SPRING 2019 Our Annual Auditions in March

EVENTS BOOK NOW INSPIRING MUSICAL EXCELLENCE IN YOUNG PEOPLE

SAMLING ACADEMY ‘TASTER DAY’ SAMLING ACADEMY SUMMER CONCERTS Saturday 12 January, 10am – 3.30pm ‘Come into the Garden’ INSITUTE Northumbria University Academy Singers present a programme inspired by An invitation to students and schoolchildren studying gardens, the language of fl owers and our response to FOR YOUNG or growing up in the North East to join us for a day nature in song and words. to discover what Samling Academy can offer ahead of Saturday 20 July, 7.30pm newsISSUE 52 / SPRING 2019 our annual auditions in March. The Witham, Barnard Castle ARTISTS Please email [email protected] or call thewitham.org.uk | 01833 631 107 01434 602885 for more information Wednesday 24 July, 7.30pm Saltburn Community Theatre A NIGHT AT THE ITALIAN OPERA saltburnarts.co.uk | 01287 624 997 Saturday 9 February, 7.30pm Friday 26 July, 7.30pm Sage One, Sage Gateshead Sage Two, Sage Gateshead An evening of glorious music and unchained passion sagegateshead.com | 0191 443 4661 as Samling Institute joins forces with Royal Northern Tickets Available later in the year Sinfonia. Conductor Paul-Emmanuel Thomas, Sir Thomas Allen and a cast of the fi nest Samling Artists present a programme that includes highlights from SAMLING ACADEMY some of the best loved operas of all time, including 4 – 6 October and 18 –20 October Rossini’s Il barbiere di Siviglia, Verdi’s Rigoletto and Starting the new academic year with six days of La traviata and Puccini’s Tosca and La bohème. intensive training, 30 singers selected by audition Paul-Emmanuel Thomas Conductor will be given the opportunity to work with Samling’s Sir Thomas Allen Baritone team of artists, coaches, and experts, including: Simona Mihai Soprano Caroline Dowdle Music Director Rachel Kelly Mezzo soprano Patricia MacMahon Vocal Teacher Nicky Spence Tenor Miranda Wright Samling Artist/Vocal Teacher Morgan Pearse Baritone Mandy Demetriou Choreographer James Garnon Actor Royal Northern Sinfonia Samling Academy Singers Samling Artist pianists including: Tickets £40 £32.50 £26 £16.50 Somi Kim Available from Sage Gateshead Michael Pandya sagegateshead.com | 0191 443 4661 Jo Ramadan Ian Tindale SAMLING ARTIST PROGRAMME Jonathan Ware A New Era Sunday 24 February – Sunday 3 March Samling Academy Concert Filipe Manu, tenor and Marija Strucˇkova, pianist For a charity that has helped to nurture the careers of some of the world’s fi nest young Samling Masterclass Led by soprano Yvonne Kenny, pianists Malcolm Sunday 20 October, 7.30pm classical singers and accompanists, Samling has embarked on a new era with a change Sage Gateshead December 2018 Sage Two, Sage Gateshead Photo: Mark Savage Martineau and Jonathan Ware and actor Alex Hassell. of name. From now on we are to be known as Samling Institute for Young Artists. With staff pianist Samling Artist Ian Tindale. Tickets £14 Sarah Gilford Soprano Available from Sage Gateshead later in the year Anna Cavaliero Soprano sagegateshead.com | 0191 443 4661 The new name – since only an organisation In German ‘Sämling’ translates as ‘seedling’ made… raising their aspirations and giving Rose Stachniewska Soprano operating at the highest level can become which also seems very appropriate somehow them a taste of genuine professional Satriya Krisna Tenor SAMLING ARTIST SHOWCASE an institute – is a powerful endorsement of as we are in the business of growing young standards. For some this experience has Jerome Knox Baritone Friday 8 November, 7.30pm Samling’s work with singers and piano talent.’ undoubtedly been transformational,’ he said. Yi-Shing Cheng Piano Wigmore Hall, London accompanists at the start of their careers. Nicholas Sears, Head of Vocal and Opera at Kunal Lahiry Piano ‘We believe the change of name will enable Samling returns to Wigmore Hall for its annual ‘Samling is a leading authority in the training of the charity to go from strength to strength,’ the Royal College of Music said, ‘Samling Samling Masterclass & Concert Showcase as part of the venue's prestigious Song Series. young classical voices and piano accompanists, she said. ‘After two decades in the business, enjoys a unique place within the national Saturday 2 March Full programme details and tickets available