up spring 08 beatmagazine | Royal College of Music, London Serenade to Music The stars come out to launch the RCM's 125th anniversary Photos: Chris Christodoulou Scenes from the RCM's 125th Anniversary Gala on 28 October 2007. For the full story see page 6. Pictured here (clockwise from top left): Elizabeth Watts who sang songs by RCM alumni Britten and Maconchy RCM Symphony Orchestra and soloists in Vaughan Williams' Serenade to Music Andrew Kennedy who sang with the Saconni Quartet Conductor John Wilson RCM Director Colin Lawson with the soloists Soloist Gerald Finley Front cover (from left to right): current student Anna Huntley with graduates Catherine Wyn-Rogers and Anna Leese W HAT’S CONTENTS 4 In the news - six pages of the latest stories from INSIDE the RCM including an update on our Concert Hall transformation Many happy returns! This year the Royal College of Music is 125 years old. Though we have to wait till May for the actual birthday, we're in 10 Treasured memories - Former students recall such celebratory spirits that we began the festivities last term with a favourite moments from the RCM's first 125 years glittering Gala, featuring some of our star graduates, pictured opposite. 12 Student bites - Who's won what and who's We're not just marking this year with resplendent music-making; we're performing where? A round-up of current student about to embark on a major project that will transform our beloved success stories Concert Hall into a dynamic performance, teaching and recording venue fit for the 21st century and even beyond…after all, we very much hope 14 Alumni bites - A jam-packed digest of graduate news the RCM is still going strong in another 125 years! 16 Staff bites - Looking at what College staff have been In this issue of Upbeat, you can read about our plans for the Concert up to lately Hall and how we intend to keep the RCM's hugely popular programme of events shining brightly once the builders and foremen set to work. 17 Deeply missed - tributes to friends and colleagues On page 5, we reveal details of our major new series at Cadogan Hall no longer with us which kicks off in April. Located close to the College, Cadogan Hall is unquestionably one of the most exciting classical venues to emerge in 18 And finally - more top stories from the RCM decades. We also have news of RCM performances elsewhere, from a thriving series in our Museum of Instruments to the National Gallery and the V&A. As ever, Upbeat is full of stories about our students and staff making a great impression across the musical scene, both in the UK and worldwide. CONTACT US For all our latest news and events listings, visit us online at Box Office: 020 7591 4314 | weekdays 10am-4pm www.rcm.ac.uk. If you'd like to feature in the next issue of Upbeat, Upbeat: 020 7591 4372 | [email protected] keep your news and pictures coming to: Alumni: 020 7591 4368 | [email protected] RCM Friends: 020 7591 4331 | [email protected] [email protected] Supporting the RCM: 020 7591 4773 | [email protected] Hiring RCM facilities: 020 7591 4353 | [email protected] Hiring RCM musicians: 020 7591 4367 | [email protected] Please note we cannot guarantee to include everything we receive and Switchboard: 020 7589 3643 | [email protected] submissions may be edited owing to space limitations. The deadline for the next issue is 18 April 2008. Material submitted after this date cannot be considered. Health-conscious College! In 2006, the Association of British Orchestras and the Musicians Benevolent Fund launched the Healthy Orchestra Charter to set an industry wide standard of care and confer ‘charter marks’ upon orchestras displaying good practice towards the physical, mental and emotional health of players. At this January's ABO conference in Brighton, the Royal College of Music was one of four organisations (along with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and Opera North) awarded a Bronze Charter Mark in recognition of its commitment to occupational health and safety for all its orchestral musicians. RCM Performance Manager Florence Ambrose (right) accepted the award from LPO Chief Executive Timothy Walker and the MBF's Rosanna Preston. ROYAL COLLEGE OF MUSIC,PRINCE CONSORT ROAD,LONDON SW7 2BS T: +44(0)20 7589 3643 | F: +44(0)20 7589 7740 | E: [email protected] www.rcm.ac.uk | Charity number: 309268 | DESIGN: © artsbydesign, www.artsbydesign.co.uk | 020 8325 0599 upbeat 3 I NTHE NEWS THE TRANSFORMATION BEGINS… As revealed in our summer edition, exciting plans are underway for the transformation of the RCM Concert Hall. Much loved by London audiences for its unparalleled intimacy (where else can an audience of just 400 experience large-scale symphonies so closely?), the Hall is nonetheless ripe for renovation. After more than a century of