The Magazine for the I Summer 2012

marks the spot Exploring Exhibition Road

RCM Upbeat Magazine - June-Summer 2012.indd 2 13/06/2012 15:49

What’s inside... Welcome to upbeat...

Anyone who’s visited the RCM recently can’t have failed to notice the transformation to Exhibition Road. After two years of building works it was officially opened by Boris Johnson Contents in February and marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the road and the institutions that line it. 4 In the news The original idea for this cultural heartland grew out of Prince Albert’s vision and the Great Updating you on recent RCM Exhibition of 1851 and in this issue we talk to the Chief Exec of Exhibition Road Cultural activities including the President’s Group Paul Cutts to find out what it means to be part of such an exciting cultural quarter visit and the RCM’s participation today. The RCM has many special relationships with our Exhibition Road neighbours which in the Jubilee celebrations have resulted in countless opportunities for RCM performers and composers. On page 12 we find out about the College’s long standing relationship with theRoyal Albert Hall and 9 The Britten Theatre 25th its latest incarnation as the West hub. Outgoing SA President Charles Bradley Anniversary News also gives us a glimpse into his working relationship with student bodies at the RCA and The latest events to mark the Imperial College and how that enriches College life. anniversary of this much loved space As usual Upbeat is also packed full with news from around the College, so if you want to find out which RCM professor recently featured in the BBC seriesMaestro at the Opera then read on! 10 All about Exhibition Road Paul Cutts explains what it means We’re always keen to hear from students past and present, so if you have anything you’d like to be part of such an exciting us to feature in the next issue of Upbeat, send your news and pictures to [email protected] cultural quarter by 17 September. 12 RCM meets RAH NB: Please note that we cannot guarantee to include everything we receive and that we Find out about a brand new reserve the right to edit submissions. collaboration that’s 128 years old

Upbeat online 13 A student’s view Did you know that Upbeat is available to read online at www.rcm.ac.uk/upbeat. Outgoing SA President Charles If you’d prefer to read it in this way, do contact us at [email protected] and we’ll Bradley on Exhibition Road from a stop sending you a paper copy. If you’d like us to send you an email notification student’s perspective when Upbeat is published, let us know your email address too. 14 Meeting the supporters Upbeat meets RCM scholarship supporter John Nickson

16 Student notes… Current student success stories

18 Staff notes… News from professorial, academic and administrative staff

20 Alumni notes… Updates from RCM graduates

22 Obituaries

Vladimir Jurowski conducts the RCM Symphony Orchestra in Prokofiev’sOde to the End of the War

Front cover – Violinist Sean Riley performs on Exhibition Road as part of Super String Sunday Inside front cover – Great Expectations - a series of short new operas created and performed by RCM composers and performers © Chris Christodoulou Inside back cover – Piano masterclass with © Chris Christodoulou

3 In the news... Laura crowned BBC Young Musician Success for Sophie

RCM Junior Department student Laura RCM Director Colin Lawson van der Heijden has been crowned commented: “Many congratulations to We are thrilled to announce that RCM BBC Young Musician 2012. Laura van der Heijden on her success alumna Sophie Bevan has won the Sky in BBC Young Musician 2012. We Arts South Bank Show “Breakthrough The 15-year-old cellist triumphed with are proud that she is a member of Award”. a mesmerising performance of Walton’s the Junior Department at the Royal Cello Concerto at The Sage . College of Music, a natural first choice Since graduating from the RCM in 2007, Head of RCM Junior Department for ambitious young performers and soprano Sophie has shone in a number of Peter Hewitt, who was in Gateshead composers.” leading roles for English National Opera. cheering Laura on, wrote: “All of us An outstandingly versatile performer, at the RCM are absolutely delighted Laura follows in the footsteps of she has received rave reviews in for Laura, and for her family, teachers 2010 winner and fellow RCM Junior recent months for her star turns in and friends. What a role model she is! Department student Lara Melda, who Rameau’s Castor and Pollux and Richard Her achievement is a great tribute and entertained the Gateshead audience Strauss’s Der Rosenkavalier. testament to what young people can do with a stunning performance of given hard work, the right environment Rachmaninov’s second . Sophie was nominated alongside the and support. We are immensely proud Lara will be commencing her BMus nation’s best young actors, writers, pop to be a part of that and will continue studies at the Royal College of Music stars, comedians and dancers for this to be as she gets wider and wider in September. prestigious annual award, which was recognition (as she surely will).” voted for by members of the public.

reconstructions allow audiences to 24 Violons savour the unique texture and rich inner voices as they might have been heard at du Roi the French court over 300 years ago.

This summer, RCM musicians are taking For the final two performances – at a unique project on tour to major Montpellier Opera on 24 July and then French festivals, ending up with a special at a Chamber Prom at Cadogan Hall performance at the BBC Proms. on 28 July – RCM alumnus Sir Roger We have joined forces with the Centre Norrington and the RCM Baroque de Musique Baroque de Versailles to Orchestra will be joined by musicians recreate the distinctive sound of the from the Paris Conservatoire and the 24 Violons du Roi – the world’s first Conservatoire d’Orsay. professional orchestra, founded by To find out more, visit Louis XIII in 1626. Few of the original www.rcm.ac.uk/24violons instruments have survived but specialist

4 Katherine Woolley – and the Queen RCM and the The President’s Elizabeth The Queen Mother Rosebowl to composer Charlotte Harding, BBC Proms Visit 2012 who wrote two new fanfares for the On Wednesday 14 March, HRH The occasion. Prince of Wales visited the Royal After the ceremony, His Royal Highness College of Music where, in his role as attended a short concert in which the President of the RCM, he presented Tagore medallists performed works special honours at the College’s annual by Beethoven and Bach. The President awards ceremony. also heard the RCM Chamber Choir His Royal Highness conferred perform a short work by Sir Hubert Fellowship of the Royal College of Parry, the second Director of the Music (FRCM) upon six outstanding RCM and one of His Royal Highness’s figures in international musical life: favourite composers. violinist Benedict Cruft, philanthropist Sir Vernon Ellis, soprano and RCM vocal professor Eiddwen Harrhy, baritone , RCM Head of Vocal Studies Nicholas Sears and composer, songwriter and keyboard player Rick Wakeman. Honorary Membership of the Royal College of Music (HonRCM) was presented to five individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to music and to the RCM: RCM Learning and Participation Manager Hayley This summer the RCM once again Clements, Wigmore Hall Director plays a big part in the BBC Proms, the John Gilhooly, RCM Strategic Planning world’s greatest classical music festival. Accountant Gary Purkiss, songwriter, lyricist and Orpheus Trust founder RCM Sparks Summer Music runs Richard Stilgoe, and RCM Registry alongside the BBC Proms season Manager Eleanor Taylor. and offers a series of workshops and discovery events for participants of all His Royal Highness presented the ages and levels of ability. Tagore Gold Medal to two students who graduated last year – baritone This year, there are weekly Summer Samuel Evans and horn player Music Workshops for 6–9 and 10–12 year olds, a Summer Springboard course for 13–18 year olds and on Saturday 31 March, Professor Robert Discovery Sessions throughout the The Spirit of Winston curated his own programme, summer for music lovers of all ages. introducing some of his personal There are opportunities for free tours Schubert favourites. These included a recording of the and special £5 Royal College of Music musicians of Schubert’s setting of Psalm 92, Tôw tickets to all the BBC Proms concerts and staff participated in ‘The Spirit l’hôdôs, written for Salomon Sulzer, the linked to the workshops. Participants of Schubert’, BBC Radio 3’s eight-day cantor at the new synagogue in Vienna. are also entitled to free downloadable celebration of , which Family Music Activity Packs, full of included every single note that he wrote. fascinating facts and ideas on fun music making activities to do at home The festival kicked off at London’s before attending any Sparks events. King’s Place on Friday 23 March, when RCM musicians performed selected All three strands run in addition to movements from Schubert’s Octet D803. Plus events that take place Professor Amanda Glauert and Natasha every day during the Proms season in Loges then both featured in episodes of the RCM’s Amaryllis Fleming Concert ‘The Schubert Lab’, where Tom Service Hall. For more information visit led discussions on the importance of www.rcm.ac.uk/summermusic Vienna to Schubert’s output. And finally

5 In the news... Michael the Maestro Mentor From Indiana to RCM Director of Opera Michael challenge of persuading a trained Kensington Rosewell has appeared on our screens dancer that when it comes to in the BBC television series “Maestro at conducting, you don’t necessarily the Opera”. need to use your entire body. The series reached its climax with a final The popular BBC 2 series followed four challenge of conducting the second act celebrities – actress Josie Lawrence, of Puccini’s masterpiece La bohème at Oxford professor of mathematics the in front of a full Marcus du Sautoy, DJ Trevor Nelson audience. and Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood – as they faced the The series was a follow-up to the extremely taxing demands of working acclaimed 2008 show “Maestro”, as conductors in the world of opera. which saw celebrity conductors tackle symphonic music. RCM Head of Michael was mentor to Craig Revel Conducting Peter Stark worked as Horwood and faced the difficult consultant for both programmes.

