Edinburgh University Music Society

The music society of the University of Edinburgh was founded in 1867 by Sir Herbert Oakeley. Following the ancient University’s long musical tradition, which began formally in 1839 when the origins of today’s music department were founded as a result of a bequest from General John Reid, the Music Society tied together many casual musical groups that had existed previously. Throughout the twentieth century the Society took part in larger and more extravagant performances, and this tradition has certainly not waned.