UPBEAT

SUMMER 2018

NEWS FROM INSIDE THE

IN THIS ISSUE THE PASTON TREASURE: A MUSICAL PUZZLE I WAS GLAD: CELEBRATING SIR HUBERT PARRY

UPBEAT SUMMER 2018 1 HIGHLIGHTS RCM SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

In February the RCM was delighted to welcome back world-renowned conductor Bernard Haitink to lead the RCM Symphony Orchestra in Richard Strauss’ magnificent tone poem, An Alpine Symphony, and Mozart’s Concerto no 24.

Photos: Nick Rutter Front cover: Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery

2 UPBEAT SUMMER 2018 CONTENTS WELCOME 4 NEWS The latest news and activities from TO UPBEAT the Royal College of Music

In this special issue of celebration and commemoration, we mark 9 some of the major musical anniversaries taking place in 2018 THE PASTON TREASURE: A MUSICAL PUZZLE and celebrate some of the figures, both past and present, that Discover a musical secret that’s been have helped shape the Royal College of Music. hiding on canvas for over 300 years

Our spring term ended with two causes to celebrate. In March, the RCM topped the World University Rankings table in the UK for the third 10 consecutive year. That same month we also welcomed back HRH The Prince of I WAS GLAD: THE LEGACY Wales for his annual visit, which marked his 25th year as President of the RCM. OF SIR HUBERT PARRY Upbeat honours the late composer, This issue we also honour an important figure from RCM history. October is the historian and RCM Director anniversary of former RCM Director Sir Hubert Parry and on page ten, we take a look at the events taking place across the College to commemorate his centenary year. Find out how the prolific professor and composer influenced not only the 12 A LIFETIME OF MUSICAL English choral tradition, but also the cultural life of the RCM itself. MEMORIES: RUTH AND MICHAEL WEST Next, we celebrate ten years of giving with Ruth and Michael West on page This music-loving couple have supported 12. From Glyndebourne to the Mariinsky Theatre, they share a lifetime of musical RCM musicians for the last 10 years – find out what keeps them coming back memories and explain what being an RCM supporter means to them. Finally, in a year packed full of anniversaries, we also celebrate some firsts with new research finds from both the Centre for Performance Science and the RCM 14 Museum, and a new partnership with the Central Music School in Moscow. SUPPORT US And last but not least, turn to page nine to find out more about this issue’s cover image and how a puzzling 17th-century oil painting led to a very unique recording in the RCM Studios. 16 STUDENT UPDATES You can tell us about your own recent projects and achievements by emailing [email protected]. The deadline for the summer issue of Upbeat is Monday 24 September 2018. 18 STAFF UPDATES 20 Professor Colin Lawson CBE FRCM, Director ALUMNI UPDATES 22 UPBEAT ONLINE IN MEMORY Upbeat is available to read online at www.rcm.ac.uk/upbeat. Please help us to reduce our carbon footprint and receive Upbeat by email.

Director of Communications Talia Hull Editor Kathryn Lamont Designer May Yan Man Design www.splashofpaint.com Contact [email protected] UPBEAT SUMMER 2018 3 NEWS IN THE NEWS

TOPPING THE HRH MARKS 25 YEARS Below HRH The Prince of TABLES FOR THIRD AS RCM PRESIDENT Wales with those honoured at the CONSECUTIVE YEAR RCM’s award RH The Prince of Wales marked 25 years as ceremony in March HPresident of the Royal College of Music he Royal College of Music has been named when he made his annual visit to the College on Opposite Tthe top institution for Performing Arts in the 14 March. The MedTech United Kingdom and Europe and second in the SuperConnector world in the 2018 QS World University In 25 years as President, HRH The Prince research Rankings. of Wales has honoured some of the music programme industry’s most eminent figures. Internationally The prestigious league table measures the renowned performers Vladimir Ashkenazy, strength and quality of teaching and places Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and have the RCM above all other UK institutions received Honorary Doctorates, along with for the third year running. Each institution’s composers Andrew Lloyd Webber and Steve research activities, graduate employability and Reich. Violinist , conductor international profile are also measured. The John Wilson and songwriter and keyboardist rankings are compiled from the opinions of Rick Wakeman have all been honoured with academics and employers and from analysis of Fellowships. research output and impact. During this year’s ceremony, HRH The Prince of In 2017 the Royal College of Music was rated Wales honoured some of those who have made gold for its outstanding teaching and learning important contributions to music. Celebrated provision for undergraduates in the first ever Sir András Schiff, who has given several Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF). The masterclasses at the RCM in recent years, was RCM was also placed as the top UK specialist awarded an Honorary Doctorate. Nicholas institution for music in the 2017 Complete McCarthy, who has enjoyed a flourishing University Guide. career since becoming the first one-handed pianist to graduate from the RCM in 2012, was made an HonRCM. Pioneering genetic scientist Professor Lord Winston was also made a Fellow of the RCM (FRCM) while one of UK radio’s most beloved personalities, Sean Rafferty MBE, was made an HonRCM. Victoria, Lady Robey OBE, founder of the charity Music Masters and member of the RCM Council from 2007 to 2017, was also honoured. The ceremony featured performances from award winners and exceptional recent graduates including recorder player and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Rose Bowl recipient Katie Cowling, bass-baritone Julien Van Mellaerts and violist Bryony Gibson- Cornish, both recipients of prestigious Tagore Gold Medals. Composer and pianist Eduardo Andrade was the recipient of the President’s Award.

