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Home , 1964 in British music, 1973 in British music, 2020 in British music, Afrobeat, British jazz, List of jazz violinists

TRINITY LABAN CONSERVATOIRE ENCORE /OF MUSIC & DANCE Encore Alumni Newsletter Spring 2021

The annual One Dance UK Awards presented the Jane Attenborough Award Paul Philbert (Dip TCL, percussion and timpani 1996) was awarded an MBE. to Dr Valerie Preston Dunlop.

OUR ALUMNI HONOURED WITH PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS Our talented alumni are frequently recognised with major In the New Year’s Honours Dr Stuart Hopps received awards and the recent months have been no exception. an OBE. Stuart is an award-winning choreographer In the delayed Queen’s Birthday Honours Paul Philbert who has worked with leading opera and theatre (Dip TCL, percussion and timpani 1996) was awarded companies including English National Opera and the an MBE. Paul is Principal Timpanist with Royal Scottish Royal Shakespeare Company and has choreographed National Orchestra and has enjoyed an international for over 20 feature films. He was Senior Lecturer in orchestral career. He also dedicates his time to inclusive Dance (1975–1978) and Director of MA Studies at music education, most recently joining the board of Trinity Laban (1986–1989). charity Sistema Scotland which supports children and continued inside young people through their ‘Big Noise’ orchestras.

trinitylaban.ac.uk/alumni story continued from cover OUR ALUMNI HONOURED LEGEND SUPPORTING THE NEW NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH WITH PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS HONOURED GENERATION OF ARTISTS TOMORROW’S WARRIORS ANNOUNCED Cecilia McDowall (GTCL piano 1975) received the award for Outstanding Works Collection at The Ivors Composer Awards 2020. Cecilia is one of the finest of her generation, particularly noted for her choral works and this ‘Gift of the Academy’ award recognises her exceptional body of classical work.

Another prestigious win for our music alumni was made to 2020 BMus piano graduate Deschanel Gordon who was named BBC Young Jazz of the Year. The final in November also featured current bass student Kielan Sheard.

