The Magazine for the Royal College of MusicI Spring 2013 Now… relax! How the RCM is tackling performance anxiety What’s inside... Welcome to upbeat... When you’re under the spotlight, it’s not always easy to ‘relax’ on stage. But developing a stage presence and ability to communicate with an audience is a vital part of Contents training as a musician at the RCM. To help students along, Head of Performance Science Professor Aaron Williamon has led a team of researchers to develop the first 4 In the news performance simulator for musicians. Turn to page 12 to find out how he’s using this Updating you on recent RCM new technology to help students improve their performance skills. activities... This issue we also say a fond farewell to Peter Hewitt who is leaving us after 22 years as 10 Farewell to Peter Director of the RCM’s Junior Department. Turn to page 10 to read his about his time at Peter Hewitt reminisces over his the JD, including taking part in the rain-soaked Thames Pageant for the Queen’s Jubilee time as Director of the RCM’s Celebrations. Junior Department We would also like to take this opportunity to invite you all to witness a thrilling 12 Simulating and stimulating concert. On Tuesday 23 May, the RCM Symphony Orchestra will be performing one of performance the truly great orchestral works of the 20th century – Messiaen’s Turangalîla – at the Professor Aaron William tells Royal Festival Hall. Turn to page 9 for further details. Upbeat about his latest research into performance anxiety 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 news and pictures to 14 Meeting the supporters [email protected] by Monday 29 April 2013. Upbeat meets RCM Friend and Patron, Chelsea Pensioner NB: Please note that we cannot guarantee to include everything we receive and that we David Poultney reserve the right to edit submissions. 16 Student notes… Upbeat online Current student success stories Did you know that Upbeat is available to read online at www.rcm.ac.uk/upbeat If you’d prefer to read it in this way, do contact us at [email protected] and we’ll 18 Staff notes… stop sending you a paper copy. If you’d like us to send you an email notification News from professorial, academic when Upbeat is published, let us know your email address too. and administrative staff 20 Alumni notes… Updates from RCM graduates 22 Obituaries PERC’M performing at St Mary’s Church in Beverly Front cover – Peter Kirk in the RCM International Opera School’s production of Bizet’s Le docteur Miracle Inside front cover – Variable Geometry ensemble Inside back cover – A performance of works by Jonathan Dove and featuring artwork by Anita Klein All photography © Chris Christodoulou 3 In the news... Soirée d’Or 2012 The RCM’s annual fundraising event, Soirée d’Or, took place at the V&A Museum on 5 December last year. More than £185,000 was raised, which will be used to provide substantial scholarships to talented RCM students. The evening began with a Taittinger champagne reception in the Medieval and Renaissance Galleries with music provided by alumna Charlotte Harding’s jazz quartet and a trio of RCM trumpeters, who performed a new work by current student Brandan Musk. A five-course dinner followed in the impressive Raphael Gallery during which guests were entertained by alumnus Sir James Galway and RCM violinist Ksenia Berezina, accompanied by Peter Limnov. With the focus on raising funds for the RCM scholarship appeal Sir Roger Carr delivered an inspiring speech, in which he likened the hard work and dedication of classical musicians to that of Olympic athletes. He also referred to the professionalism and sheer pluck of the RCM Chamber Choir who hit the headlines last year following their stoical performance in torrential rain during the Royal Jubilee River Pageant. A lively auction followed with bidders competing for items that included a performance by Ksenia Berezina at a private event, a luxury break in Morocco, a private dinner at the Dorchester Hotel, and the use of a private box at the Royal Albert Hall to attend one of Alfie Boe’s 2013 performances. The evening finally closed with a rousing performance of Jerusalem by the RCM Chamber Choir and audience participation in four popular carols. The RCM is very fortunate to have the 4 December 2013, please contact Mary Partnership, Hatch Mansfield, Ketel One support of a hard-working committee Cosgrave ([email protected]) if Vodka, London Russian Ballet School, led by Lady Carr (chairman), with you would like to attend. Mason Rose, Mihaela Christou Bespoke Lady Middleton, Emma Rose, Fiona Jewellery, Hambleton Hall, Nevill Holt, Flint, Tanya Rose, Lady Walters, Judy The RCM thanks the following Mowschenson and Anastasia Christou, companies and individuals for their O.P.I, Paul Wayne Gregory, Percy & Reed, all of whom work tirelessly throughout generous sponsorship and donations: QMS Medi Cosmetics, Roja Parfums, the year to secure table sales, RLM Finsbury, Boutinot, British Gas, Royal Mansour Marrakech, Royal Opera sponsorship and exceptional prizes Burberry, Richard and Anastasia House, Sally Clarke Ltd, St James’s Hotel to auction on the evening. The next Christou, The Dorchester Collection, and Club, Steinway & Sons, Steven Soirée d’Or will be held on Wednesday Green & Black’s, Inn or Out, Intern Morris and Wilberforce Chambers. 