4 UPBEAT SUMMER 2018 RCM TALENT TAKES CENTRE STAGE AT THE BBC PROMS

he BBC Proms returns this summer, T showcasing talent from the RCM’s legacy of celebrated alumni. Hear much-loved pieces from great composers like Britten and Parry, as well as performances from rising RCM stars. A highlight of this year’s Proms is a celebration of the 40th anniversary of the BBC Young Musician competition, which sees an array of previous winners and finalists taking to the stage on 15 July, including Ben Goldscheider, Laura van der Heijden, , Michael Collins, , and . RCM alumna Louise Alder performs the title role £5M FOR NEW in Handel’s Theodora on 7 September. Since COLLABORATIVE graduating in 2013, Louise has won many prestigious awards, including Young Singer PROJECT of the Year in the International Opera Awards 2017 and the Dame Joan Sutherland Audience he Royal College of Music is collaborating Prize at the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World T with Imperial College on an ambitious new competition in 2017. Louise was also shortlisted project that has received £5m government for the Young Artist Award at the 2018 Royal funding. MedTech SuperConnector (MTSC) is a Philharmonic Society Music Awards. multi-university research programme which aims Alumnus conductor and Proms veteran John to translate new medical technologies into Wilson leads Bernstein’s West Side Story on working clinical solutions. 11 August while soprano Sophie Bevan, who The recent investment from Research England’s graduated from the RCM in 2007, performs a Connecting Capability Fund will support programme of Lili Boulanger, Elgar and Vaughan the project, which challenges early career Williams on 12 August. Baritone Gerald researchers to turn their discoveries into new Finley, an RCM alumnus who has led many diagnostic tools, medical devices and digital masterclasses at the College, takes part in the healthcare solutions. Imperial College is working Last Night of on 8 September. with seven partner institutions to develop the Many RCM professors star in this year’s MTSC, including the Centre for Performance Proms too, including RCM Research Fellow Science (CPS). in Composition, Dr Mark-Anthony Turnage. RCM researchers will be providing pitch and The world premiere of his new composition, presentation training for researchers on the Farewell, is performed on 6 August by RCM programme, equipping them with the business alumna Dame Sarah Connolly, alongside works skills needed to successfully commercialise by illustrious RCM composers Stanford, Parry, any medical technology-related research. Vaughan Williams, Holst and Britten. Professor Aaron Williamon, Head of the Brindley Sherratt, Visiting Professor of Vocal Centre for Performance Science, said: ‘The Studies, performs on 17 July and Visiting MedTech SuperConnector will help forge a Professor of Conducting, Martyn Brabbins MedTech centre of excellence in London. The performs an all-RCM alumnus programme on CPS will develop innovative, interdisciplinary 27 July. Meanwhile Dr Natasha Loges, Head of performance training for early career Postgraduate Programmes, gives an introduction researchers. CPS researchers – particularly to Shostakovich’s ‘Leningrad’ Symphony in a those working in the fields of performance Proms Plus Talk on 16 July. technology, arts in health and performers’ health and wellbeing – will receive support to develop their ideas and explore potential for commercial exploitation.’

UPBEAT SUMMER 2018 5 NEWS RCMJD RECORD NEW ROYAL COLLEGE OF BALLET SOUNDTRACK MUSIC MAKES MUSIC IN MOSCOW n 18 April, over 100 young dancers from four secondary schools and English Below O he RCM has agreed a new artistic and English National Ballet’s National Ballet’s youth dance company, pedagogic partnership with the Central Dance Journeys. ENBYouthCo, took to the Sadler’s Wells stage to T Pic courtesy of present Chrysalis. The work was set to a Music School in Moscow. FARM 1027 powerful original music score composed and On a recent visit to the Russian capital, RCM produced by Royal College of Music Junior Director Colin Lawson and Head of Keyboard, Opposite Department (RCMJD) alumnus Thomas Hewitt Professor Vanessa Latarche, performed open Digifest 2018 Jones, recorded by the RCMJD Contemporary masterclasses at the Central Music School Ensemble in the College’s Amaryllis Fleming (CMS), marking the first joint events between the Concert Hall, and conducted by RCM alumnus two institutions. Professor Lawson and Professor Jacques Cohen. Valery Piasetsky, Director of the CMS, signed English National Ballet’s Dance Journeys, an agreement during the visit which will see supported by John Lyon’s Charity, gives young collaborative student and staff exchanges and people a unique opportunity to create, perform pedagogical projects. and experience being part of a professional The open masterclasses were free of charge company, working with professional and attended by over 120 people, with choreographers. performances of clarinet music by Weber, Composer Thomas Hewitt Jones said: ‘It is led by Professor Lawson, and piano pieces a pleasure to have been commissioned to by Mendelssohn and Ravel, led by Professor write the new score for English National Latarche. Ballet’s Dance Journeys for a second year, Professor Colin Lawson commented: ‘I am and a particular thrill to have collaborated delighted that the RCM is collaborating with and recorded with the RCMJD Contemporary the Central Music School and look forward Ensemble. I enjoyed many happy years as a to seeing where the partnership takes us. Our student in the RCM Junior Department and it students will benefit greatly from the wonderful is great to see the next generation of talented teaching and heritage at both institutions.’ young musicians coming through the ranks.’ The soundtrack is now available to purchase on iTunes and Spotify, and can be found by searching ‘Chrysalis Hewitt Jones’.

