A musical life
Gillian ‘Jill’ Craig (MA Hons 1977) developed a lifelong love of music while studying at St Andrews. From her undergraduate lectures on Beethoven to working with the University’s Music Centre over the past 45 years, Jill reflects on her St Andrews story ahead of the 70th anniversary of the Renaissance Group – an organisation close to her heart.
When I was an A-level student in my home city of Hull, my father told me that St Andrews was a lovely place and that I should put it down on my UCCA (Universities Central Council on Admissions) form. The following year, in 1973, I came to the University of St Andrews to study Music and French. The music department at the time was led by Cedric Thorpe Davie OBE and staff included Christopher Field and John Kitchen.
Highlights of the course were the lectures on Beethoven’s symphonies, which were renowned and always packed with external listeners as well as students. I had a marvellous time, most of which was spent playing my clarinet, rehearsing most evenings in the practice rooms at the top of Kennedy Hall. I performed in the Symphony Orchestra and the Chamber Orchestra and had opportunities to play concertos by Weber and Hoddinott, plus Mozart’s wonderful Clarinet Quintet and Trio. Most of my friends – many of whom I am still in touch with today – were fellow instrumentalists or singers in the Renaissance Group (now the Renaissance Singers), the Madrigal Group and the Chapel Choir.
On graduating in 1977, I left St Andrews to pursue a teaching qualification at the University of Hull, followed by several years spent working in Edinburgh as a freelance player. At this time, I spent most of my life playing week after week in the King’s Theatre pit orchestra. For 20 years, starting in 1988, I was the alto player for the Scottish Saxophone Quartet. My time in the Quartet sent me travelling across Scotland, giving recitals from Shetland to the Borders, St Andrews to Skye.
In 1981, I returned to Fife to live in the beautiful village of Crail. I began teaching clarinet in the University’s Centre for Recreational Music (now the Laidlaw Music Centre) – the phoenix rising from the ashes of the original music department. I have been part of the Centre since the beginning, as Principal Teacher, Acting Director and, for many years now, as University Music Consultant. I feel honoured to have been able to continue my links with my alma mater.
For the past 20 years, my main musical activity has been conducting groups, both amateur orchestral and choral, alongside my professional orchestra, the Heisenberg Ensemble. It has been a huge privilege for me to direct the current Renaissance Group, which is still going strong, and this year celebrates its 70th anniversary.
The Renaissance Group, was formed by Douglas Gifford and his wife, Hazel, to bring together musicians with an interest in 16th century choral music. The group has given untold joy to countless students both during university sessions and on European summer tours. David Gascoigne and his wife Christine continued the choir for many years after Douglas’ death in 1991.
In celebration of the group’s 70 th anniversary, we will be holding many special events over the year, culminating in ‘The Big Celebration Weekend’ on Saturday 14 March and Sunday 15 March 2026, to which all former members of the choir are invited.
This special celebration of singing will include many old favourites, plus a workshop day with The Gesualdo Six and rehearsals for a ‘massed’ choir concert on the Sunday, including a new piece by award-winning young composer Kit McCarthy, which has been specially commissioned for the anniversary.
For further details of the anniversary celebrations, please contact Jill Craig at [email protected].
Lovely article - how great to see Jill's music activities are still going strong. I remember them well from my time in St Andrews in the mid-1990s. I'm so thrilled to see Hazel's picture: when I was a student she was so kind as to lend me access to the baby-grand piano in her house for practice whenever I wanted. Such a wonderful group of people and many fond memories.