In March, we were delighted to welcome three vocal students from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University for a week’s immersion in Handel studies.

Jessica Beebe, Olivia Savage and Michael Porter (pictured above) observed rehearsals for the RCM/ London Handel Festival production of Riccardo Primo, received coaching from RCM professors Eiddwen Harrhy and Jonathan Kenny, and sat in on rehearsals with the Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir.

Michael Porter wrote of his visit: “It is hard to find an institution that Craig Revel Horwood and Director of Opera Michael Rosewell contains as much history and musical prowess as the Royal College of Music. Every step I took in the halls of this fine college brought more and more at 606 Club amazement to my eyes and my ears.” Two Junior Department jazz ensembles The visit was made possible by a performed at the world famous 606 Jazz generous gift from The Georgina Club in Chelsea. Joshi Foundation. A native of Indiana, Georgina Joshi received her Bachelor The groups played a one-hour set to a of Music from the RCM where she full house before their RCMJD teacher studied with Eiddwen Harrhy, before Mornington Lockett’s own quartet returning to Indiana to pursue gave the regular Saturday night her Master of Music in Voice. The engagement. The students also had a Georgina Joshi Foundation has made chance to play with Mornington’s pianist a generous donation to enable a Jonathan Gee, who has performed student of the Jacobs School of Music with some of the biggest names in to attend the RCM International jazz, including Benny Golson, Pharoah Opera School. Sanders and Joe Lovano.

6 RCM and the The Boconnoc Music Award Royal River One of the RCM’s prized manuscripts from the Special Collections – the Anne Boleyn Book – is on display at the National Maritime Museum as part of a special exhibition in honour of the Jubilee.

The manuscript is an early 16-century choir book which may have been prepared for Anne Boleyn by Mark Smeton, a musician at Henry VIII’s court, and sits alongside other musical instruments and manuscripts from this period. A new award for resident RCM at Boconnoc from 23 to 27 July, ensembles has been established, culminating in a public concert on ‘Royal River: Power, Pageantry and the thanks to the generosity of Anthony Friday 27 July in the parish church Thames’ has been curated by historian and Elizabeth Fortescue, owners of the on the estate, as well as a recital at David Starkey and is open until 9 Boconnoc estate in Cornwall. Boconnoc House. September 2012. The award includes a week’s residency Anthony Fortescue said: “The Estate is on the estate, with all travel, lodging a haven of peace and beauty and we and costs covered, providing a valuable wanted very much to provide a valuable opportunity for the musicians to work opportunity each year to some of the intensively on repertoire and technique College’s talented ensemble players. We in a private and unique environment. hope they will feel supported and benefit from the chance to rehearse and The ensemble chosen as the inaugural perform here.” recipient of the Boconnoc Music Award is the Danchin Quartet, comprising To find out more about Boconnoc and RCM musicians Clara Danchin and the Danchin Quartet concert on 27 Fiona Robertson (violins), Jordan July, please email [email protected], Bergmans (viola) and Zoé Saubat telephone 01208 872 507 or visit (cello). The quartet will be resident www.boconnoc.com.

Healthy RCM The RCM continued its pledge to RCM thanks promote healthy lifestyles for musicians with a Health and Wellbeing Week. Endsleigh Run by the RCM restaurant, the event Throughout the gave the catering the catering team the 2011/2012 academic opportunity to serve healthier food year, Endsleigh options to RCM staff and students. Insurance has worked in partnership with the RCM by This was the just one of a series of All of this is of crucial importance supporting three concerts. initiatives from Imperial College to musicians. Professor Aaron Catering, who run the RCM’s catering Williamon, Head of the RCM Centre for In November they began their facilities. The RCM restaurant recently Performance Science (CPS), commented: sponsorship with Great Exhibitionists, a received a Good Food Award for series of concerts devised and presented “Good health and positive wellbeing becoming a Sustainable Fish City by RCM students. This was followed in can shape how musicians pursue their the spring by a concert of contemporary signatory and in recognition of the art and the pleasure they take from it. music given by ExplorEnsemble and RCM’s commitment to healthy and At the CPS we offer annual fitness and finally in May withGreat Expectations, sustainable food. The RCM has also been hearing awareness schemes, as well as a series of new short operas created awarded officialFairtrade Status, after innovative research initiatives to help and performed by RCM composers and close work between the catering team musicians maximise their educational and performers. and the RCM Students’ Association. professional opportunities.”

7 In the news...

Highness The Prince of Wales, President Singing of the Royal College of Music.

in the Rain! The image of the RCM singers stoically carrying on despite the heavy rain has TheRoyal since become an iconic moment from College the Jubilee celebrations. In the days of Music following the event, members of the Chamber choir appeared on many news channels Choir have including CNN. Four of the girls were On Twitter, the tributes flooded in: created a even treated to a make-over on ITV’s Royal College of Music Chamber Choir big splash by This Morning programme with Eamonn in the last boat soaked through yet still entertaining Holmes. singing their hearts out – job VERY well the crowds at done #bbcjubilee... Massive kudos to the the Thames Sarah Rainey, reporting in the singers from the Royal College of Music, Diamond Telegraph, summed up their that there folks, that’s British spirit that Jubilee achievement: “Soaked through, hair is #soakedandsinging #Jubilee... The Pageant celebrations on 3 June, despite plastered to their faces, sheet music singer in me thinks the RCM Chamber having to sing in torrential rain! disintegrating in the downpour, the 12 Choir deserves an OBE for singing for choristers stood on top of the good ship hours in the driving cold rain… in tune! The choir performed on board a Symphony in front of Her Majesty and #cnnjubilee barge with the London Philharmonic belted out the rousing conclusion to the Orchestra, conducted by David Parry, day’s celebrations.” They weren’t the only RCM performers singing Last Night of the Proms-style taking part in the pageant. A lucky British repertoire including Land of In the Mirror, Tony Parson commented few RCMJD students performed as Hope and Glory and Rule Britannia. They that their singing “sent a shiver down the part of the Mayor’s Junior Jubilee Brass provided the grand musical finale to the spine of any patriot. It is not too fanciful Band. The 65-piece band consisted entire pageant, singing in front of Her to say their incredible performance said of Junior Department students from Majesty The Queen and other members something about the true grit at the all 4 London-based conservatoires, of the Royal family, including His Royal heart of our national spirit.” together with senior college student mentors and children from the London Boroughs in which the colleges are based. Several other RCMJD students also performed for HM The Queen at the Diamond Jubilee Lunch on 5 June in Westminster Hall as part of the National Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain.

The four-day Jubilee bonanza marked 60 years of the Queen’s reign. An estimated 1.2 million people are said to have watched the Royal pageant along the Thames which featured a staggered 1,000 private boats, from canoes to historic ships, from across the UK and the Commonwealth.

2012 Rod Williams Memorial Concert The RCM was pleased to welcome which Peter Mills commissioned for all Nigel Woolner and Keith Pickering, recipients of the award. representatives of the Mills Williams Foundation, to a concert by the RCM Peter Mills established the Mills Baroque Orchestra and Chamber choir Williams award on the death of his on 16 March. life-long partner, Rod Williams, in 1995, with the aim of supporting music and of Rod Williams. Sadly Peter died in The current Mills Williams Junior young musicians. To date, the award 2006 after a long battle against cancer. Fellow, cellist Frédérique Legrand, was has endowed 16 Mills Williams Junior Happily, the Mills Williams Foundation delighted to attend the event and be Fellowships and continues to fund an lives on with the objective of supporting presented with the Mills Williams Medal, annual concert at the RCM in memory music and young musicians.