6 UPBEAT SUMMER 2018 THE SCIENCE OF DRUMMING

n 28 and 29 April the Centre for OPerformance Science hosted an exhibition as part of the 2018 Imperial Festival, which brought over 20,000 visitors to South Kensington to explore cutting edge science and research. The Centre for Performance Science is an ambitious collaboration between the Royal College of Music and Imperial College, aimed at tackling major challenges of performance. The Science of Drumming exhibition was hosted by CPS Head Aaron Williamon and RCM Research Associates Letizia Gionfrida and George Waddell, with A SURPRISE BBC YOUNG assistance from RCM MSc students Anna Detari, Michael Durrant, Ugne APPEARANCE MUSICIAN OF Peistaraite, and Laura Serra. Visitors AT DIGIFEST THE YEAR were given the opportunity to sit at electric drum kits and see first-hand n orchestra of 30 RCM students our talented young musicians from how drumming can be good for their and recent graduates made a the Royal College of Music Junior health. Over 600 children, parents, A F surprise guest appearance at the Department, plus RCMJD alumna and aspiring rock stars burned calories opening session of Digifest in Stephanie Childress, competed in this as they learned that drumming can Birmingham in March. year’s BBC Young Musician category expend similar amounts of energy to finals. cycling. Digifest takes place every year at the International Convention Centre, Junior Department players Marie Sato Participants also battled to make it to and offers members of the public (flute), Francis Bushell (bassoon), Toril the top of the leader board in the BeatIt the opportunity to meet experts in Azzalini-Machecler (percussion) and competition, tapping along to recorded the field and to see, hear and share Will Duerden (double bass) have taken music and continuing when it stopped the latest innovations in technology. part in the prestigious competition, to see how good they are at keeping RCM composition for screen student which was broadcast on BBC Four the tempo, while also contributing to Eduardo Andrade, an RCM Scholar over the last few months. ongoing RCM research investigating supported by a Parnassus Award and timekeeping and control. The RCM’s Junior Department has the Royal College of Music, wrote the a track record of success in the RCM PhD candidates Pétur Jónasson score for a new film which opened competition with pianist Lara Melda and Greg Windle provided two this year’s event. As the film was winning in 2010, followed by cellist other activities. In Pétur’s Spot the played it was revealed that the score Laura van de Heijden in 2012. Difference, visitors had to quickly find was being performed live behind Most recently, pianist Martin James slight changes in musical scores as the projection gauze by the RCM Bartlett took home the trophy in 2014, they flashed on screen, while sensors orchestra, conducted by Eduardo. following a memorable performance of tracked their eye movements to Using innovative LOLA technology, the Rachmaninov’s Rhapsody on a Theme demonstrate the different ways people orchestra played the music live with a of Paganini. Martin has since gone read music. In Greg’s Screen-Play, rock band in Edinburgh Napier, whose to study on the BMus programme at hosted in partnership with Chelsea and live video link was interspersed with the College. A special programme Westminster Hospital and their CW+ the film. broadcast on BBC2 also featured charity, visitors made art using digital Eduardo said: ‘It’s fantastic to be able former finalists, one of whom was and traditional media, demonstrating to perform music using low-latency RCMJD graduate Ben Goldscheider, the participatory workshops conducted streaming technology to create a hybrid who reached the final of the BBC at the hospital to combat anxiety and orchestra with players from the Royal Young Musician Competition in 2016. promote greater wellbeing. College of Music physically in the hall in Birmingham and players from Napier streaming from Scotland projected in the screen.’

UPBEAT SUMMER 2018 7 NEWS MUSEUM ROYAL OVER-SEAS Below Josephine Goddard ROADSHOW LEAGUE SUCCESS and Catriona Hewitson at the Kathleen Ferrier Awards Final in April he Royal College of Music Museum’s oyal College of Music saxophonist Jonathan T Roadshow continued its tour across London R Radford has won the Gold Medal in the and the South East this term with a pop up Royal Overseas League (ROSL) Annual Music Opposite exhibition at the National Trust’s Mottisfont Competition 2018. Jonathan is studying for an The Paston Treasure Abbey in May. Artist Diploma in Performance with Kyle Horch and is the RCM’s current Mills Williams Junior The specially curated exhibition was the result Fellow. He was also a finalist for this year’s of new research by the Museum team, and Young Classical Artists Trust (YCAT). featured images of some of the most significant instruments in the RCM collection accompanied The 2018 Competition marks the third time in by fascinating stories. It centred around the the past five years that an RCM woodwind idea that ‘Music is Creation’ and offered a player studying with Kyle Horch has won the sneak-peek of some of the highlights that will be ROSL Woodwind Prize. Saxophonists Philip on display in the RCM Museum’s new home, Attard and Huw Wiggin won the category in currently being built as part of the More Music 2016 and 2014 respectively, with Huw going project. on to win the overall Gold Medal. Mottisfont Abbey was the childhood home of The Gold Medal Final of the 66th ROSL Annual organologist and keyboard collector Raymond Music Competition took place on Monday 4 Russell, whose collection is now housed at the June at the Southbank centre’s Queen Elizabeth University of Edinburgh. A special talk given by Hall. Four musicians competed for the chance RCM Museum Curator Gabriele Rossi Rognoni to win £15,000, including RCM violinist explored the fascinating historic keyboard Emmanuel Bach, winner of the Strings Prize, instruments in the RCM’s collection, including accompanied by RCM alumna Kumi Matsuo. the earliest known stringed keyboard instrument, The RCM’s Marmen Quartet won this year’s the clavicytherium c 1480. Guests were also Ensemble Prize and wind quintet Ensemble treated to a concert of historical music, with Solaire won the Elias Fawcett Award for an performances on the harpsichord and baroque Outstanding Ensemble. Elliot Gresty, fourth violin by RCM musicians Abel Balazs and Ilaria year RCM clarinettist, won the Award for a Macedonio. Woodwind Player of Promise.

KATHLEEN FERRIER AWARDS

RCM performers have once again enjoyed success at the prestigious Kathleen Ferrier Awards. Following two outstanding performances at the Final at Wigmore Hall on 27 April, soprano Josephine Goddard was awarded Second Prize while Catriona Hewitson received the Ferrier Loveday Song Prize. Josephine performed a programme of arias and songs by Duparc, Puccini, Britten and J Strauss II, while Catriona won the Song Prize for her rendition of ‘C’ from Poulenc’s Deux Poèmes de Louis Aragon. Both Josephine and Catriona study at the RCM International Opera School.

8 UPBEAT SUMMER 2018 FEATURE The Paston Treasure: a musical puzzle

Earlier this year a fascinating discovery was made in a famous 17th-century painting, and the pieces of a centuries- old musical puzzle were finally put together with the help of RCM Director of Research, Professor Richard Wistreich.

