On Wednesday 16 December, the University of Westminster hosted a virtual festive concert, with musical contributions from talented students and academic colleagues.
The whole Westminster community was invited to the virtual festivities, which opened with a welcome address from Di Yeo, Chair of the Court of Governors. She welcomed students, colleagues, alumni and friends to the event, and spoke about how Christmas is even more important in the current troubled times.
The festive concert included a range of performances from students and colleagues. Student Krystal Kissi sang a number of beloved festive songs such as Silent Night, Winter Wonderland and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, and student Clare Laudy gave a reading of The Shepherds go to the Manger, St Luke 2.
Attendees were given an insight of Christmases past at the University of Westminster in a slideshow, which featured artefacts from the University Records & Archive, such as pictures of the Christmas Dinner Fund at the Polytechnic of Central London, and some of the University’s past Christmas cards. The annual Season’s Greetings video, created by Westminster’s Alumni Team in collaboration with Westminster creators, was also shown at the festive event, which features students, alumni and colleagues talking about their favourite parts of the festive season.
Dr Deborah Husbands also addressed the audience, where she reflected on 2020 and how it has impacted our lives, noting the inequalities that have been highlighted by COVID-19, but also the positive changes that have happened this year such as making more time for exercise and staying home with family. She said: “As a member of this University, you are part of something bigger that is working hard to keep us all connected.”
Dr Peter Bonfield, Vice-Chancellor and President at the University of Westminster, gave the closing address to the event, wishing all of the Westminster community a relaxing festive break and thanking everyone for all of their support throughout the year.
The event’s outro was performed by students Sophie Hughes and Carys Kitney from the UWSU’s Musical Theatre Society, who performed Auld Lang Syne.