8 The Britten Theatre 25 th Anniversary News

Celebrations to mark the 25th anniversary of the Britten Theatre have now started. Visitwww.rcm.ac.uk/bt25 for details of activities and to read memories from past students, performers and audience members.

Nuit Fantastique Gala Britten Theatre On 2 May , At the party in the Amaryllis Fleming and hosted Nuit Fantastique, Concert Hall, 180 guests were Anniversary Fund a fundraising event at the Royal College entertained by RCM jazz musicians. To ensure that we are able to offer of Music. After a Taittinger Champagne On display was an archive of material our students the performance Reception, guests were treated to an relating to the 25 years of the Britten opportunities and training they inspiring programme of music provided Theatre and the RCM relationship with deserve for the next 25 years, we are by star alumni singers , benefactor Samson Fox, Edward Fox’s Andrew Kennedy fundraising during this celebration , and great-grandfather. Tickets for the raffle Jonathan Lemalu Lawrence Zazzo year. So far donations of £37,000 . were hugely popular, sold by students Sophie Bevan have been made which will help dressed up as opera characters, and the fund performance opportunities and Director of Opera Michael Rosewell auction, ended with a contest for a walk- training in the Britten Theatre. conducted a full orchestra of RCM on role in Le Nozze di Figaro. In all the musicians on the stage of the Britten evening raised £15,000 to support the We ask you to help us today: Theatre and guests were thrilled by training and performance opportunities arrangements of Gershwin’s Porgy and in the Britten Theatre. Thank you to all • Donate to the Britten Theatre Bess performed by star alumni violinist those who supported Nuit Fantastique by Anniversary Fund – £50 would buy Ksenia Berezina and pianist Petr buying tickets or donating prizes. 1 litre of stage blood and £100 is the Limonov. The programme was brought cost of a new lighting gobo to a close with the finale of Mozart’s Nuit Fantastique was dedicated to the • Support the Costume Appeal to Le Nozze di Figaro performed by RCM memory of Mr Leopold de Rothschild dress the stage of the Britten Theatre singers, in the roles they sang in the who died on19 April. Leo led the highly in its 25th year Opera School’s summer production, with successful RCM Centenary Appeal in the help of former students. the 1980s which enabled the building of • Support a scholarship the Britten Theatre, home to the RCM’s • Sponsor the opera performances International Opera School. He is fondly for schools remembered by many (see page 22). For further details about how to participate and events during the year, please see www.rcm.ac.uk/ bt25 or contact the Development Department on 020 7591 4862 or [email protected]. We would also love to hear from alumni and audience members with memories of the Britten Theatre, particularly if you witnessed the three opening Royal Galas in November 1986.

Director of Opera Michael Rosewell, Joanna David, Emilia Fox and Edward Fox

The company take their bows RCM students in opera costumes sold raffle tickets Photos © www.stevenmorris.com Photos

9 Exploring Exhibition Road

What was the thinking behind the How did the Exhibition Road Cultural redevelopment of Exhibition Road? Group support the delivery of the Road It became very evident over the last 30 to project? 40 years that the physical environment in We were the central liaison for the which these institutions were operating delivery of the project and worked was a wholly inadequate reflection of closely with all the key agencies involved their global value – and not just in terms – particularly the Royal Borough of of their priceless collections. This is Kensington & Chelsea which led on the Britain’s most popular tourist destination development. The project cost about and the experience people were having £25 million, funded by Transport for when they came here was not as good as London, the GLA, and Kensington & the experience they were having in the Chelsea Borough Council, with a small institutions themselves. contribution from Westminster (the street crosses both boroughs). Our work So in the late 1990s, a number of key included everything from negotiating stake holders (including museum new coach parking solutions and finding directors, local authorities and local a site-office for the contractors to part- residents) all met to work out what was funding the new pedestrian signage needed to transform this area. And out system in the area. Our latest job has of that grew the idea of re-envisioning been helping secure a free WiFi network Paul Cutts Exhibition Road. for Exhibition Road. And when did the idea of a Cultural So, for a number of years I’ve From chorister to cultural leader, music Group emerge? been running the Exhibition Road has always played a central role in life for It was around the same time, actually. Infrastructure Group rather than Paul Cutts. Following 20 years working The idea was to create a formalised Cultural Group. I’m really looking as a journalist in the international network of institutions that could help forward to putting culture back into my performing arts sector and setting up to deliver the Road project as well as job title! popular music magazine MUSO, Paul encourage more collaborative and decided it was time to start delivering partnership working. How do you plan to use this new space? culture rather than just commenting on it. Now that we’ve created this global Now, as Chief Executive of Exhibition Road So the Exhibition Road Cultural Group landscape it is already transforming the Cultural Group, he explains what it means (ERCG) was established in 2003 and way people experience the institutions. to be part of such an exciting cultural constituted as a charity in 2006. It has The next big challenge is how to make quarter and the numerous collaborations both public and inward-facing roles. Its the most it. and partnerships going on… public roles include promoting learning through large scale collaborative projects We want to support our mission of How would you sum up Exhibition and building the brand and profile of promoting education and learning as Road? Exhibition Road as the world’s leading well as enabling visitors to understand We think of this area as London’s cultural cultural quarter. Its inward facing role and access more easily the work that heartland. It’s a place for anybody with is to add value and find new ways of goes on here. One of things I’m very a thirst for creativity and discovery. The working in partnerships, so that all interested in is the relationship between original idea grew out of Prince Albert’s members can exploit new opportunities. physical and intellectual space in terms vision and the Great Exhibition of 1851 and it’s represented by the extraordinary cultural institutions that line this and neighbouring streets. Exhibition Road Members

So, in terms of what this area is, it’s the Austrian Cultural Forum London Royal College of Music meeting point of everything that’s best Goethe-Institut London Royal Commission for the in global culture spanning creativity, Exhibition of 1851 arts, design, science, manufacturing, Imperial College London Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) technology, research and cultures in Institut français the broadest sense. Both European and Science Museum international cultures are reflected here Kensington Palace Serpentine Gallery with the Ismaili Centre, the Goethe- Natural History Museum Institut and the Institut français, and by The Ismaili Centre the extraordinary diversity of students Royal Albert Hall The Royal Parks and teachers working and studying here. Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Victoria and Albert Museum Royal College of Art Westminster City Council

10 of the ideas with which we’re all engaged as organisations – from cutting-edge research to contemporary performance practice. So a lot of our plans for programming going forward will be looking at how we can use this space to collectively reflect our ideas and content – such as the interface between art and science, which is a unique aspect of the Exhibition Road area.

Every institution here has hugely diverse missions and objectives. However, they do have a shared set of objectives in terms of education, learning and engagement, which is why we use this as a starting point for all our projects.

What projects have you got lined up? I’m interested in the way we can use big headline subjects to explore all aspects of what we do here, so we’ve decided to adopt broad themes around which our member institutions can plan their own events or make their existing activities Exhibition Road part of a more coherent programme. This year we focussed on the art and science of sound, with a six-month long of it too. The idea of Exhibition Road as Since taking on the role as Chief Exec, a key culture quarter has really grown project called Supersonix. It involved what have been the highlights for you? over the last five years. And what we a large number of institutions and Creative Quarter really stands out for me have, which the Southbank doesn’t, is culminated with Music Day in June. because it’s at the heart of our charitable the sheer range of institutions in such a objective in terms of promoting learning. In 2013, we’re interested in exploring concentrated space. It is a project that is geared at 13 to the theme of light; we’ve got very 19 years olds and aims to give them How important is Exhibition Road sculptural new lamp columns lining the access to and information about their Music Day? street and light has a very important educational and career pathways into Music Day has been running for six function in both science (think of the creative industries. years now and has really encouraged a photosynthesis or light pollution) and cross-fertilisation of audiences between The institutions on Exhibition Road art (say, photography or stage craft). In institutions. It’s a day when all the always have amazingly imaginative 2014, we’re adopting the theme of war institutions throw open their doors responses to this event – the RCM runs and peace as it’s the centenary of the to programme music of all genres and sessions on how to become a recording First World War. In 2015, we’re talking styles. From research we know that many engineer and opens up its studios, about ‘The Future’ – perhaps exploring people who come here have never been the Science Museum has run science artificial intelligence and how computing to Exhibition Road before and those who journalism workshops and the V&A and technology has influenced art and have visit at least two institutions they has held everything from architecture science – and vice versa. have never been to before. workshops to talks by leading fashion The great challenge in this economic designers. It’s a great way of showing how This year Music Day was the culmination this area can support and help young climate is how to fund these projects. of Supersonix, a six-month long project in But there is a huge amount of good will people’s professional ambitions and which we celebrated and explored sound educational options. and ambition and the pain of working in all its dimensions. We appointed three on a building site for two years has been artists-in-residence at the V&A, Science So now that we’ve got this great physical worth it. Museum and the RCA, all of whom environment, let’s really explore what we produced some really exciting new work, can do together and how exciting we can How does Exhibition Road differ from and held an international academic make it as a creative space! other cultural quarters in London? symposium, which brought together We’re very different from, say, the artists, scientists and thinkers for Southbank as we’ve got a lot of people discussions around the theme of sound. living on the road. So we are mindful of We really aim to engage on multiple how we interact with residents. It’s very levels and with multiple audiences. important that any work we do also reflects their wishes, so they feel proud