The Paston Treasure has puzzled scholars for centuries. The exquisite oil painting was commissioned circa 1665 by the Pastons, a wealthy and influential Norfolk aristocratic family. The RCM already has a link to the family: a valuable 16th-century lute manuscript belonging to the Pastons is housed in the RCM collections. The family also owned an opulent art collection, and this commission in particular offers a glimpse into their extraordinary world of wealth and privilege. The artist behind the masterpiece, however, remains a mystery. The painting forms the centrepiece of a major exhibition entitled ‘The Paston Treasure: Riches and Rarities of the Known World’, which is currently taking place at Norwich Castle. While studying the painting, researchers were interested in identifying the fragment of music visible in the open book in the foreground. Close investigation led to it being identified as instrumental bass line, typical of the period, an accurate depiction of some bars from an from which a viol, lute or harpsichord player Above actual composition, ‘Charon, O Charon, heare improvises. The few visible words reveal that the The Paston Treasure a wretch opprest’, by the English composer, piece is part of a ‘Charon’ dialogue – a sort of Image courtesy Norwich Robert Ramsey, otherwise only known from a miniature opera. Castle Museum single copy in the Bodleain Library in Oxford. Almost forgotten today, Ramsey is known for The eureka moment a few sacred compositions and some rather The curators at the Yale Centre for British Art sent exquisite secular songs and dialogues. out a call to myself and other scholars who work on 17th-century English song, to see if anyone Once the work had been identified and a could identify the music precisely. In the end, complete performing version reconstructed, the it was my colleague Professor Jo Wainwright RCM’s Director of Research, Professor Richard at the University of York who had the eureka Wistreich, brought together a group of expert moment, identifying the few notes and words as musicians to bring the piece back to life. Here, belonging to the dialogue by Ramsey. he talks to Upbeat about how he helped to make music from hidden treasure. Reconstructing a treasure Richard says: Using the known version of the song, Jo was The painting contains an abundance of richly- able to reconstruct the dialogue. The obvious You can hear the decorated objects, including several musical next step was to bring the music back to life, recording at The Paston instruments, as well as two haunting figures. 450 years after it had been frozen into the Treasure exhibition at One, a small girl believed to be the ten-year-old still life. I gathered a group of musicians into Norwich Castle until Margaret Paston, is holding an open book of the RCM Studios, where Studio Engineer 23 September 2018. music. Stephen Harrington produced a recording. I took the bass part, Rosanna Wicks sang the A mini opera soprano part, and Kieran Whity joined for the Because of the angle and the fold of the book, Chorus of Spirits. The superb lutenist, Elizabeth only fragments of the music are visible, but Kenny, played an English theorbo -- an unusual they are enough to show that the piece is a instrument, almost identical to the one in the dialogue for soprano and bass singer, with an painting.

UPBEAT SUMMER 2018 9 FEATURE I was Glad: the legacy of SIR Hubert Parry

October marks 100 years since the death of former RCM Director Sir Hubert Parry. In February, the RCM welcomed author and journalist Dr Simon Heffer to mark the centenary in the annual Crees Lecture. While Parry’s contribution as a composer is now widely recognised, Dr Heffer honoured the equally significant contribution he made as teacher and leader of the College.

In a year of centenaries – the end of WW1 Parry to become Professor of Musical History at and the beginning of universal suffrage to name the newly founded RCM. And then, in 1895 Below just a couple – Parry’s in particular is held dear and at the height of his fame, Parry succeeded Drawing of Parry by by the Royal College of Music. The composer Grove as Director. Sidney Kent, courtesy of led a remarkable life, by anyone’s standards. RCM collections A man with strong humanitarian convictions and He received a knighthood from Queen Victoria artistic ideals, Parry was also a man of huge in 1848, an honorary doctorate from both Opposite ambition – both for his own work and that of Sir Hubert Parry pictured Cambridge and Oxford, and became a baronet the College. In 1915, he told his students that, aboard his yacht. in 1902. Today, he can count Prince Charles ‘The Royal College of Music has always been a Anonymous, taken among his fans. (In a BBC4 documentary place with big aims of doing special services to ‘off Sark’, c 1900. about Parry’s music, HRH said, ‘It gives you the nation, and it was organised from the start Photo courtesy of RCM tingles up the spine and tears in your eyes’). with a view to their attainment’. collections Indeed, despite beginning his official musical career relatively late (he spent seven years In February, author and journalist Dr Simon as an underwriter at Lloyd’s of London after Heffer marked the centenary of the former graduating) Parry managed to become one of Director in the College’s annual Crees Lecture. the most appreciated and important composers In his address, Dr Heffer remarked that, ‘Parry of his time, often referred to as the nation’s seems to have grasped from early on that ‘unofficial composer laureate’. in England the art of music would require institutions to carry it forward if it were ever to Even as a young boy, Parry excelled both be something more than light entertainment’. musically and intellectually. He was born in Parry saw the RCM as one such institution. For 1816 and attended Twyford School and Eton the following 35 years, he made it his life’s College, where he became the youngest person work to ensure that the conservatoire, and its ever to successfully sit the Oxford Bachelor musicians, were at the forefront of British music. of Music exam. On 28 October, choirs from both Twyford and Eton will join with RCM Dr Heffer continued, ‘His teaching, and his musicians to honour their past pupil in a special inspiration, launched the careers of some of the anniversary evening concert in the Amaryllis greatest names in the history of English music. Fleming Concert Hall. A study day will also take Through them, not only did Parry succeed in place at the College, co-organised by the RCM putting music at the centre of our national culture and the University of Southampton, which will to the point where our great composers – most examine Parry’s work as Professor and Director, of them his pupils – were household names, and his legacy throughout the 20th century. but he was godfather to the creation of what perhaps his most celebrated pupil, Ralph Parry first became involved with the College Vaughan Williams, called a truly “national through his friend – and the first ever Director music”’. of the RCM – Sir George Grove. After leaving his position at Lloyd’s, Grove appointed Parry Parry was a talented and influential teacher as sub-editor of his Dictionary of Music and who vividly communicated to his students not Musicians, to which he was to contribute more only a passion for music, but also the important than 200 articles. Later, in 1883, Grove invited role that music plays in British society. Dr Heffer

10 UPBEAT SUMMER 2018 commented that, ‘It became the main part of Parry’s mission to ensure that no sheep became lost in the pastures that were English music, and he succeeded brilliantly. One of his gifts as a teacher was to make his pupils understand the greatness of a composer even if they could not come to like his idiom. His contribution to the understanding of the nature of music was, thereby, prodigious’.