constant use as a teaching and performance space, the time has come for some enhancements which will rightly reinvigorate the Hall, making it one of the most exciting and versatile classical venues in the UK. A detailed and sensitive plan is shaping up, set to address such key issues as acoustics, soundproofing, lighting, heating and ventilation, disabled access, decor and state-of-the-art audiovisual technology. The transformation will ensure the Hall fulfils its 21st century potential, able to accommodate traditional and innovative performances, recording sessions and broadcasts of the very highest international calibre, and attract more of the world's finest musicians to work and perform with our students. Work will commence in mid-May, at which point the Concert Hall will close until early 2009. Needless to say, this will in no way compromise the College's extensive programme of events - all other corners of the building will continue to resound with musicmaking, and we're also seizing this opportunity to take our musicians out to some of London's professional venues, celebrating their talents as part of our ongoing 125th birthday festivities. See opposite for breaking news of our upcoming series at Cadogan Hall. The RCM needs to raise £2,900,000 for the Concert Hall transformation and is working hard to meet this target with approaches to charitable trusts, companies and individuals. We hope this exciting project will engage interest amongst our supporters and that with your help the RCM may continue to play a vital role at the very forefront of music education and serve the needs of RCM students and the wider musical community for generations to come. For further information on the Concert Hal transformation, please contact Kathryn Ancell, Development Manager on 020 7591 4773 or [email protected]. Then and now (pictured from top): The Concert Hall in 2008 Bernard Haitink rehearsing the RCM Symphony Orchestra in the Concert Hall The Concert Hall one hundred years ago 4 upbeat …FROM ONE HALL TO ANOTHER RCM Rising Stars at Cadogan Hall Rest assured, while the RCM Concert Hall is out of action, the band will definitely play on, as we prepare to hit the road with TUESDAY 15 APRIL 7.30PM some very special concerts in London's top venues. Very soon we'll reveal plans for performances this autumn at the Alan Blair trumpet, Andrew Aarons piano Southbank Centre and St John's Smith Square, but first things Enesco Légende first: the RCM is set make a major splash this Spring just a few RCM Brass Quintet minutes away from home at Cadogan Hall. Paul Patterson Mean Time Located at the heart of Chelsea, less than a minute from Sirocco Saxophone Quartet Sloane Square tube station, Cadogan Hall is loved by Bozza Andante and Scherzo Thierry Escaich Tango Virtuoso performers and audiences alike, and drawing media recognition as one of the best places to discover classical Luis Parés piano music in the country. With its landmark Byzantine tower, the Berg Piano Sonata op 1 hall was originally a church which fell into disrepair. A major Luis Parés piano, Steven Hudson oboe, operation was then launched to bring the exquisite premises Naomi Bristow clarinet, Andrew Watson back to useful life. Inside, a stunning 900-seat auditorium was bassoon, Antonio Geremia Iezzi horn created which now attracts many of the world's best Beethoven Quintet for piano and wind op 16 classical musicians and is home to the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. When looking for somewhere MONDAY 19 MAY 7.30PM to stage the RCM's biggest concerts during our own Laura Lucas flute, Meng Yang Pan piano renovation, Cadogan Hall was a natural first choice. Poulenc Sonata for flute and piano As RCM Marketing Manager James Murphy explains: Meng Yang Pan piano "We're thrilled to be getting out of the building and Claes Biehl new work (RCM composer) stretching our legs. One of Cadogan's many appeals is Liszt-Paganini Etude in E flat major no 2 R Strauss (arr. Grünfeld) Soirée de Vienne its locality. Only a stone's throw from the RCM, it's ideal for our students and local audience to get to. It's Ida Falk Winland soprano, James Southall piano a very comfortable venue, with an acoustic that'll show off our musicians at their very R Strauss Lieder op 27 best. They deserve to be heard on the professional stage, and what better time to do that RCM Wind Ensemble than during our 125th birthday year?" R Strauss Sonatina no 1 in F major 'Aus der Werkstatt eines Invaliden' With a series of orchestral concerts set to begin there in July, the RCM makes its Cadogan debut on 15 April with the first of our four 'Rising Stars' concerts, each showcasing a MONDAY 2 JUNE 7.30PM range of instruments, repertoire from the old to the new, and performers of numerous nationalities.