11 A brand new collaboration that’s 128 years old...

and play with other children as part of an ensemble or choir. When making the announcement, the Arts Council highlighted a particularly notable partnership: the West London hub, which is a collaboration between six institutions – three London boroughs (Kensington & Chelsea; Westminster; Hammersmith & Fulham) and three inspirational partners: the Royal College of Music, the Royal Albert Hall and the Aurora Orchestra. By far the biggest hub in central London, the hub will receive more than £1 million in funding, enabling all six organisations to collaborate in providing inspirational education projects for the under 18s.

Royal Albert Hall Even before the official launch of the hub, the Royal Albert Hall Education Department and RCM Sparks have been The Royal College of Music’s collaboration talent and interact with a live audience working together on fun family events with the BBC Proms (see page 5) is and we are delighted to offer these based around film screenings. Families perhaps the best-known example of talented musicians this exciting platform participating in “Weekend West Side collaboration between the RCM and the at the beginning of their career.” Story” went on an exclusive tour of Royal Albert Hall. But the partnership the Royal Albert Hall and took part in doesn’t stop there, and Upbeat reveals But the collaboration between the a pre-performance workshop, before how a 128-year-old friendship is about to RAH and RCM goes way beyond public watching the film ofWest Side Story become even friendlier… performances, and is about to become brought to life in a matinee screening even closer… accompanied by a live orchestra. The On 2 July 1884, the first ever public A Hub of Excellence next day, the participants created their concert by RCM students was given in own West Side Story at the RCM with the the West Theatre of the Royal Albert On 4 May, Arts Council England help of professional workshop leaders Hall, opening with Chopin’s Ballade in A announced the nationwide network of and a team of RCM Assistants. The film flat, performed by the gloriously named 122 “music education hubs” that will Fantasia, due to be screened at the Royal piano student Mr Marmaduke Barton. play a key role in ensuring that every Albert Hall in October, gets the same This was only the first of a fortnightly child has the opportunity to experience treatment. series of recitals given by RCM students a high quality music education. The aim at “the big round building next door”. of these new music education hubs is to The new hub promises to deliver many ensure that every child aged 5–18 has the more opportunities for another 128 Almost 130 years later, RCM students opportunity to sing and learn a musical years of collaboration with our friendly are still performing in the very same instrument, to progress to the next level, neighbours. venue. After a major refurbishment, the old West Theatre – now known as the Elgar Room – plays host to the popular Sunday series of “Classical Coffee Mornings”, given by star RCM students. From summer 2012, Junior Department students are also getting in on the act, including performances from BBC Young Musician Percussion Finalists James Larter and Hyn-Gi Lee.

Royal Albert Hall Head of Programming Lucy Noble – an RCM alumna herself – is delighted with the collaboration. “Our Classical Coffee Mornings with the College have been a great success, with students often playing to sell out audiences in the Elgar Room. From the classic to the contemporary, these concerts give students RCM Junior Department students perform at a Classical Coffee Morning a unique chance to demonstrate their concert in the Elgar Room at the Royal Albert Hall

12 A student’s view

of our bands to play. We’re also invited we’re also doing arrangements of pieces to their ball – which is amazing – they’ve on a theme of ‘diamonds’ – as part of the got a much bigger budget than us! All Jubilee celebrations. There are going to these events really help to strength our be three big lorries that drive on to the relationship with them. road for pop-up performances. There is also one inflatable stage for solo or duo What other institutions are you music, so a lot of students will get to play involved with? there too. It’s all quite innovative stuff! We have contacts at many of the other institutions on the road – we were What made you decide to run for hoping to hold our ball at the French President of the Students’ Association? Institute, which would have been great, Well, I arrived in September 2009 to but unfortunately it didn’t work out study bass trombone but after about six dates-wise. We have a large contingent of months I went through an embouchure French students here, particularly cellists! change, a typical thing to happen to brass players. It’s like someone trying to There are also opportunities to perform teach you how to walk all over again and at the V&A and the Royal Albert Hall, very hard to change. Anyway, it wasn’t through the Woodhouse Centre, which settling down so well and rather than are fantastic experiences for us. take a year out I decided to run for SA President. Well, I won and I haven’t really What benefits do you think all these Outgoing SA President Charles Bradley looked back since! Two years of seeing talks to Upbeat about opportunities, institutions bring to RCM students? how an institution likes this works has events and life for RCM students on Because of all these links we have with been invaluable and I’ve learnt so much. Exhibition Road… neighbouring institutions, particularly Imperial, we can really offer a university So you’re coming up to the end of your As SA President how much contact do lifestyle and experience, despite being second year as President of the SA, you have with other Exhibition Road relatively small ourselves. Imperial is so what are you planning to do next? institutions? close to us that it’s very easy to make Well I’ve been doing various placements, I meet with the Imperial College (IC) the most of what they offer and ensure secured through the Woodhouse President every two weeks, and the Royal collaborations actually work. I walk Centre. I’ve been working one day a College of Art (RCA) quite frequently up from the tube to College every day week for the John Lewis Music Society too. We discuss lots of things from and always find it amazing how many as their Concert Manager – booking general good practice to union work. fantastic buildings we have close by. And players and music, and doing rehearsal when it gets a bit sunny, you’ve always schedules. I’ve also worked a lot with We’re very similar to the RCA in that got Hyde Park! Kent Music particularly with their we’re both working with small budgets outreach programmes, which has led and with students who want to make What do you think of the to a job at Artis Education, which I’m it in the arts. We’ve actually arranged redevelopment of Exhibition Road? shortly taking up. They were really a couple of events there where RCM Exhibition Road is so much nicer now it’s impressed with all the things I’ve done students have performed in their bar. been redeveloped. We’re actually going as SA President, particularly working And recently we jointly organised a to be involved in the Exhibition Road on the implementation of Asimut, the big project at Tunnels in Show this summer, curating much of new room booking system. I’m going Waterloo – RCA students provided the the music. We’re organising a brand new to be running a section of the UK Artis videos and us the music. It was a really brass group – we’ve got a commission to programme – they work with 35,000 kids big event with 600 students, which was arrange Kraftwerk’s Tour de France and a week – it’s going to be exciting! great!

What other opportunities does Imperial College offer? For £5 a year you can become an associate member of Imperial College Union and for that you can access all their clubs and societies, of which there are about 300. The most eclectic mix in Europe, apparently! There’s rock climbing, hang-gliding, jet skiing… you also have access to their health and dental service, and gym. But the best thing is we can use their bars! We’ve taken over their nightclub a couple of times, and even organised one Imperial College