Parry, who obtained a Law and History degree from Oxford as well as a BMus, also opened the College doors to lecturers from other disciplines, providing his musicians with an education that stretched beyond their classical training. The composer was himself a prolific writer on all aspects of musicology, as well as a published poet and historiographer. In particular, he felt an affinity with literature and contemporary poetry – a number of his works are set to Shakespeare, while his ninth set of songs is devoted entirely to Mary Coleridge. When Britain entered WW1 in 1914, Parry was faced with the inevitable prospect of losing several gifted musicians to the Front Line. That year, he stood in front of his students and delivered a stirring Director’s speech. ‘If we have to stand in rows over against the Albert Hall with files of Prussian soldiers ready to demolish us,’ he said, ‘we shall all look down the murderous barrels without winking an eyelash’. But in September 1914, the Director lamented: ‘Our pupils are made of different stuff from the pupils of ordinary schools. They are gifted in young musicians caused him great distress. This a rare and special way. Some of them are beautiful miniature was written in March 1918 so gifted that their loss could hardly be made and, excluding the orchestration of his earlier good’. As the war progressed, he began song England, was the final music he wrote’. to move in anti-war circles, and he always maintained a deep appreciation for Germanic In 1908 ill health forced Parry to give up his models of music. Even so, in 1916 Parry chair at Oxford University. He did, however, accepted a commission from the group Fight for retain his directorship at the RCM until his death Right to compose a patriotic hymn. The resulting in 1918. It was a position that, whilst not as work became his most famous: England’s publicly lauded as his musical works, is still just national song and BBC Proms favourite, as deserving of honour. As Dr Heffer remarked, Jerusalem. ‘Parry’s contribution to national culture, thanks to his work at the RCM and to that of the pupils Earlier this year, RCM Research Fellow Dr he shaped and guided, far exceeds the great Jonathan Clinch secured permission from the music he wrote. It puts him in a league of his Parry family to prepare the first edition of own among English musicians’. another, previously unpublished, piece that Parry penned as the war was drawing to a close: Elegie in C for organ. The work was then performed by William Whitehead at the Royal Festival Hall in April, and is now freely available on the IMSLP website.

‘WW1 had a tremendous effect on Parry,’ Above explains Jonathan. ‘His vision for the Royal Parry (right) and his College of Music was that it would produce close friend Anselm musicians who would play a full role in society, Guise (left), pictured in so in his eyes it was the duty of the men to fight. 1860. Photo courtesy of At the same time, the slaughter of so many of his Twyford School archives

UPBEAT SUMMER 2018 11 FEATURE A lifetime of musical memories

Upbeat talks to More Music Founding Patrons Ruth and Michael West about what music means to them, and why they’ve chosen to support RCM musicians for the last ten years.

Sit down for an hour with Ruth and Michael and ‘Music was just part of life,’ she recalls. ‘It was they can regale you with a lifetime of musical there, it was natural. It wasn’t put on a huge Below memories – about the time they were moved pedestal that you would be frightened of … Dr Michael and Ruth to tears at Russia’s Mariinsky Theatre, how they it was just music.’ One childhood memory in West HonRCM got their first taste of opera in the cinema or, particular stands out for Ruth – of her father more recently, how they watched with pride as playing the piano in a hotel bar on the cliff Opposite one of their RCM Scholars took to the stage at edge of the Donegal coast. ‘There was nothing The Wests with former Glyndebourne. except the sea … and the wind howling Ruth West Scholar Victor outside, it was just so romantic, so earthy, and Maslov, and Michael While the couple, originally from Northern that’s a musical experience I’ll never forget. I West Scholar Alžbeta Ireland, don’t play any instruments themselves, must have been about seven or eight in this Klasová Ruth explains that ‘the music came out in other place at the end of the world, and these men ways.’ An eccentric school teacher taught her a singing all the old Irish songs, and now that different kind of music lesson: that listening could moved me and I’m much older now, and I can be as rewarding as playing. ‘She said to me still hear them.’ one day, “Well Ruth you’re not learning to play the piano so we must put your time to good Later, as a social worker, Ruth found that music use.” So she encouraged me to listen to music, could also become a means of survival. ‘Life and we listened to a lot’. At school, Ruth listened can be difficult, but this is where your music to countless recordings of the Berlin Philharmonic comes in I think, and it’s a little bit less difficult – her teacher’s favourite. At home, she listened if you can listen to music.’ Now, alongside her to her father switch from Strauss and Mozart to husband, she has found a way to give back. traditional Irish ballads on the piano. And as her The Wests have now been supporting RCM own tastes developed, she was drawn towards musicians for ten years. ‘I don’t want this to Tchaikovsky, Britten and Rachmaninoff. sound awfully pompous,’ explains Ruth, ‘but we have a bit of a social conscience. And after the things I saw in my work, we decided we should do more to support children. We already supported children through the NSPCC, but I thought it would be nice to do something more personal.’ The first RCM musician to receive the Ruth West scholarship was José Antonio Domené, who was a Ruth West Scholar from 2008 until 2011. The couple are still in touch with the award-winning harpist today. Last year, at Glyndebourne, Ruth glanced down at the programme for Hamlet and noticed that another former West Scholar, countertenor Rupert Enticknap, was performing the role of Rosencrantz. ‘We call them sort of our children,’ she says. ‘They’re a lovely family and we’re very proud of all of them.’ Two years ago, Victor Maslov was lucky enough to receive the Ruth West Scholarship. The pianist describes it as ‘the crucial moment at the end of my first year’. The support came at just the right time: a change of circumstance meant that

