The Magazine for the Royal College of MusicI Autumn 2013 Leading the way What’s inside... Welcome to upbeat... Here at the RCM, we’re proud to be ‘leading the way’ on many fronts: from our ground-breaking outreach programme RCM Sparks (pictured on the front Contents cover) to our innovative performances, far-reaching building projects and world-leading career development programme. 4 In the news We’re also leading the way in research, and in this issue we focus on the Updating you on recent RCM extraordinary activity of the RCM vibrant community. If you’re unsure why this activities matters to you, turn to page 10 to read Amanda Glauert’s passionate account of why every musician is a researcher, whether they realise it or not. Elsewhere, 10 Research – what’s in it for me? we introduce a new major collaboration with the Open University (page 11), Amanda Glauert explains why we hear from the most mature student at the RCM (page 12), and two early research is so important to the music specialists explain their fascination with uncovering and performing RCM lesser known baroque works (page 13). 11 Listening Experience Database Elsewhere, we also welcome a host of new students and staff while saying a A new project which aims to fond farewell to David Harpham who is leaving us after 39 years as Registry produce the world’s first database Officer. documenting the impact of music on people’s lives We’re always keen to hear from students past and present, so if you have anything you would like us to feature in the next issue of Upbeat, send your 12 From X-rays to A clarinets news and pictures to [email protected] by Monday 9 January 2014. 73 year old Keith Bowen explains how his research influenced a NB: Please note that we cannot guarantee to include everything we receive and performance of Wagner at the that we reserve the right to edit submissions. BBC Proms 13 Randall Scotting & Claire Upbeat online Bracher Did you know that Upbeat is available to read online at www.rcm.ac.uk/upbeat Two doctoral students discuss If you’d prefer to read it in this way, do contact us at [email protected] and we’ll their fascination with uncovering stop sending you a paper copy. If you’d like us to send you an email notification lesser known baroque works when Upbeat is published, let us know your email address too. 14 Remembering two RCM Friends Upbeat remembers David Poultney and James McAlinden 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, Births and Marriages RCM Symphony Orchestra performs Messiaen’s Turangalila-Symphonie at the Royal Festival Hall Photo © Ben Larpent Front cover – RCM Sparks © Olivia Woodhouse Inside front cover – RCM International Opera School’s production of Offenbach’s La vie parisienne © Chris Christodoulou Inside back cover – RCM Alumni Reunion 1965-1975 © Chris Christodoulou 3 In the news... Chew Jun Ru: RCM Pioneer A student from the RCM has made Jun Ru said of his unique achievement: history by becoming the first graduate “It is a great honour to be the first in a traditional Chinese instrument in Chinese instrumental graduate of the the institution’s 130-year history. RCM. I first visited the RCM when I was on a trip with my family to London Singaporean Chew Jun Ru graduated some years back. Being thoroughly in July with a BMus in performance impressed by the RCM, it has always on the Erhu, a two-stringed bowed been a dream of mine to be an RCM musical instrument, sometimes known student, even though I majored in a in the Western world as the “Chinese Chinese instrument.” violin”. His studies have been principally undertaken at the Nanyang Academy In all, 20 NAFA students – the other 19 of Fine Arts (NAFA) in Singapore, and specialising in western instruments – ratified with an RCM degree thanks to graduated with RCM degrees in 2013. an historic agreement signed between This is the first time that any RCM NAFA and the RCM in 2011. degrees have been conferred outside the UK. included the RCM Museum of Music’s Instruments bass viol by Barak Norman (pictured), Stephen Fry made in London in 1692. Meanwhile, Out and About National Museums Scotland displayed at the RCM the guitar attributed to Rene Voboam, Two treasures from c 1650, as part of their summer exhibition the RCM Special ‘Mary, Queen of Scots’. This instrument Collections were has a spurious association with Mary’s loaned out to private secretary David Rizzio, and special exhibitions appeared in the section of the exhibition over the summer. dedicated to the myths which surround our interpretation of Mary’s life. The National Gallery’s special The instruments are now back in the exhibition ‘Vermeer RCM Museum of Music, which is open and Music: The Art Tuesday to Friday 11.30am to 4.30pm and of Love and Leisure’, is free to visit. RCM students have had the opportunity to workshop a brand new opera with music