13 Meeting the supporters...

I longed to leave my home in the north I attended the Murray Perahia of England, so when at 18 I came down masterclass in 2009 at the invitation of to London to study at UCL, I began to Dasha Shenkman. A student played a go to concerts – Klemperer with the Brahms Intermezzo and Perahia asked the Philharmonia, Boult with the LPO and student: “What’s the story?” The master Bernstein’s Sibelius 5. I’d sit in the Choir suggested that every piece needs to at the Festival Hall staring straight at have a story, and that this one might be the conductors. It was a transformative Brahms as an old man looking back at experience and confirmed my obsession his younger self, and not liking what he – or should that be my compulsive need saw. I was enthralled. I made a first, small – for music! donation to the RCM in recognition of this life-changing glimpse I had been Where has your musical journey taken allowed. Things developed from there. you? I started narrowly – but well! – with What motivates you to offer support in Mozart and other classical composers. this way? I still return to Mozart – I love Uchida’s As a donor, you provide practical performances. Mozart combines help which is obviously needed and strength, energy (that word again!), appreciated, while at the same time humour, wit and love. Then in my adding a new dimension of intellectual 30s it was Wagner, in my 40s and 50s, and emotional satisfaction to your own Bach. I had a ten-year exploration of life. The sense of personal fulfilment is incalculable. I’ve been astonished to contemporary music, but I find much of learn just how much the RCM enriches it lacks a distinctive personality. There the lives of those who study here. As are exceptions, of course: Birtwistle has an amateur in the proper sense of the an extraordinary, unmistakeable voice, John Nickson word, I can’t think of anything more for instance, and Anne-Sophie Mutter Appointed to RCM Council in March 2012 satisfying than supporting the work of playing Gubaidulina’s In Tempus Praesens this wonderful place. and a member of the RCM Development was unforgettable. It was through my Steering Group, John Nickson has interest in contemporary music that I What’s your view of the recent negative been head of fundraising at the British realised I didn’t know all I thought I did! media coverage of philanthropy? Council, English National Opera, The That can’t be a bad thing. Too few people understand what giving Royal Academy of Arts and the Tate, can achieve, not just for the recipient, and a board member for a number Why the RCM? but for the donor. It can make life of charities including Atlantic College, Education and opportunities for the feel more complete, somehow. It has United World Colleges International and young are also important to me. I was certainly helped me to make sense of MANGO (Management Administration introduced to the work of United World my own childhood and has provided for Non-Governmental Organisations). He Colleges in 1990. It’s an organisation me with joy and inspiration in equal currently acts as an advisor, mentor and that educates young people aged 16–18 measure. I really want to promote the volunteer with a number of education and from all over the world, teaching them positives about giving more widely, so arts organisations including the Foundling to live, learn and serve together. Without much so, indeed, that I am writing a Museum, London Music Masters and children of my own, I decided later to book on the subject! The rewards of English Touring Opera. John supports a support a young man from Rwanda, supporting a student at the RCM are scholarship at the RCM. Innocent, who is now at university in the difficult to express in words, but ask any USA. The RCM unites the elements of of us who gives what we get out of it. The You’re a very busy man! Why is music music and young people so I began to satisfaction has nothing to do with the special to you? realise the time was approaching for me size of the support. It’s the principle. Try I’ve loved music since I was seven. I to support a scholarship there. it! You’ll get hooked, I’m sure, as I did. watched Solomon playing Tchaikovsky’s B flat minor concerto on the television. Those opening chords… I’d no idea what was going on, but they triggered Welcome to new Friends and Supporters a journey of personal exploration. At We are delighted to welcome the following people who have recently made about 12, I became a record buyer. I recall their first donation to RCM an LP sleeve with a renaissance painting Dr Mark Archer Mr Laurence Gunn Mr Harley Nott – stormy sky with shafts of Godlike Mrs Sarah Broad Mrs Kristina Hascoët Mrs Penelope Papandrea sunlight. It was Klemperer’s recording Ms Beatrice Buisseret Ms Misako Ishii Mrs S Sadikoglu of Bruckner 4. I lowered the needle Mr Andrew Cattell Mr David James Mr Andrew Skinner and there it was – all those tremolando Mrs Elizabeth Coomb Mr Martin Kettle Dr Joseph Spence strings! I was hooked. I realised at that Mrs Louise Douglas Miss Sun Lah Ms Joy Strathdee point that music, like reading, walking Mr Jason Dowler Ms Sue Lake Ms Lok Sum and the natural world, provided me with Mr Joseph Egerton Miss Fiona Lewis Mr Philip Swift energy, hope and sustenance. It still does, Mrs Anthea Franklin Ms Elizabeth Lyddeker Mr Christopher Williams possibly more so. It’s what drives me. Mr Donald Fraser Mrs Ray Miller Ms Yasuko Yoshizawa

14 Supporting the future of music...

Music has the power to transform lives. Sudborough Foundation Mrs Jo Carole Lauder Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, Nicholas Hunka Fund Karen Cook generations of gifted students from around St Marylebone Educational Foundation Supporters of RCM Sparks the world have been guided and inspired Ms Laurie Newbound David Ross Foundation (lead supporter) at the Royal College of Music. We would J Paul Getty Jr Charitable Trust Mr Guy and Mrs Caroline De Chazal like to thank in particular those who have EMI Music Sound Foundation Roland Rudd made donations of £1,000 or more in the John Lewis Partnership Jeremy Furniss last academic year – gifts are listed in The Oldhurst Trust Mr and Mrs Don M Wilson III descending order. Lynn Foundation Fidelio Charitable Trust Supporters of named scholarships, prizes The Hon Richard Sharp Corporate Partners and Junior Fellowships The Rayne Foundation BP International Ltd Estate of Dr Neville Wathen The Seary Trust Royal Garden Hotel Estate of Ian Evans Lombe Robert Lindsay Endsleigh Estate of David Young The Rothermere Foundation Hatch Mansfield Leverhulme Trust Terry Collins-Tveter Estate of Roselyn Ann Clifton Parker Members of the RCM Opera Circle Mr and Mrs Grace ABRSM Yatish Joshi* Peter Moores Foundation The Wolfson Foundation Philip and Christine Carne* Jane Seymour, James Keach and Family The Michael Bishop Foundation Sir Vernon and Lady Ellis Mrs David Mahoney HR Taylor Trust Victoria Sharp Nancy Tilghman Laurie Barry and the John Barry Scholarship Michael and Ruth West* Dasha Shenkman for Film Composition Fund Gisela Gledhill * The Derek Hill Foundation HF Awards James and Clare Kirkman* Lucy Fleming Marya Ermolayeva Dr Mark Levesley * The Music Sales Charitable Trust Tsukanov Family Christina Hoseason * Astor Foundation Irene Hanson Scholarship Charles and Kaaren Hale Alecia, Elliot, Aija and Max Mayrock The Worshipful Company of Musicians Sir Sydney and Lady Lipworth Nicholas and Carol Paumgarten John Lewis Partnership Scholarships Vivien McLean Fiona Wilson Croucher Hong Kong Charitable Trust Sir Peter and Lady Middleton FRCM Dr and Mrs Roger Bilboul The Hon Ros Kelly Richard and Sue Price The Webster and Davidson Mortification The Worshipful Company of Drapers for the Blind Stephen Catto Memorial Scholarship Members of the RCM Chamber Music Circle Dr Leonard Polonsky and Dr Georgette Professor Colin Lawson FRCM The Reed Foundation Polonsky* Sir John and Lady Parker The Stanley Picker Scholarship Ian and Meriel Tegner* Kirby Laing Foundation Estate of Janet O’Sullivan Emma Rose and Quentin Williams * Ann Driver Trust Lord and Lady Lurgan Trust John and Catherine Armitage* Morgan, Lewis and Bockius Ian and Meriel Tegner Charles Lubar Opperby Stokowsky Collection Trust Members of the RCM Piano Circle Gene Spivak The Worshipful Company of Fishmongers Alethea Siow and Jeremy Furniss* Serena Fenwick Ian Stoutzker OBE CBE FRCM John Nickson and Simon Rew* The Hon Richard Lyttelton Phoebe Benham Junior Fellowship Terry Hitchcock Sir Michael Parkinson Derek Butler Trust Victoria Moore-Gillon Gilbert and Eileen Edgar Junior Fellowship Members of the RCM Patrons’ Circle Russell Race Janis Susskind HonRCM Anthony Saltmarsh Junior Fellowship Michael Steen OBE HonRCM Adami Award for Piano Accompanists Jane Barker* Halina and John Bennett Carol and John Waxman The Mills Williams Foundation Sir Michael and Lady Perry The Charles Peel Charitable Trust Tania Chislett Sir Anthony Cleaver FRCM and Lady Cleaver The Bliss Trust Monica and Guy Black Scholarship Knights of the Round Table South Square Trust John Cheng Blair Wilson Award Sir Roger & Lady Carr Scholarship Richard Hamilton Estate of I Morgan Estate of Angela Nankivell Costas Kaplanis Michael Crawford The Ackroyd Trust David and Sue Lewis Ellen Moloney Mark Loveday Scholarship Ian and Lesley Millar David Poultney Celia and Andrew Curran Scholarship John Paynter Dimity and Kerry Rubie Steinway & Sons Katharine Long Ruth Rothbarth The Wyseliot Charitable Trust Don and Jennifer Robert John Ward David Laing Foundation Scholarship Helena Jonathon Bond Other generous donors Brandon Bakshi Independent Opera Artist Scholarship Amaryllis Fleming Foundation* The Everard Foundation Boltini Trust Estate of Albert Frost Sir Cyril Taylor GBE Gylla Godwin The Kathleen and Margery Elliott Sir Jeremy and Lady Morse Midori Nishiura Scholarship Trust Estate of Gerald Smith Noswad Charity Paul and Ruth Idzik * also support a named award The Wall Trust The Music Students Hostel Trust Edward Brooks FRCM Lee Abbey For more information about supporting the Sir Peter and Lady Walters Award Elizabeth van Merkensteijn RCM, please visit www.rcm.ac.uk/supportus Douglas Downie Eric Zinterhofer Alternatively, contact Major Gifts and Patrons Sir Gordon Palmer Award Guy Dawson Assistant on 020 7591 4862 or Elsa and Leonard Cross Charitable Trust Linda and Tony Hill* [email protected]