Dele Sosimi, Juliet Jackman and Dr Jak Beula at the plaque unveiling. Marina Papps, this year’s Audrey Wethered recipient. Trinity Laban and Tomorrow’s Warriors launch the Jazz Hang. The annual One Dance UK Awards presented the Jane We are delighted that Fela Kuti (1938–1997), Afrobeat Attenborough Award to Dr Valerie Preston Dunlop. The pioneer and political activist has been honoured as part From September 2021 the Postgraduate Diploma in Trinity Laban and leading music educators Tomorrow’s award honours an exceptional individual who has made of the Black Plaque Project and Trinity Laban’s Black Community Dance will become the MA/MFA in Dance Warriors have launched a new initiative to redress the an outstanding contribution to dance and was given Culture 365 programme. Leadership and Community Practice. We are extremely balance in representation at grassroots level in the to Valerie in recognition of her remarkable career as a pleased to be able to offer one student annually on this UK jazz scene. The Jazz Hang will reach out to young dancer, educationalist and leading specialist on the life new course, the Audrey Wethered Bursary. But who from diverse backgrounds and introduce Fela studied trumpet and composition at Trinity College and work of Rudolf Laban. Valerie began her training was Audrey? them to playing jazz. of Music in the early 1960s after originally arriving in at 16 with Rudolf Laban at the Art of Movement Studio to study medicine. He went on to become one in Manchester and her expertise has been in demand of the world’s best-loved performers, pioneering the Audrey was born in 1903 and studied piano at the With a particular focus on Black and young female ever since. On receiving the award Valerie said, “I am Afrobeat sound which continues to be a major influence Royal College of Music before taking up nursing during musicians aged 11–16, the project centres around just glad that something in my 70-year long career has on musicians today. He was also a leading figure within World War II. She found that patients enjoyed her piano a weekly Sunday residency programme of informal touched people. Rudolf Laban looked me in the eye and Nigerian and pan-African politics through his music playing and whilst working in a psychiatric hospital, she and practical jazz learning hosted at Trinity Laban. said ‘yes you can’ and I suppose that’s been my mantra and activism. put a record on which the patients responded to with The weekly sessions will be delivered by Tomorrow’s ever since. To young dancers I say ‘believe you can’.” movement. Audrey described herself as “pop-eyed. Warriors’ music leaders and there will be termly Here was something spontaneous – there must be masterclasses involving Trinity Laban Jazz tutors The commemorative plaque is part of the Black Plaque At the same awards BSc Programme Leader Sonia a need”. open to the wider community. The project provides Project. Created by Nubian Jak Community Trust and Rafferty (BA 1983, Transitions 1984, MSc 2004) received professional development opportunities for Tomorrow’s Havas London, the project aims to redress the balance the Applied Dance Science Award in recognition of Warriors and Trinity Laban jazz students, who will of commemorative blue plaques in London, of which After experimenting on her own for a while she went, her significant positive impact on dancers’ health, operate as workshop assistants. only 1.6% currently represent Black people. It sees as a mature student, to study with Rudolf Laban at the wellbeing and performance. The Dance Healthcare the temporary installation of 30 plaques remembering Art of Movement Studio. Audrey knew that this was the Practitioner Award went to Trinity Laban Lecturer in key Black figures, their contribution to history and direction she wanted to take and became a pioneer in Jazz Hang is the latest project in a long relationship Dance and physiotherapist Katy Chambers (MSc 2014) connection to the capital. using Laban’s teaching to help psychiatric patients. between Tomorrow’s Warriors and Trinity Laban. Many in recognition of her exceptional clinical practice. of the young musicians developed by Tomorrow’s Warriors’ extraordinarily successful Learning and Artist Fela’s son Femi Kuti and grandson Made Kuti sent a Audrey lived until she was 97 and remembered all that Development programmes have continued their studies celebratory message from . Following in his Laban’s work and influence meant to her. Her archive is at Trinity Laban. These alumni, like , Moses grandfather’s footsteps, Made also studied composition held at The National Resource Centre for Dance at the Boyd and Femi Koleoso are now leading figures on the at Trinity Laban graduating in 2019. University of Surrey. With a generous endowment she left international jazz scene. to Trinity Laban, we are now able to support a student each year who shares Audrey’s passion for community Speaking at the installation, Dele Sosimi musician and dance and practice. Through this award At the launch for this new project Artistic Director of Musical Director for Fela Kuti’s Egypt 80 said, “Words we are very proud to remember Audrey. Tomorrow’s Warriors, OBE said “As a fail me. I am buzzing, I am glowing, I am so proud... Trinity Laban Honorary Fellow, it’s been wonderful to I teach afrobeat here at Trinity Laban, so to see this see the incredible talent that has come through both here, now – hopefully it will encourage more students If you are interested in learning more about including our education programmes over the past 15 years. to participate in afrobeat and spread the horizon of up Trinity Laban in your legacy planning, please There has never been a more exciting time to play jazz and coming musicians.” contact Paula Mallottides, Development Manager, at in this country, yet it is still an artform that curious young [email protected] or call 020 8305 4490. people still don’t know how to get into. Through the informal learning we aim to provide at the Jazz Hang, we hope to attract the next generation of Nubyas and Moseses, growing the rich diversity of the scene, and crucially, increasing representation.” 2 / TRINITYLABAN.AC.UK/ENCORE 3 CATCH UP WITH YOUR PEERS IN THE WORLD OF MUSIC FROM MUSIC ALUMNI LOOK OUT FOR MORE ON OUR WEBSITE