12 UPBEAT SUMMER 2018 Victor’s family in Russia were no longer able to fund his studies. Just months after receiving the award, Victor won the College’s Concerto Competition, and in September he will once again become a Ruth West Scholar when he commences his Masters. While Ruth got her first taste of music at home, Michael received his musical education at the cinema. Every Saturday, while his parents met their friends in town, he was sent to an afternoon matinee. ‘Usually these films were cowboy films,’ he recalls. ‘But on one particular occasion it was Carmen ... and I’ve always the sacred walls of the Royal College of Music, had a soft spot for Carmen from that.’ Since because it’s traditionally thought of as a jazz then, the couple have seen Bizet’s much-loved instrument… he said no, he said we’ve got opera performed all over the world, from the some very good saxophonists. And I ended up concert halls of to Placido Domingo and supporting several of them, including Alžbeta.’ Teresa Berganza’s memorable performance at the 1977 Edinburgh Festival. They’ve been Alžbeta Klasová is currently studying on the moved to tears by opera in the Mariinsky MPerf programme, but without the West Theatre in St Petersburg, and cite Christian scholarship it’s unlikely she would have been Gerhaher’s rendition of the Abendstern from able to come to London at all. ‘I knew that Wagner’s Tannhäuser, and Heather Harper’s if I didn’t get support I would have to stay in Ellen Orford in Britten’s Peter Grimes, as Slovakia,’ she says. ‘And that would mean I performances that will stay with them forever. would have to finish with my music because As Michael puts it, opera ‘is really one of these there wasn’t enough education for me to study. things that makes your hair come up, and these Because the saxophone, and in are so exceptional’. especially, it’s so new that basically we don’t have any tuition for that.’ But while they both enjoy opera and Ruth has loves the full symphony orchestra – as she so Alžbeta remembers the day she received the eloquently puts it, ‘they just sweep you away, good news. ‘When I got notified about the they tear you to pieces’ – it is Michael who scholarship I just remember that conversation has a soft spot for jazz, and in particular with mum, and we both cried and were really the saxophonist Coleman Hawkins. Michael happy. It just changed my life so much. I know listened to his first jazz records on a friend’s Pye that the gift I’ve been given since I was born Black Box in a student flat in 1950s Belfast. would just have been wasted because I would Years later, he approached Professor Lawson. not have been able to do anything with it.’ ‘I just said to him, more or less as a joke, that I As well as supporting several musicians over assumed the saxophone wasn’t allowed within the years, the Wests are keen supporters of the More Music: Reimagining the Royal College of Music campaign. In fact, the Britten Theatre Foyer will be renamed the Ruth West Foyer in We call honour of the couple’s significant contribution to them sort of our the College. The couple explain what attracted children ... They’re them to the campaign. ‘Well we thought, you need the money now not when we die,’ jokes a lovely family and Michael. ‘It is very exciting because it’s all about we’re very proud of things moving on, moving ahead, looking to the all of them. future, not getting stuck in a rut,’ Ruth says. ‘So I think it’s very hopeful and lovely.’ Ruth West ‘That’s what drew us into it in the first place,’ Michael continues. ‘The feeling that this outfit is worth supporting … I think that, if you’re able to and you’ve been successful, you have some duty to try to help other people’. ‘To help them fulfil their dreams, to give them an opportunity,’ adds Ruth. ‘We’re proud of all our students … they’re all – as far as we’re concerned – heading for the Queen Elizabeth Hall, the Mariinsky or Vienna.’

UPBEAT SUMMER 2018 13 SUPPORT US SUPPORTING THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF MUSIC Music has the power to transform lives. Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, generations of gifted students from around the world have been nurtured and trained at the RCM. We would like to thank in particular our More Music Founding Patrons and Leadership Supporters, as well as those who have made donations of £5,000 or more between May 2017 and May 2018 who are acknowledged below. Gifts are listed alphabetically in order of surname.

More Music The Estate of William Mealings Peter & Dimity Spiller SUPPORTING Founding Patrons The Mirfield Trust H R Taylor Trust THE FUTURE ABRSM The Polonsky Foundation Michael Whittaker and OF MUSIC The Estate of George Geoffrey Richards HonRCM & the Big Give Christmas Frederick Burgan Valerie Richards Challenge The Estate of Michael Rimmer The Henry Wood From becoming an RCM The Estate of Basil Coleman Friend to leaving a gift in Croucher Hong Kong Victoria, Lady Robey OBE Accommodation Trust your will, there are many Charitable Foundation HonRCM ways you can support the Heritage Lottery Fund The Estate of Emma Rose Supporters Royal College of Music. The Estate of Christopher Soirée d’Or Scholarships The Estate of Gillian Ashby Hogwood CBE HonDMus The Wolfson Foundation Ashley Family Foundation For more information, BAE please visit Kingdom Music Education Major Supporters Dr Linda Beeley www.rcm.ac.uk/ Group supportus Rena & Sandro Lavery Jane Barker CBE FRCM Lord Black & Mark Bolland The Estate of Neville Wathen Laurie Barry The Boltini Trust Alternatively, contact the Ruth West HonRCM & The Bertarelli UK Foundation Bowerman Charitable Trust Development team on Dr Michael West The Estate of Heather Curry Anne Bradley 020 7591 4331 or Garfield Weston The John Curwen Society Cambri__dge in America [email protected] Foundation Peter & Annette Dart Sir Roger & Lady Carr Fishmongers’ Company HonRCM Leadership Supporters Hamish & Sophie Forsyth The Estate of Ella Carstairs The Derek Butler Trust The Harbour Foundation The Thomas Sivewright Catto G & K Boyes Charitable Trust The Hargreaves and Ball Charitable Settlement Philip Carne MBE HonRCM & Charitable Trust The Estate of Roselyn Ann Christine Carne The Headley Trust Clifton Parker The Estate of John & Help Musicians UK Lord Davies of Abersoch CBE Marjorie Coultate Kirby Laing Foundation The Drapers’ Company The Estate of Jocelyn Cruft John Lewis Partnership The Gilbert & Eileen Edgar The Estate of Margaret Dewey Professor Christopher & Foundation The Foyle Foundation Vivienne Liu Lesley Ferguson The Future of Russia Foundation Philip Loubser Foundation The Freakley Family The Harry and Gylla Godwin The Estate of Billy Newman In memory of Alvin Gold Charitable Trust John Nickson & Simon Rew Elaine Greenberg & HEFCE The Pure Land Foundation Linda Perez Linda Hill HonRCM & The Julia & Hans Rausing Trust Helen Hamlyn Trust Dr Tony Hill The Estate of Olive The Estate of Barbara Sara Nelson Horner Gwendoline Rees Margaret Holt The Leverhulme Trust The Estate of Ann Richardson The Houston Family The Linbury Trust Dasha Shenkman OBE Independent Opera at HonRCM Sadler’s Wells

14 UPBEAT SUMMER 2018

Let the music play on!