15 Student notes String successes… Singing Violinist Aisha Syed has recorded her sensations… debut album of works by Latin American and Spanish composers. Pasión Latina Sopranos Katherine Crompton, is available to download from iTunes Eleanor Dennis and Louise Alder have and Amazon… Guitarist Johan Löfving each been awarded a Miriam Licette has won Second Prize in the London scholarship. Louise also won the 2012 International Guitar Competition at Maggie Teyte Competition, while Eleanor Kings Place… Violist Isabel Villanueva makes her debut at ENO in November has performed Sofia Gubaidulina’s in a production of Ralph Vaughan Two Paths in a concert at the Grand Williams’ opera The Pilgrim’s Progress… Hall of the St Petersburg Philharmonia Soprano Laura Wright has recorded a with the Estonian National Symphony new Commonwealth anthem. Stronger as Orchestra… Double Bassist Rodrigo One is available to download from iTunes Moro Martin has won Second Prize in and a minimum of 50p from every sale the Juventudes Musicales de España… will be donated to The Queen Elizabeth Harpist Martino Panizza has been short- Diamond Jubilee Trust. listed for the 2013 Park Lane Group. He has also been accepted onto the London Sinfonietta Academy course... Violinist Louise Alder Emre Engin has been named ‘Istanbul Music Festival’s Young Soloist’ and performed Saint-Saëns’ 3rd Violin Composition Concerto with the Istanbul University State Conservatory Symphony Orchestra congratulations… at the Süreyya Opera House. Samuel Pegg has written and recorded a series of cues with the newly formed Western European Studio Orchestra in Lisbon at the Namouche Studios… Arne Gieshoff has been commissioned by the St Magnus International Festival to write a piece for the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO) with support from Robert Clark and Susan Costello. This work will form part of the Conductors’ Course repertoire and will be premiered in a concert by the RSNO during the 2012 festival.

Laura Wright

Best of Brass… Trombonists Rory Cartmell, Barnaby Philpott and Andrew Groom have successfully auditioned for the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester… Kensington Brass, a brass dectet featuring Ryan Linham, Adam Stockbridge, Tom Griffiths, Finlay Bain, Tom Barton, Andrew Groom, Gordon Maclachlan, Jim Alexander and Stephen Calow has performed its summer concert at Southwark Cathedral featuring John Williams’ Olympic Fanfare and Theme and other special arrangements by the Aisha Syed group.

16 Camilo Mendez’s Mechanical Resonance III: Incandescent Resonance has been premiered by the ensemble La Machine in La Sala Rossa, Montreal. His work for Saxophone Quartet …come el levisimo ruido del caer de una estrella has also been selected for performance at the annual saxophone and clarinet conference at the University of St Andrews this summer… Adam Kornas’ orchestral work Cortege has been selected for workshop by the London Consort Audite Nova Contemporary Chamber Orchestra… Ewan Clark’s short film scoreThe Outsider has been selected for screening Second Prize and 3,000 euros at the at the 2012 Cannes Festival’s ‘Short Film Rhodes International Piano Competition, Spotlight on… Corner’… Benjamin Tassie and Michael Greece. As part of his prize, he will Shearer are through to the final of the perform at the Summer Music Academy Lunar Saxophone Quartet Call for Scores of Rhodes… Laila Barnat has won the competition… Dani Howard has written National Opera Studio Award for trainee the soundtrack to a motion fashion repetiteur and will take up her place in editorial Casus Bella. It was broadcasted September… Organist Simon Hogan nationally across the UK and entered has been appointed Assistant Director into La Jolla Fashion Film Festival in of Music at Southwell Minster, the the USA… Daniel Elms has recorded Cathedral of Nottinghamshire. two new film scores with the Western European Studio Orchestra in Lisbon, Portugal. He also made an appearance Historical on Benfica TV in a live interview about the state of the film industry…Chris Roe Performance reached the finals of the Villiers String Quartet Competition with his work Jetez! triumphs… Consort Audite Nova, a recorder Four RCM students have been Keyboard ensemble featuring Mary-Jannet Leith, selected by EMI Classics to record Elspeth Robertson, Ben Cracknell albums as part of their new Digital accomplishments… and RCM graduate Isobel Clarke has Debut series. won joint First Prize in the Sir Anthony Junior Department pianist Zizhou Zhang Lewis Memorial Prize Competition. Violinist Mari Poll, oboist Suzanne has won First Prize at the Beethoven The competition is held every two Thorn, pianist Elma Gasanov Piano Society of Europe’s 15th Junior years by the Musica Britannica Trust, and countertenor Christopher Intercollegiate Piano Competition, held which published the music series Lowrey were chosen by a panel at the Austrian Cultural Forum, the Musica Britannica… Ensemble Hesperi, of judges and have each recorded cultural section of the Austrian Embassy featuring recorder player Mary-Jannet an EP-length album of repertoire in London… Kumi Matsuo has won Leith, baroque violinist Magdalena selected themselves. Mari recorded First Prize and the title of Competition Loth-Hill and harpsichordist Richard solo works by Berio, Schnittke and Moore has won the Audience Prize Laureate at the finals of the 6th Isidor Boulez; Elmar chose Liszt’s Sonata in at the Fenton House Early Keyboard Bajic Piano Memorial Competition in B minor; Suzanne performed sonatas Ensemble Competition. Performing a trio Novi Sad, Serbia with a performance of by Poulenc and Saint-Saëns; and Prokofiev’s 3rd Piano Concerto with the sonata by Carl Abel, the ensemble made use of the 1770 Shudi and Broadwood Christopher sang a selection of arias Romanian Philharmonic Orchestra… by Handel. Sean Jackson has won the Special Award harpsichord which is the centre-piece of Fenton House’s keyboard collection. for a performance of works by Debussy EMI Classics celebrated the release of in the finals of the younger category the series with a launch event at the of the 6th Isidor Bajic Piano Memorial RCM featuring three of the students. Competition in Novi Sad, Serbia… Mark The event was also streamed live to a Viner has won First Prize and the Gold global audience on Facebook. Medal at the 1st C V Alkan-Zimmerman International Piano Competition in This joint initiative offers invaluable Athens… Junior Department pianist exposure and experience in a fast- Nina del Ser has won Second Prize at the moving digital world. The albums are 12th International Scriabin Competition Zizhou Zhang available exclusively on iTunes. in Paris... Pavel Kolesnikov has won

17 Staff notes

Junior Department composition teachers Avril Anderson and David Sutton-Anderson have composed works for raqs sharqi belly dancers Charlotte Desorgher and Itziar Ortiz de Landazuri. Contemporary music group Sounds Positive have performed the works across the UK, with further performances scheduled for July and September at the Colourscape Festival in Ipswich and Rotherham.