NEWS Elliott deVivo (MMus clarinet 2016) Alexander Pullinger (MMus voice Elliot Coombe (BA musical Heather Main (Voice 1998) spoke At the Ivors Composer Awards, collaborated with playwright Sue 2014) received funding from Sound theatre 2017) landed the role of to The Spectator about how, Mark Lockheart (LTCL Ayanna Witter-Johnson (BMus Blundell to create Silence and Joy, Connections to write the article, understudy Christopher Wren in following a successful 1982) was nominated for Jazz composition 2008) was named telling the story of Beethoven’s ‘Facilitating the Empowerment Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap career, she now trains race horses Composition for Small Ensemble a Royal Philharmonic Society relationship with the black virtuoso of Transgender Voices Through at St Martin’s theatre. and regularly sings to them. and Amir Konjani (MMus Composer for the 2020–21 season. violinist, George Bridgetower. Singing: A case for the removal of composition 2012) was shortlisted cisgendered expectations in Western Ember Trio, featuring Elliot Lyte Sahra Gure, Sheila Maurice-Grey in the Small Chamber Ensemble Manu Delago (PGAD composition classical singing, and the creation (BMus 2015) and Tom Huet and Héloïse Werner (MMus voice category. Cecilia McDowall 2011) performed with Anoushka of trans-positive singing spaces’. (BMus cello 2015), performed 2018) received funding from (Piano, LTCL 1973, GTCL 1975) Shankar in a collaboration with a mash-up of Destiny’s Child, PRS Foundation to support was presented with the Ivor producer Gold James Layton (BMus composition and Dr Dre in the their music projects. Novello Award for Outstanding Panda and the strings of the 2019) released his stunning new Britain’s Got Talent semi-finals. Works Collection. . album Into the Ocean, a collection of experimental works for solo James Darch (FDA musical theatre AWARDS, HONOURS viola by emerging British and 2009) starred in the YouTube series, American composers. On a List. AND COMPETITIONS Kay Charlton (MA The Teaching Gabriel Askew (BMus trumpet Congratulations to our alumni for Musician 2018) released her 2020), winner of the 2020 Innovation the many awards and prizes they new book, How to teach Award, performed at the It’s Time have won. whole-class instrumental festival in Greenwich. lessons – 50 Inspiring Ideas. John Powell was nominated for the GéNIA (Piano, MMus 1999, PGAD Public Choice Award at the World John Sturt (Composition, John Savournin (BMus voice 2000) released a video course Soundtrack Awards for his original BMus 2018, MMus 2020) was 2007) and Charles Court Opera’s Duncan Ward (Junior Fellow designed for pianists to help them score for The Call Of The Wild. commissioned by Tête á Tête pantomime Snow White in the 2011–2012) was appointed chief with their home practice, entitled to write original works for their Seven Months of Lockdown won conductor of the Philharmonie Transform Your Practice, A Complete (BMus jazz drumkit Opera Festival, in partnership an OnComm Award. Zuidnederland. Nubya Garcia (BMus jazz 11 Stage Guide. 2016), Rosie Turton (BMus jazz with The Cockpit Theatre. saxophone 2016), KOKOROKO, trombone 2015), SEED Ensemble, (BA musical theatre led by Sheila Maurice-Grey (PGDip Mark Kavuma (BMus jazz trumpet Rhiannon Jeffreys (BMus Millie Cranston Panayotis Archontides (MMus piano Layla Allen (MMus flute 2019) jazz trumpet 2016) and featuring 2017) and Joe Armon-Jones were saxophone 2015) received a Young 2020) performed in Spotlight on the 2008) released Elements of London, released her book, So, You Want Cassie Kinoshi (BMus composition all nominated at this year’s Jazz Innovators Award, supporting her LIVE! – a drive in performance a new album featuring piano to Play the… Clarinet – Book 1. 2015), and Ezra Collective, including FM Awards. online tutoring service Starling featuring graduate musical theatre duets by contemporary classical Femi Koleoso (BMus jazz drumkit Academy of Music. talent and West End stars. composers Hugh Shrapnel and 2017) and Joe Armon-Jones (BMus Christopher Russell (Voice, LTCL John E. Lewis. Joe Armon-Jones and Moses Boyd 1995, PGC 1998) released Notes Matthieu Esnult (Piano, MMus 2013, 2016), headlined BBC were nominated for Best Jazz Act at Lana Trotovsvek (Violin PGDip on the Piano, a distillation of many Four’s : The the 2020 MOBO Awards. 2007, PGAD 2009) was awarded a PGAD 2015) gave a concert with (BMus jazz voice 2019) years of teaching. Explosion. It showcased a plethora Sahra Gure Prešeren Fund Prize. Stradivari violinist Yury Revich. was appointed to the Youth Council of TL faces including Daniel Casimir Dominic Veall (MMus composition (MMus jazz double bass 2015), of The Ivors Academy. Will Dutta (BMus piano 2008, PhD John Powell (Composition 1986) 2020) won the Schellhorn Prize for Artie Zaitz (BMus jazz 2013), composition 2018) collaborated with composed the score for Doug Sacred Music Composition 2020 for Sam Jones (BMus jazz piano 2014), visual content designers Treatment Liman’s new HBO film Locked Down. his piece Dormi, Jesu. Studios and motion graphics leaders Renato Paris (jazz vocals 2015), Huw Bennett (MMus jazz double VFX on Bloom – LiveStream, a digital Dai Fujikura (BMus composition performance that explored the unique bass 2017) and honorary fellow 2000) premiered his new opera Gary Crosby. connectivity of ‘live’. A dream of Armageddon, an adaptation of the H.G Wells story of the same name, in Tokyo.