Becoming an RCM Friend is the best way to keep up with the news and events at the Royal College of Music. Your support also helps us to provide world-class education and training to our talented students. Membership starts at just £40 a year and you can enjoy a range of benefits including: • Priority booking and access to the best seats for all RCM concerts and opera performances • Invitations to an exclusive programme of RCM Friends events • Subscription to the termly RCM Events Guide and Upbeat magazine An RCM Friend membership also makes an ideal gift for a music-loving friend or family member. To become a Friend or for more information about the RCM Friends programme please contact our Supporter Engagement Officer by [email protected]

JMC Ian & Meriel Tegner Russell Race Ruth Keattch The Kiri Te Kanawa CIRCLES FOR Peter & Dimity Spiller Lark Insurance Foundation UK EXCELLENCE MEMBERS Professor Colin Lawson Lynette Tiong Patrons’ Circle CBE FRCM Universal Music Group Chairman’s Circle Isla Baring OAM Lee Abbey London Rev Lyndon van de Pump Brian & Janice Capstick Jane Barker CBE FRCM Carol & Geoff Lindey FRCM & Edward Brooks Philip Carne MBE HonRCM & John & Halina Bennett Lord and Lady Lurgan Trust FRCM Christine Carne Lady Bergman The Hon Richard Lyttelton & The Wall Trust Guy Dawson & Lorraine Buckland Romilly Lyttelton Sir Peter & Lady Walters Samantha Horscroft Sir Anthony Cleaver FRCM & The Honourable Society of the Bob & Sarah Wigley Gisela Gledhill Lady Cleaver Knights of the Round Table The Mills Williams Foundation Linda Hill HonRCM & Elisabeth de Kergorlay The Dolly Knowles Charitable Jane Wilson Dr Tony Hill Dr Ian & Janet Edmondson Trust Professor Lord Winston & Terry Hitchcock Professor Alice Gast The Estate of Anthony Mason Lady Winston TSH Prince Donatus Lily & Julian Harriss The Mercers’ Company The Worshipful Company of and Princess Heidi Von Greta Hemus Jamie Milford Musicians Hohenzollern John & Susan Heywood Rosemary Millar HonRCM & The Wyseliot Charitable Trust David James David & Sue Lewis Richard Millar Clare & James Kirkman Charles & Dominique Lubar The Countess of Munster And those who wish to remain James & Margaret Lancaster David Mildon Musical Trust anonymous Lark Insurance Ellen Moloney Midori Nishiura HonRCM Dr Mark Levesley & Jennifer Neelands Humphrey Norrington OBE Christina Hoseason Kara Radcliffe FRCM Victoria, Lady Robey OBE Kerry & Dimity Rubie The Charles Peel Charitable HonRCM Sir Richard & Lady Sykes Trust Roland Saam Anthony Thornton P F Charitable Trust Dasha Shenkman OBE Rhoddy Voremberg Pro Musica Ltd HonRCM John Ward The Stanley Picker Charitable Alethea Siow & Jeremy Furniss Sir Robert & Lady Wilson Trust Betty Sutherland The Estate of Charles Stewart Brian & Anne Wadsworth OBE Richardson Ruth West HonRCM & Sir Simon & Lady Robertson Dr Michael West Hilda Scarth Kathleen Beryl Sleigh Director’s Circle Charitable Trust Sir Peter & Lady Middleton South Square Trust FRCM Steinway & Sons John Nickson & Simon Rew Ian Stoutzker CBE FRCM Richard Price FRCM & Tait Memorial Trust Sue Price

