to perform for children who wouldn’t usually be exposed to classical or orchestral music by offering free tickets and the chance to ask questions to the students. With other societies such as Children’s Holiday Venture already broadening the public liaison ideas, MusSoc are simply keeping up with a fast moving student/charity idea and ensuring that everyone has the chance to get involved in music.

As a relatively new President, Finn is coping well with the demands of such a prestigious society, and the demands of his studies. Three years into an MSc in Astrophysics hasn’t quelled his love of music and he manages to divide his time between the demands of quantum mechanics and evenings with the Music Society. He admitted being a little intimidated by the long line of Presidents before him and an entire history of committee-meeting archives held in the National Gallery, nevertheless insisting that he doesn’t feel above anyone else.

In a time when culture is becoming increasingly more important in Edinburgh, Finn is a breath of fresh air to the Music Society. It’s fantastic to see that someone who believes in and loves music is continuing the University’s classical music reputation. The fact that he frequently insists on the power and support of the committee serves to show that prestigious societies don’t have be headed by an egotistical maniac to achieve success. The most refreshing thing is that so many students can progress and develop under their 40 watchful eyes.