4 TRINITYLABAN.AC.UK/ENCORE 5 CATCH UP WITH YOUR PEERS IN THE WORLD OF DANCE FROM DANCE ALUMNI LOOK OUT FOR MORE ON OUR WEBSITE

NEWS Suzannah Dessau (BA 2017) Sam Yo (Diploma 2000) launched Eleni Edipidi (MA European Maisie Whitehead (BA 2005) adapted Izzy Catterall’s (BA 2020) animal and Erin McNulty (PDCD 2016) his spin classes on workout Dance Theatre Practice 2005), her physical theatre project When rights-inspired dance film was Molly Hick (BA 2019) was among co-directed, choreographed app Peloton. co-founder of Levantes Dance Grief Came to Stay into an online recognised at three international film the cast of Cunningham Centennial and performed in their first Theatre, was selected for a series of five video shorts, drawing festivals and her quarantine creation Solos at the Oriente Occidente Dance collaboration, Floodstream. Amina Khayyam (Graduate Diploma Jerwood Circus Residency. from her research residency at I Lost Myself was selected for FLUX Festival in Roverto, Italy. Dance Science 2018) premiered Jackson Lane. Moving Image Online Festival 2020. Leila McMillan (BA 2004, her self-directed, written and George Perez (BA 2020) joined Elisabeth Schilling (BA 2011) Transitions 2006) was appointed choreographed dance film,CATCH Jasmin Vardimon Company’s Joseph Houseal’s (PhD dance 1998) Luca Silvestrini (GDD 1997, discussed her work, her thoughts on as Senior Lecturer in Contemporary THE BIRD WHO WON’T FLY. professional development organisation Core of Culture hosted a Transitions 1997) received a the arts during the pandemic and her Dance at The Hong Kong Academy programme; the JV2 Professional new four-part lecture series on Mudra prestigious Premio della Critica innovative lockdown project, Shoe for Performing Arts. During her time as artist-in- Development Diploma. and the Diamond Spheres, assisting by the Associazione Nazionale Dances in a Tedx coffee morning. residence at Flux Laboratory Athens, the preservation of Buddhist ritual Critici di Teatro, for his company’s choreographer and alum Chloe Maciej Kuźmiński’s (BA 2007, heritage in dance and movement. work in championing diversity. Charlotte Pook (BA 2011, Transitions Aligianni (MA choreography 2013) MA choreography 2012) new work Protein also won an LA Film Award 2012) was appointed as the new explored the astronaut experience saw its premiere at the Plartforma for their dance filmThe Sun Inside, Rehearsal Director for National Dance through her work The Space Cadet. Festival in Lithuania. AWARDS, HONOURS created with alum Roswitha Company Wales. Chesher (Diploma Dance Theatre Emily May’s (BA 2017) Terpsichore AND COMPETITIONS 1991), which was named the Best Tommy Cattin’s (GDD 2015, BA Musical/Dance Film of December. Podcast released its fourth episode; Congratulations to our alumni 2018) EREM dance presented their an interview with dance film director for the many awards and first original performanceSOIR HB in Alla Kovan. prizes they have won. Delémont, Switzerland at the Forum Saint-Georges. Julia Testas’ (MFA Creative Practice 2019) film,Roller Coaster: An Thomas Page (BA 2018) was Sir Matthew Bourne OBE (BA Adventure for Times like These was commissioned by Oxford’s Arts 1985, Transitions 1986) broke Matthew Sandiford (BA 2012) joined at the Old Fire Station as part of records winning his 9th Olivier Award National Dance Company Wales. streamed by The Actors Centre as part of their Latin American Season. their Lights Up project. and was nominated for a South Bank Sky Arts Award for Romeo and Juliet. masshysteria premiered Mayowa Ogunnaike (BA 2017) and Oona Doherty (Transitions 2010) their latest online work, Patrick Webster (BA 2019) joined discussed the process of creating Shelley Maxwell (MA choreography feet4music2grass3feetrev2.mov, Rosie Kay Dance Company in the Helium during the Choreographers 2007) was nominated for the Best co-produced with Dampfzentrale cast of Romeo + Juliet. Cut at Dance Umbrella Digital. Choreography Award at the Black Bern and created by Nina Richard British Theatre Awards, alongside (BA 2019). Fifty Contemporary Choreographers, Flora Grant (BA 2017) starred as Trinity Laban faculty member the seminal dance book, included Scrooge’s sister in the feature film Dollie Henry. An ensemble of TL alumni work from Maresa von Stockert dance adaptation of A Christmas performed new work Separation (BA 1995), Liv Lorent MBE (BA Carol, with fellow alum Steff D’arcy and Community at 1993) and (BA 1981). (BA 2017) in the role of Mother Joumana Mourad (BA 1993) and Rosemary Lee Caroline. Together they also devised Church in West Dulwich. her company IJAD Dance Company dance filmContinue to Burn. Choreographed by Laura Engholm have a specialist platform and training Joshua Smith (BA 2012) featured in (BA 2020), the piece featured fellow programme, Open Online Theatre, video for Jamie Callum’s 2020 graduates Laure Dubanet, which supports performing artists to latest single Hang Your Lights. Kim Chi Lee and Hannah Wallace bring their work into the digital space and was accompanied by music and build sustainable careers. The Limon Dance Company, led from Sally-Anne Zimmerman by Artistic Director Dante Puleio (Piano, LTCL 1977, GTCL 1978) Theo TJ Lowe (BA 2008) devised (BA 1996), took up a four-week and current student Ola Akinidpe. Let Me Move, a newly commissioned residency in the Kaatsbaan piece in collaboration with Transitions Cultural Park. Dance Company that premiered on [email protected] the TL YouTube channel. SHARE YOUR NEWS Email

