HRH The Duke of Gloucester has officially opened Trinity Hall’s WongAvery Music Gallery

The Queen’s cousin Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester KG GCVO officially opened the WongAvery Music Gallery during a visit to Trinity Hall College, Cambridge on Friday, June 24 2022.

Planning for the gallery, which is touted as a top-quality musical recital and rehearsal space, began in 2016, with construction beginning in February 2019 and ending in August 2021. Some delays were experienced during the process as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The music gallery will provide extra space for choir rehearsals, classical music recitals, lessons, and private practice, and is set to be a venue of inspiration not only for students, but also for Fellows and visiting musicians. The building was designed by architect Niall McLaughlin and can be found in Trinity Hall’s Avery Court.

The WongAvery Music Gallery will honour Dennis Avery, an alumnus (1980), Honorary Fellow and donor to Trinity Hall College, and after whom Avery Court was named. The addition of the Music Gallery to the Court has been made possible through a donation from the Avery-Tsui Foundation.

Sally WongAvery (widow of Dennis S. Avery, and Chair of the Avery-Tsui Foundation), said, “Dennis loved music. Dennis loved architecture. Dennis loved Trinity Hall. Seeing the iconic WongAvery Music Gallery rising up in Trinity Hall’s Avery Court would immensely please Dennis. The creation of the magnificent WongAvery Music Gallery refreshes Avery Court and demonstrates Trinity Hall’s constant renewal while honouring tradition.”

Natasha Wong, Vice-Chair of the Avery-Tsui Foundation, and Vice-Chair of the University of Cambridge Avery-Tsui Endowment Trust, said, “My late father always described how grateful he was to study at Trinity Hall. […] Our family is honoured and humbled to be a part of such a beautiful architectural expression, fully worthy of Trinity Hall. We hope that the WongAvery Music Gallery will continue to inspire future generations as much as Trinity Hall has touched and inspired our family.”

When speaking at the dedication ceremony in the Music Gallery, at which both the Directors of the Avery-Tsui Foundation and HRH The Duke of Gloucester KG GCVO were present, Trinity Hall Vice-Master Dr Daniel Tyler said, “We are grateful to His Royal Highness for formally opening the building.

“We offer our sincere thanks to the Avery-Tsui Foundation for their support. It is wonderful to be in this space at the heart of Trinity Hall and know that it has been built thanks to the love of music and the love of the College on the part of a former student and his family. I am sure it will inspire future generations of students.”

The AveryWong Music Gallery is set to be a fantastic addition to Trinity Hall College, Cambridge which will inspire countless future students. A time-lapse YouTube video showing the construction of the Gallery from start to finish can be found here.

Feature image credits: Rosie Smart-Knight