both nationally and internationally,’ said we now have an established track record of network of organisations supporting the development of young musical talent. Its two 1.30– 4.30pm and 5.15– 6.15pm from 21 May. John Gilhooly, director of Wigmore Hall. excellence and expertise within the classical Sage Two, Sage Gateshead wigmore-hall.org.uk | 020 7935 2141 distinctive programmes, Samling Artist ‘Many Samling Artists go on to enjoy highly vocal world but the time has come to have a Programme and Samling Academy, address Masters of opera, song, stage and screen lead SAMLING ARTIST PROGRAMME successful international careers on the concert name that better refl ects the work we do both national musical priorities providing a public masterclass followed by a short concert platform and in opera houses around the and our national and international reach.’ where eight rising stars of classical music showcase Sunday 17 – Sunday 24 November international level tuition with a fi ercely their musical brilliance. world, and there is very often a good number ‘As a founding partner in Samling Academy proud and focused regional dimension.’ Led by soprano Anne Schwanewilms, of Samling alumni in any given season at in 2012, Newcastle University hoped that our As we enter a new year, all at Samling are Tickets Masterclass and Concert £16.50 pianist James Baillieu and actor James Garnon Wigmore Hall.’ £5 (unders 25s) with staff pianist Samling Artist Somi Kim. own students and other young singers in the looking forward to building on what we have Available from Sage Gateshead However, the new name doesn’t mean we North East would have access to coaching of achieved so far. We would like to take this sagegateshead.com | 0191 443 4661 Samling Masterclass & Concert are jettisoning the old. the highest level, not just in vocal technique opportunity to thank everyone who has Saturday 23 November but in stage presence and modern languages,’ supported us over the past twenty-two ‘We wanted to keep Samling in our name as it 1.30 – 4.30pm and 5.15 – 6.15pm said Eric Cross, Dean of Cultural Affairs at years as we look forward to many more is an important part of our story,’ said Artistic Sage Two, Sage Gateshead Newcastle University. years to come inspiring musical excellence and Executive Director Karon Wright. ‘It is in young people. Tickets Masterclass and Concert £16.50 originally an old Norse word that can mean ‘This has proved from the very fi rst year to £5 (unders 25s) ‘gathering’ or ‘collective’, and bringing people be the case. I can speak at fi rst hand for the Please see back page for some of the Samling Institute for Young Artists Available from Sage Gateshead later in the year together is very much something we stand for. difference that the Academy experience has highlights coming your way in 2019. Community Centre | Gilesgate | Hexham | Northumberland | NE46 3NP sagegateshead.com | 0191 443 4661 Tel: 01434 602885 | Email: [email protected] | samling.org.uk Patron: Sir Thomas Allen CBE Artistic and Executive Director: Karon Wright INSIDE THIS ISSUE Samling Shorts with Simona Mihai, Alumni Success, Registered Charity No: 1112032 | Company No: 05576907 samlinginstitute @Samling_Inst Samling_Institute Samling Academy, Wigmore Showcase Back Page: Dates for your Diary! WHY SAMLING INSTITUTE? ‘A tremendous venture that enriches the cultural value of our region and the whole nation. Bravo!’ ‘As a Samling graduate myself now fully immersed in the profession and having just returned from Bob Murphy, audience member teaching at Samling Academy, it is very clear to me what a phenomenal organisation this is.’ Anna Stéphany, mezzo soprano and Samling Artist