The Tagore String Trio featuring RCMJD teacher James Halsey, former professor Frances Mason and alumnus Brian Schiele, as well as RCMJD teacher Sarah Francis and flautistJudith Fitton who taught at the Junior Department for Mark Messenger many years have recorded a new album of chamber music by Lennox Berkeley. The disc features two world premiere Head of Strings Mark Messenger has recordings, including a trio for flute, run the London Marathon for charity oboe and piano composed in 1935 for once again, with the proceeds this the Sylvan Trio, an ensemble which was year going directly to support talented formed at the RCM. RCM students. Mark completed the route in 3 hours 50 minutes, raising Junior Department singing teachers Liza Colourscape Festival over £4,500. This year’s Super String Hobbs and Veronica Veysey Campbell Sunday also celebrated Mark’s feat have compiled and edited a new book of with RCM musicians performing Guitar professor Carlos Bonell is songs for teenage boys whose voices are a musical marathon: 26 pieces to directing a summer school on the island changing. Published by Peters Edition, match the 26 miles of his athletic of San Servolo in Venice. During the Changing Voices includes 19 songs in challenge. To support Mark, visit seven-day course, students join Carlos in different styles all within a range of one http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ a series of concerts. octave and suitable keys for boy’s voices madviolinist as they change. The book (EP72150) is Cello professor Thomas Carroll has available for £12.50 from all good music Vocal professor Janis Kelly is taking on been appointed Artistic Director of the shops or http://bit.ly/IA2BGN the role of Christine Storch in Richard Orpheus Foundation. Thomas brings a Strauss’s Intermezzo and giving a song wealth of experience to the role being recital with Michael Pennington at the one of only two artists ever to secure Buxton Festival this summer. In August, support from both the YCAT UK and she is also staring in James MacMillan’s YCA, and having performed as a soloist, Olivier-nominated opera Clemency in chamber musician and conductor Glasgow and at the Edinburgh Festival. worldwide. Head of Keyboard Professor Vanessa Conductor and opera coach Philip Latarche has visited Lang Lang Music Headlam is conducting the world World in Shenzhen where she gave premiere of The Auction, an opera by classes to the pupils of the new piano composer John Burge, in Canada. The school founded by Lang Lang. She performers include some of Canada’s met with Miss Zhu, Lang Lang’s first best known singers – including mezzo- piano teacher, and worked with her in soprano Kimberley Barber and baritone delivering professional development Bruce Kelly – together with a chamber sessions to the teachers at the school. orchestra of players from the Toronto Vanessa also gave piano masterclasses Symphony Orchestra, Canadian at the Central Conservatory of Music in Opera Company Orchestra and other Beijing and in the Xinghai Conservatory orchestras from Ontario. The libretto, by of Music and Middle School in Eugene Benson, is based on a book by Jan Guangzhou after holding RCM auditions Andrews. in these cities.

18 Junior Department piano teacher Clara The tour includes concerts at the and orchestra, The Sixteen, a large Rodríguez has released her latest album Spitalfields, St Magnus (Orkney), community choir and a 100 strong on Nimbus Records, featuring the music Beaminster, Cheltenham and York children’s chorus. The opera was awarded of Venezuelan composer Ruiz Federico. Early Music festivals, ending with a a Royal Philharmonic Society Award in The programme features hisPieces for performance at the RCM on Monday 9 the Learning and Participation category. children under 100 years of age which July. One of the two York concerts will be comprises a series of dances including a recorded for BBC Radio 3’s Early Music To celebrate the centenary of Bernard Peruvian style waltz, a Cuban cha-cha- Show. Find out more at www.rcm.ac.uk/ Herrmann in 2011 the Tippett Quartet, chá and a Columbian vallenato. bolivia. featuring Junior Department violin teacher Jeremy Isaac, has released a CD The Life of Schumann by Visiting Research and commissioned an arrangement of Fellow Michael Musgrave has been Herrmann’s iconic ‘Psycho’ film score. published by Cambridge University Press They have given numerous concerts and in its ‘Musical Lives’ Series. Michael’s appeared at festivals with their exciting book focusses on Schumann’s life as a HerrmannFest programmes, working practical working musician and examines closely with Norma Herrmann. The disc Clara Wieck Schumann’s role in helping also features JD alumnus Julian Bliss. him to realise his creative potential.

Vocal professor Patricia Rozario and current and ex-students Susanna Hurrell and Joanne-Marie D’Mello have been on a concert tour of India with pianist Mark Troop. They performed in New Delhi, Rajasthan, Pune, Goa and Mumbai to many excited new fans of Western classical music. The tour was Assistant Head of Programmes Natasha widely covered by the media which Loges has been awarded an Early has led to an increasing interest in Careers Fellowship from the Arts and studying classical vocal music. Patricia Humanities Research Council to take Rozario founded the ‘Giving Voice to a nine-month sabbatical for a research India’ Workshops in 2010, leading to a project. The aim of the project is to gain new generation of young Indian singers new insight into what makes particular gaining enthusiasm for classical music. poetry suitable for song setting, by undertaking a wide-ranging study of the poetry of Brahms’s solo songs. During the Fellowship, Natasha intends to locate Spotlight on… and assess critically a large amount of primary material surrounding the poets. RCM As a result of this research, Natasha aims Director to publish a book entitled Brahms and Professor his Poets, and to give a series of lecture- Colin recitals at the RCM. Lawson has co-edited Curator of Musical Instruments Jenny with Robin Nex has published an article on gut Patricia Rozario, Susanna Hurrell and Stowell a string makers in 19th-century London Joanne-Marie D’Mello major new in the The Galpin Society Journal. The book for issue also contained a review of The Cambridge Historical Harpsichord, which featured Violin professor Sasha Rozhdestvensky University a piece by Jenny and Lance Whitehead has recorded an album of chamber Press. on the stringed keyboard instruments of music by Ravel on Harmonia Mundi. The The Cambridge History of Ferdinand Weber, one example of which CD includes his Sonata for violin and Musical Performance is the most can be found in the RCM Museum. piano, Tzigane and Berceuse sur le nom de comprehensive work yet to examine Gabriel Fauré. musical history from the performers’ Head of Historical Performance Ashley perspective. Professor Lawson has Solomon is directing Florilegium, the Opera and vocal coach Natalie himself contributed three chapters, RCM Ensemble in Association, and the Murray has conducted a new opera while other RCM contributors Arakaendar Bolivia Choir in their first UK commissioned by Spitalfields Music. include William Mival, Natasha tour this summer. Ashley founded the We are shadows is a large scale work Loges and David Wright. Find out Choir to work with Florilegium on their by John Barber and librettist Hazel more at http://bit.ly/LmlhK4 Bolivian Baroque projects. Gould involving professional soloists

19 Alumni notes

Conductor Thomas Blunt has started Pianist Graham Fitch has travelled working with the Philharmonia to Singapore and Australia to give Orchestra and the London three performances of Bach’s Goldberg Philharmonic Orchestra as part of Variations and masterclasses at the Yong the Allianz International Conductors’ Siew Toh Conservatory, the Queensland Academy. Thomas is the first British artist Conservatorium, the Victorian Music to be selected for the scheme, which Teachers’ Association and the Team of culminates in a showcase concert with Pianists in Melbourne. the LPO at the Royal Festival Hall. Clarinettist Brenden Guy has performed Baritone Peter Brathwaite has made his at The First Unitarian Universalist solo recital debut at the Bridgewater Hall Church in San Francisco with a concert with fellow RCM alumnus and pianist celebrating the musical talents of the Alisdair Hogarth. The concert included area. ‘A Celebration of the Bay Area songs by Purcell, Tippett, Finzi, Britten, Music’ featured works by past and Parry, Ireland, Vaughan Williams and present Bay Area composers including Butterworth. Prior to the concert they Ernest Bloch, Dan Becker, Nicholas were invited to perform excerpts of the Pavkovic and Aaron Pike. programme on BBC Radio 3’s In Tune. Composer Russell Hepplewhite was Managing Director of Hazard commissioned by the English Touring Chase has been Hiroaki Takenouchi Opera to write an opera for children made an Honorary Life Member of as part of the company’s 2012 Spring the International Artist Managers’ Violinist Jiafeng Chen has performed Tour. The resulting opera –The Feathered Association. The award was presented Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto with Ogre – has toured the country and most at the gala dinner of the association’s the Philharmonia Orchestra at the recently gave sold out performances in conference in Budapest in March. Shanghai Oriental Arts Center in China. Warwick Arts Centre and the Hall for James began his career as a violist in the Conducted by Lorin Maazel, the concert Cornwall. London Philharmonic Orchestra and also featured a performance of Mahler’s Richard Hetherington has made his founded Hazard Chase in 1990. First Symphony. conducting debut at the Royal Opera Simon Callaghan has released a CD House with a performance of Mozart’s featuring several world premiere Le Nozze di Figaro. Since joining the Royal recordings of Delius’ orchestral works Opera House he has worked closely arranged for two pianos with alumnus with Music Director Hiroaki Takenouchi. Simon also plans to on many productions, as well as with release a CD recording of both Brahms conductors Sir , Sir Cello Sonatas with James Barralet. and Sir .