by RCM graduate Louis Mander Ben Johnson – the audience favourite! and libretto by Stephen Fry. RCM graduate Ben Johnson has won On 2 July, Stephen Fry visited the RCM to the Dame Joan Sutherland Audience direct the students in a one-off workshop Prize at BBC Cardiff Singer of the and informal presentation of three short World. scenes from The Life to Come, an opera based on the short story by E M Forster. The prize – named after the much- Composer Louis Mander conducted the loved RCM alumna and soprano – was RCM Opera Orchestra as well as singers voted for by audiences in the hall and from the RCM International Opera across the globe. Ben wowed those School. audiences with his musicality and committed performances, including Stephen Fry tweeted: “Having fun stunning renditions of songs by a workshopping my operatic version of number of British composers associated Forster’s ‘The Life to Come’ @RCMLatest with the RCM. – the students are stupendous”. This year marked the 30th anniversary The cast includedPeter Kirk, Bradley of the prestigious competition. Ben is Travis, Matt R J Ward and Katherine the second RCM graduate to win the Crompton, all fresh from their Audience Prize, following the 2007 appearances in the International Opera triumph of baritone Jacques Imbrailo. School’s hit summer production of Photo © Chris Gloag © Chris Photo Offenbach’s operettaLa vie parisienne. 4 The Rhapsody Project Giving is RCM graduates Charlotte Harding, Woodhouse Professional Development Good for You Mika Sawai and Marcos Fernandez Centre, the project is an innovative new have been selected to participate way of motivating patients to get out of in a new project at Chelsea and bed and explore the hospital, beginning Westminster Hospital to help with the recovery process. patients’ treatment and rehabilitation. RCM Head of Composition William The composers have been tasked Mival is mentoring the composers, with writing relaxing pieces of music guiding the development of their for a special audio guide tour of the compositions and exploring with paintings, sculptures and installations them the role that art can play in the of Chelsea and Westminster Hospitals’ healing process. RCM musicians will be impressive art collection. Delivered recording the new works when they are in partnership with the RCM’s completed later in the year. Two practice rooms have also been A Summer completely refurbished and decorated. New dimmer lights in the ceilings, RCM Council member and of Progress acoustic floor panels, air conditioning scholarship donor John Nickson has units and more mirrors have improved published a new book that sheds light Staff and students returning to the RCM their aesthetic and acoustic qualities. on the benefits of being generous. after the summer break have noticed a One room has also seen the addition of number of improvements. a new lectern and SMART interactive Giving is Good for You was launched Following the renovation of the whiteboard. These new rooms are the at the RCM on Thursday 6 June, and Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall in 2008, first in a long-term strategy to refurbish is available to buy from Biteback a chequerboard of reflective panels has all rooms in the Blomfield building. Publishing. RCM staff, students, been added to the lighting bars above friends and supporters can get the The RCM’s commitment to providing the the stage. This addition is designed to book at a special price of £14.99 best possible environment for students, enhance the clarity of sound for the by visiting www.politicos.co.uk/ visitors and staff will continue in the performers. promotions and entering the coming months and years – keep an eye promotional code “RCM”. on Upbeat for details! activities. Many engaging topics were science. I was especially struck by ISPS 2013 discussed including the psychological the number of different approaches and physiological processes behind and perspectives; and how inventive The fourth ensemble performance, and the most researchers can be when seeking International recent findings on performance health reliable, repeatable ways to measure Symposium on and wellbeing. ‘performance’!” Performance Science (ISPS) More than 200 delegates from 30 The ISPS is convened biennially by the was held in countries attended the symposium RCM Centre for Performance Science. Vienna at the University of Music and with around 25 representatives To find out more and download articles Performing Arts (MDW) in August. from the RCM. MSc student from the 2013 symposium please visit Nicola Pennill commented: “It was www.performancesience.org The 2013 theme of ‘Performing fantastic to experience first-hand the Together’ encouraged debate on the multidisciplinary nature of performance The 2015 ISPS will be held in Kyoto, science of collaborative performing Japan.