SAMLING SHORTS The last piece of music I listened to was… Shostakovich's String Quartet No.7 Inspired... Samling Academy The dream role I have yet to sing is… From exploring what it is to be truly in the moment in performance with actor James Garnon to learning to ‘own’ the stage through learning the gestures of Amelia Grimaldi Argentinian Tango, our Academy Singers got off to a dramatic start to their year. My three carry-on essentials are… Water, vocal score, antibacterial If I wasn’t a singer, I’d be… Thoracic Surgeon If I could have a cocktail with any composer, alive or dead, it would be with… BACH! And I would introduce him The most underrated opera is… to Dim Sum Simona Mihai Photos © Mark Pinder Working with our expert leadership team of our thirty Academy Singers and a riveting A 2004 Samling Artist, Romanian-British soprano Simona Mihai The Turn of the Screw insight in a Q&A session into her journey has been praised as being ‘a knockout, pure, in full command over six days in October, they had lessons in into classical music and her life as an artist of the taxing vocal line’ (The Stage). When I have the day off I… vocal technique, diction, language coaching, acting and stagecraft, movement and performing at the top concert halls and Simona graduated from the Jette Parker Young Artists Programme Go on long walks with my folks choreography. opera houses across the world. at the Royal Opera House in 2010, and since then her appearances Academy Music Director Caroline Dowdle ‘The guidance, the nurturing, the inspiration, continue to be met with great acclaim. Her recent highlights include My favourite Samling memory is… and singing teachers Patricia MacMahon and the advice, the experience and exposure singing both Musetta and Mimì in Richard Jones’ new production of Miranda Wright, along with choreographer that Samling offers young singers is second La bohème at the Royal Opera House as well as Nedda in Pagliacci Reading Shakespeare’s sonnets with and movement coach Mandy Demetriou, to none,’Anna said. ‘Actors, conductors, both at Royal Opera House and at Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie. led the workshops, supported by seven teachers, pianists, singers, movement specialists, all working in the business, Simona returns to Samling on 9 February when she joins Sir Thomas Barbara Leigh-Hunt and Richard Pasco outstanding pianists – all Samling Artists. are invited to share their expertise with ‘Samling has been the linchpin to my Allen, Samling Artists Rachel Kelly, Nicky Spence and Morgan Pearse We were also delighted to welcome back the young singers and this is what makes character as much as my musical along with Royal Northern Sinfonia for ‘A Night at the Italian Opera’. mezzo soprano Anna Stéphany. A Samling Samling so special, the whole experience development over the last four years.’ Artist from 2005, Anna gave lessons to all is all so relevant and immediate.’ Ben Laxton, Academy Singer Wigmore Showcase Alumni Success Luis Gomes captures Michael Pandya wins audience’s heart two major awards at Operalia British pianist Michael Pandya Portuguese tenor Luis Gomes (Samling Artist 2016 & 2017) (Samling Artist 2012) has has taken home two major won two prizes at the 2018 prizes, winning the 2018 Operalia competition in Gerald Moore Award in Lisbon: the Don Plácido October and the 2018 Domingo Ferrer Prize of Above: Backstage at Samling Artist Showcase, Wigmore Hall, Maureen Lehane Vocal Award Zarzuela as well as the Prize November 2018 (L– R): Christopher Glynn, Nicky Spence, Accompanist Prize in November. Gareth Brynmor John, Elin Pritchard, Alex Jennings, of the Audience. Olivia Warburton and Jâms Coleman. A biennial competition for piano accompanists of the song Considered one of the most prestigious operatic competitions Right: Samling Artists mezzo soprano repertoire, the Gerald Moore Award was founded in 1992 in the world, Operalia was founded in 1993 by Plácido Domingo. Olivia Warburton, pianist Jâms Coleman in memory of the icon in the world of twentieth-century Its past prize-winners include Nina Stemme, Erwin Schrott, and soprano Elin Pritchard joined accompanists. Michael performed alongside Samling Artist Joyce DiDonato, Rolando Villazón, Joseph Calleja, Sonya Yoncheva, In Tune host Sean Rafferty (left) on soprano Harriet Burns and joins a group of past winners that as well as Samling Artist Kiandra Howarth. Luis most recently BBC Radio 3. They performed works by Dvorak, Sibelius, Grieg, Fauré and Copland and includes Samling Artists Finnegan Downie Dear, Timothy End, appeared with Samling in 2017 in our ‘A Night at the Viennese chatted about their time with Samling Institute and how much Somi Kim, John Reid, Ian Tindale and William Vann. Opera’ with Royal Northern Sinfonia at Sage Gateshead. they were looking forward to performing at Wigmore Hall. EVENTS BOOK NOW INSPIRING MUSICAL EXCELLENCE IN YOUNG PEOPLE