6 Adrian Clarke (1954 – 10 Sept 2020) was IN MEMORY a highly regarded opera singer performing nationally and internationally and was well We are very sad to announce the following known for his interpretations of contemporary deaths and our condolences go to their work. He was a much-loved teacher at Trinity families and friends. Laban teaching in both the Vocal and Musical Theatre departments. Keith Nichols (13 Feb 1945 – 21 Jan 2021) was an international authority on classic jazz Dennis Wickens (6 1926 – 17 Aug 2020) and , specialising in older jazz piano studied composition at TCM graduating in styles, such as Scott Joplin, Fats Waller and 1951. He went on to become head of music . He toured and performed at Worcester Royal Grammar School, before extensively and taught in our jazz department serving as music adviser for the Isle of Wight for many years. and then Hampshire. His many compositions included orchestral, chamber, choral, vocal Catherine Ennis (1955 – 24 Dec 2020) was for and keyboard. many years a member of our music faculty. When TCM moved from Mandeville Place she Gary Cairney (1963 ­– 12 Aug 2020) studied helped create the William organ at our composition at TCM graduating in 1989. He new site in Greenwich. The organ was a gift was awarded the John Halford Composition from Roger Gabb and Catherine performed the prize in 1991 and wrote numerous musicals inaugural recital. She was Director of Music that were performed at the Edinburgh Fringe at the City of London church of St. Lawrence Festival and in London. Gary was a three-time Jewry for 35 years and President of the Royal semi-finalist of the Vivien Ellis prize and a College of Organists. finalist in 1991.

John Henry (1945 – 20 Dec 2020) was a widely Anne Lawson (6 Jan 1938 – 3 March 2020) acclaimed keyboardist and harpsichordist who studied piano at TCM and graduated in 1966. was well-known for his creative interpretations Anne served as a music teacher throughout of French harpsichord music. He joined the her long career and on retirement, realised keyboard department at TCM in 1990 and her dream to live by the sea when she moved remained a faculty member for the next 29 to Eastbourne. years making a lasting impact on the many students he taught. John Huw Davies (26 Feb 1935 – 24 Feb 2020) studied piano at TCM graduating Tony Nandi (d.13 Nov 2020) studied at in 1956 and had a long career singing, Goldsmiths and during that time photographed conducting and teaching including returning Laban students studying at Laurie Grove. He to TCM to teach. He conducted many went on to become a hugely respected dance ensembles including the Monteverdi Singers, and performing arts photographer and ran the Cantorion Menai and the Stockport Festival photography department at the University of Chorus. He was the music advisor for West London for many years. He remained a Gwynedd for many years and Director great friend to Trinity Laban photographing of the CSSM summer school. virtually every dance graduation between 1985 and 2005.

Dave Toole OBE (31 July 1964 – 16 Oct 2020) KEEP UP TO DATE graduated from the Laban Centre in 1993 and We love to hear what you have been doing since went on to achieve international acclaim when you graduated so get in touch and let us know. he appeared in the opening ceremony of the London Paralympic Games in 2012. A hugely N.B. Please note that we cannot guarantee to talented and inspirational dancer who broke include everything we receive and we reserve down boundaries, he worked with leading the right to edit submissions. companies including DV8 Physical Theatre, Email: [email protected] Candoco, Stopgap Dance Company and Call: + 44 (0)20 8305 9420 Graeae. In 2019 he was awarded an OBE Post: Alumni Relations, in recognition of his services to dance and King Charles Court, people with disabilities. Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich, London SE10 9JF Like: facebook.com/trinitylabanalumni

Photo credits: Steff D’Arcy, Manu Delago, Flora Grant, Aleksander Joachimiak, James Keates, Marina Pappa, Pat Pascal (courtesy of Tomorrow’s Warriors), Johan Persson, Paul Philbert, Matthew Sandiford, Juno Snowdon, Bumi Thomas, Jack Thomson, Lana Trotsvek, Thierry Watrinet