Pianist Warren Mailley-Smith has given a rush hour recital in London at St Martin-in-the-Fields. The one-hour programme included Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata and Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue.

Flautist Oliver Miller and recorder player Danielle Jalowiecka have set up Edge Music London, a new concert series that turns the notion of traditional concerts on their head by showingcasing the freshest talent in contemporary classical. Concerts are staged in bars and clubs around London and broadcast live through Hoxton FM.

Composer Simon Coleman has written music for a new series of The Dales. In this popular ITV series, Adrian Edmondson returns home to to tell the stories behind another Simon Callaghan summer in the life of the Yorkshire Dales.

20 Ruby Hughes

Soprano Ruby Hughes has made with the Royal Scottish National her concert debut with the BBC Orchestra and Martin Yates have been Philharmonic Orchestra singing released on Dutton Vocalion label. Mahler’s Rückert Lieder. The concert was Since being featured in last year’s BBC conducted by HK Gruber and broadcast Four documentary The Prince and the live from Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall Composer, Hiroaki has been in great Alexandra Hutton on BBC Radio 3. demand, performing a number of British piano works with mainstream repertoire. Tim Murray has been appointed to Zone One Brass, founded in 2002 by conduct a production of Gershwin’s Composer Elena Langer has been seven RCM students, was awarded Porgy and Bess with Cape Town Opera commissioned to write a one-act opera First Prize at the London and Southern in the UK this summer. The run of for the Graduate Vocal Arts Program of Counties Regional Championship. The performances includes the Hippodrome The Bard College Conservatory of Music band received the London and Southern in Birmingham, the Festival Theatre in in the Hudson Valley, USA. Four Sisters Counties Challenge Trophy, a cheque for Edinburgh, the Wales Millennium Centre was performed in March in the Sosnoff £200 and an invitation to the National in Cardiff and the . Theatre along with Rameau’s one act Brass Band Finals, which takes place at opera Nélée et Myrthis. the Royal Albert Hall in October. Music Director of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and newly appointed Composer Ola Gjeilo has released his Music Director of the Royal Scottish latest CD Northern Lights: Choral Works National Orchestra Peter Oundjian has by Ola Gjeilo on Naxos. Performed by conducted the Baltimore Symphony Charles Bruffy, the Phoenix Chorale, The Orchestra and the Baltimore Choral Arts Harrington String Quartet, saxophonist Society in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony Ted Belledin and the composer himself, at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall Northern Lights features five world in Baltimore, USA. premiere recordings and three pieces which were either commissioned, Pianist Rie Saito has won Third Prize at composed, or dedicated to the Phoenix the Transatlantyk Instant Composition Chorale choir. Contest of the Poznan International Film and Music Festival in Poland. Participants were asked to view a short film and improvise a piano solo in front of a live audience. Elana Langer

Composer Robert Spearing’s Piano Symphony was premiered in April in a Soprano Alexandra Hutton has secured special arrangement for three pianos. The a place on the Young Artists Programme work was performed by RCM professor at the Deutsche Oper Berlin from Andrew Zolinsky and alumni Nikos 2013. Her roles for the season include Stavlas and Andriana Minou. Barbarina (Le Nozze di Figaro), Frasquita (), Tebaldo (Don Carlos), Hiroaki Takenouchi’s world premiere Papagena (Die Zauberflöte),Annina recordings of piano concertos by (La Traviata), Jano (Jenůfa) and Erste Georgy Catoire and Percy Sherwood Blumenmädchen (Parsifal).

21 Obituaries

Patrick Bashford HonRCM professor Peter (Timmy) Graeme, oboe professor of classical guitar at the RCM for many at the RCM for many years, has years, died at the age of 82 in December died. Peter studied with Léon Goossens last year. Inspired to learn the guitar and was one of a generation of musicians while travelling around Spain in his 20s, whose finely-honed artistry elevated Patrick went on to study at Guildhall the status of the woodwind section to School of Music and Drama. In the 1950s its rightful place at the very heart of an and 1960s, Patrick supplemented his ensemble. Peter was closely associated musical career with modelling, before with the music of . being appointed professor of classical As oboist of the Melos Ensemble, he guitar at the RCM by Sir David Willcocks participated in the premiere of the War in 1971. A Celebration of the Life of Requiem conducted by the composer Patrick Bashford was held on 14 May at at Coventry Cathedral in 1962. He later Grosvenor Chapel in London. played in Britten’s own recording of Albert Herring and, in 1972, in a recording Dr John Birch FRCM senior professor of The Turn of the Screw. As a member of organ at the RCM for many years, of the English Chamber Orchestra, Peter died on 28 April. John was also an RCM continued to work with Britten, taking Leopold de Rothschild alumnus, studying with John Dykes part in the composer’s recordings of Bower, first for a year in 1947 and later Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos, St John returning to complete his studies from Leopold de Rothschild CBE FRCM died Passion, and the cantatas Herr, deine 1950 to 1953 after his period of National Augen sehen nach dem Glauben and on 19 April. Chairman of the RCM’s Service. He was awarded a Fellowship Council for a decade, Leo led the highly Süßer Trost, mein Jesus kömm, with of the RCM in 1981. He was Director distinguished soloists including Janet successful RCM Centenary Appeal in of Music at for the 1980s. Over £5 million was raised Baker, and Dietrich Fischer- 22 years, and conducted the British Dieskau. which enabled the building of the Britten premiere of ’s Theatre, home to the RCM’s International . He also served as Pianist and composer Robert Lockhart Opera School. Leo was by profession Director of Music at Temple Church died on 23 January aged 52. He a financier, becoming a partner at NM from 1982 for 15 years and was curator graduated from Oxford in 1979 with a Rothschild in 1956. His life spanned an organist at the Royal Albert Hall. double first in music before studying era of extraordinary change at the Bank. piano and composition at the RCM. He worked in three incarnations of the Sir George Blunden FRCM died at the In 1981 he was chosen as one of the New Court premises and occupied the age of 89, on 3 March. Sir George was Greater London Arts Association’s young very same office in the previous New a member of the RCM’s Council from musicians of the year. He retired from Court for its entire existence from 1965 1983 and Deputy Chairman from 1990 concert performance early on in his to 2007. He also sat as a Director of the to 1997. He had an auspicious career in career to concentrate on composition Bank of England for many years. While banking, joining the Bank of England in and became both an eclectic and he had a long and successful career 1947 and becoming deputy governor effective composer for theatre, film and in banking, his love of music and the in 1985. He was knighted in 1987 and television, as well as creating freestanding arts were very important to him. An retired in 1990. As well as his role at the works for ensembles ranging from string accomplished pianist, Leo was also an RCM, he was Chairman of the Imperial quartet to brass band. enthusiastic member of The Bach Choir, Cancer Research Fund, Chairman of of which he later became President. He the Samuel Lewis Housing Trust and a The ‘Father of New Zealand Opera’ enjoyed long and lasting friendships with Trustee of the . Donald Munro MBE has died. Donald countless musicians including Sir Georg studied at the RCM during the Second Solti, Sir Charles Mackerras, Sir Colin Welsh composer Dilys Elwyn-Edwards World War, winning the Tagore Medal. Davis, Raymond Leppard and Dame Janet died on 13 January at the age of 93. After a successful career in Europe as Baker. In addition to his Chairmanship of Dilys was born in Dolgellau in 1918 a baritone, Donald returned to New the RCM Council, he served as Chairman and studied music at Cardiff University Zealand where he established the of the Music Advisory Committee of the before winning a scholarship to the RCM. country’s first opera company. The British Council, Trustee of Glyndebourne As a composer she was well-known New Zealand Opera Company gave Arts Trust , Co-President of the Jewish for her romantic works recorded by the young Dame her Music Institute at SOAS, Chairman artists such as and Charlotte first professional engagement. Donald of the Countess of Munster Musical Church. Her most famous work, Mae received an MBE and was named a New Trust, President of the English Chamber Hiraeth yn y Môr (Longing in the Sea) was Zealand Arts Icon for his services to Orchestra and was a founding member commissioned by the BBC in 1961. opera in the country. of The Voices Foundation. In recognition of his outstanding contribution to music he was appointed CBE, awarded a Fellowship of the RCM, and made an Honorary Member of the ISM.

22

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