4 Double win at RCM pianist Pavel Kolesnikov has Honens won the highly prestigious First Prize Soundtrack_ Laureate Award of $100,000 (Can) at International the finals of the Honens International Cologne 9.0 Piano Competition Piano Competition in Canada. Although a relatively recent competition, it is known as one of the most prestigious and one of the most searching in terms of the requirements. Pavel was required to produce several recitals and recordings in order to reach the competition final, in which he performed Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto no 1. RCM alumni have scooped two awards at Soundtrack_Cologne 9.0, one of In addition to his lucrative money prize, Europe’s leading festivals of sound and Pavel, who studies with Norma Fisher media. and is supported by the Russell Gander Award, has also been awarded a three- RCM Composition for Screen graduate year artistic and career development and now RCM professor Enrica programme. Valued at half a million Sciandrone won the Peer Raben Award Canadian dollars, this programme for the best music for a short film. Her includes worldwide representation entry, ‘Suckablood’, was chosen from an for three years and a recording on the unprecedented 320 nominations. The Hyperion label. European Talent Award was awarded to RCM Composition for Screen graduate John Chua from Singapore. This is the Vanessa Latarche, who commented on second time a graduate of the RCM Lang Lang’s story Lang Lang’s “real gift” in being able to bring music to the masses, and praised has won this award, following on from The RCM has appeared in a feature- Martin Batchelar’s success in 2010. his ability to engage children with length documentary about star pianist classical music. Organised by the Cologne Congress for Lang Lang. Music and Sound in Film and Media, Several scenes in the documentary – Do or Die: Lang Lang’s Story, part of the SoundTrack_Cologne is a German including the central interview with BBC’s ‘imagine...’ series, aired on BBC One festival of music and sound in film and presenter Alan Yentob – were filmed in November. The programme explored media, which has developed into one of at the RCM, where Lang Lang has the personal story behind the Chinese Europe’s most important screen music been a regular visitor in recent years: classical music superstar, and included events. Eighteen students on the RCM he has given two immensely popular Composition for Screen programme interviews with various influential figures masterclasses, received an Honorary attended the festival as part of a group in the musical world. These included Doctorate, and met participants in the study visit to Germany, sponsored by the RCM Head of Keyboard Professor RCM’s International Piano Course. German Academic Exchange Service. A big thank you In December the Royal College of Music participated in the 2012 Big Give Christmas Challenge to raise funds for our scholarship programme. We’re delighted to report that thanks to the great generosity of our donors we have surpassed last year’s total, raising a staggering £136,930. Thank you to all those who contributed to The Big Give, which will go towards transforming the lives of talented young musicians. Piano masterclass with Lang Lang 5 In the news... We were delighted to welcome Welcoming Professor Alexander Sokolov, Rector In defence of of Moscow Conservatory, to the RCM in Professor October last year. the recorder! Alexander Sokolov Professor Sokolov gave a talk, visited Head of Historical Performance the RCM Museum and discussed future Ashley Solomon has featured on artistic collaborations with RCM Artistic Simon Mayo’s popular Radio 2 Director Stephen Johns. He then met Drivetime show. with Professor Colin Lawson, Director of the RCM, to sign and re-affirm the Following a phone-in confession from memorandum of agreement between a listener, who disliked the recorder the two institutions, which allows for so much that he hid his sister’s and a number of educational and artistic children’s, Ashley gallantly went on air collaborations. to defend his instrument. He gave a brief account of the recorder’s history, Central to this historic partnership is before performing a delightful set of the longstanding close relationship variations on the well-known tune between the keyboard faculties: each Greensleeves.