UPBEAT SUMMER 2018 15 STUDENT UPDATES STUDENT UPDATES

were Highly Commended. Irena has also been Vocal Accolades awarded the Finalists’ Prize in the Bromsgrove Below Competition. The Daphnis Trio Soprano Nardus Williams has been selected for the 2018–19 Houston Grand Opera Studio Bottom programme… Mezzo soprano Ida Ranzlov Laura Farre Rozada’s has been awarded the Musicians’ Company STRING SUCCESSES debut album, The Maisie Lewis Award and is to become a French Reverie Yeoman of the Company... Mezzo soprano Robbie Stanley-Smith and Kristiana Ignatjeva Annabel Kennedy has won Second Prize in the have won the RCM Prize, Nina Kiva AESS Courtney Kenny Singing Competition… has won the RCM unaccompanied Bach Prize Glen Cunningham, Josephine Goddard and and Jobine Seikman, Florian Belbeoch, Lucy Joel Williams have been awarded the First, Gijsbers, Samuel Ng, Findlay Spence and Second and Third Prizes, respectively, in the Kieran Carter have been Highly Commended Vocal Section of the Joan Chissell Schumann in the RCM Cello Competition 2018… Competition… Stephen Mills has been offered a Violist Tilly Chester has performed with the place at the Lyon Opera Studio. British Paraorchestra at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) International Conference in Greece… Yume Fujise has been awarded the Ian Stoutzker, W H Reed & Stanley Blagrove KEYBOARD Violin Prize… Violinist David Lopez has won the ACCOMPLISHMENTS RCM Isolde Menges Prize for unaccompanied Bach… Thea Butterworth has won First Prize in John Tsz Long Lee has won First Prize at the the RCM Harp Competition 2018 and Bethan Clamo International Piano Competition… Griffiths has been Highly Commended… Antoine Pichon has won Third Prize at the Emma Arizza has been invited to become World Piano Teachers Association International Artist in Residence for La Fondazione Societá Piano Competition, performed for the BBC dei Concerti di Milano’s 2018/19 season… Radio 3 broadcast In Tune and has been Violinist Dillon Jeffares has won Second Prize selected for a masterclass at Norway’s Jiri in the Leonid Kogan Violin Competition… Ana Hlinka Piano Academy, and for the Colluvio Dunne Sequi has been awarded the course… Chi-Hoi Cheung Prize and Marsailidh Groat Hardy has been has been awarded a Polonsky Foundation awarded the unaccompanied Bach Prize in the Fellowship to study with Hung-Kuan Chen at the RCM Viola Competition 2018... The Marmen Aspen Music Festival in Colorado… Stephanie Quartet have been selected for the Musicians’ Shucksmith, Prajna Indrawati and Alex Stobbs Company Concerts Concordia Award and will have been awarded the First, Second and perform at Wigmore Hall in July 2019. Thrid Prizes, respectively, in the Piano Section of the Joan Chissell Schumann Competition… Laura Farre Rozada has released her debut album, The French Reverie, which features WOODWIND AWARDS works by Messiaen and Dutilleux and a commission from RCM composition student Oboist Rich Lines-Davies has been selected as Joel Järventausta… Aleksandar Pavlovic has student ensemble oboe player for the London won First Prize at the Concours International Sinfonietta Academy 2018… Flautist Sirius de Piano Alexandre Scriabine… The Daphnis Kei Chau has won the Eastbourne Symphony Trio (Maria Kustas, Maria Gîlicel and Jobine Orchestra Young Soloists Competition, and Siekman) has won Third Prize at the Birmingham the Flute Prize and the overall Edward & Intercollegiate Piano Trio Competition… Sten Helen Hague Senior Woodwind Prize in the Heinoja and Irena Radić have won First Prize RCM Solo Woodwind Competition 2018… and Second Prize, respectively, in the Kendall Bassoonist Justin Sun has been awarded the Taylor Beethoven Piano Competition while Musicians’ Company Maisie Lewis Award Roelof Temmingh and Rustam Khanmurzin and will perform in the Musicians’ Company

16 UPBEAT SUMMER 2018 concert series in March 2019… The Parallax Saxophone Quartet (Alžbeta Klasová, María Luzuriaga López, Isabel Stewart-Kasimba and Jess Martin) have performed to a sell-out audience at the Košice Spring Festival 2018… Maddy Millar has won the Howarth Bassoon Prize, Alec Harmon has won the RCM Oboe Prize, Lewis Graham has won the RCM Yamaha Clarinet Prize... Saxophonist Sara Mendez Arias has been awarded Joint First Prize in the RCM Contemporary Competition 2018.

TOP BRASS Doctoral Activities SHARE Konstantinos Destounis has released his new YOUR NEWS Joel Ashford has won the Horn Prize, Ross CD, the premiere recording of the complete Tell Upbeat readers about Johnson has won the Trombone Prize, Tom piano works by Theodore Antoniou… Sara your recent successes by Torley has won the Tuba Prize and Peter Ascenso has co-authored a book, Leadership in, emailing [email protected] Athans has been awarded the Trumpet Prize and through, Music Education, to be released and the overall Brodie Prize in the RCM Solo this summer… Isobel Clarke and Barbara Gentili Brass Competition 2018… Hornist Alexander have been invited to present at the 54th Annual Oon has been awarded Joint First Prize and Conference of the Royal Musical Association… trombonist Judith Richmond has received a Keith Bowen has been selected to present at Highly Commended in the RCM Contemporary SysMusic 2018… Kenneth Querns has founded Above Connor D’Netto Competition 2018. the Bel Canto Festival in London and Venice… Max Wong has been elected Managing Trustee Below of the Guernsey Harpsichord Trust… Raquel James Yan recording COMPOSITION Garcia-Tomas’ new mono drama Balena Blava with a 56-piece premiered in April in the National Theatre of orchestra of RCM CONGRATULATIONS Catalonia… Gregory Windle will present results students at Abbey from his hospital ethnography at the Alzheimer’s Road Studios Sarah Playford has been awarded Best Association International Conference 2018… European Animation at the Premier Plans Festival Yang Liu has been commissioned to compose for her score for the animation Barbecue, which a duet for the Phoenix String Quartet… Liam was also selected for Channel 4’s new Random Taylor-West’s immersive audio company Acts series... Nathanael Gubler has been Roomsize has been awarded £20,000 as selected for the Lucerne Festival Academy and part of the Digital Catapult and Arts Council was a fellow at the Alba Festival composition England’s CreativeXR programme… Edwin programme, as well as a Featured Young Hillier and Nicholas Morrish-Rarity have Performer for the London Ear Festival... Lara attended IRCAM’s multidisciplinary festival and Poe and Joel Jarventausta have been selected academy, ManiFeste, in Paris, where they for the London Symphony Orchestra’s Panufnik worked with Ensemble Intercontemporain… Composers Scheme… James Yan has been Lisa Illean has been selected to premiere her placed in the top ten at the Oticons Faculty new work, Sleeplessness... Sails, at Cadogan International Film Music Competition and has Hall as part of the BBC Proms… George recorded three works with a 56-piece orchestra Waddell has led a workshop on the science of RCM students at Abbey Road Studios… of auditioning for principals, members, and Connor D‘Netto has been awarded funding administrators of the London Philharmonic, in the 2018 APRA AMCOS Art Music Fund based on research which will be published in to support his third string quartet, which will Frontiers in Psychology and Music Perception… be premiered by the Goldner String Quartet in Pétur Jónasson will present a paper on distance 2019… Lisa Illean will premiere her new piece performance (co-authored with Dr Tania Lisboa) at Kings Place in September, to be performed via LoLa at the Performance Studies Network by RCM alumni Explore Ensemble. Conference in Oslo. The conference will also feature an RCM panel presentation on musical notation in the 21st century, led by pianist Maksim Stsura, composer Nicholas Morrish- Rarity and Pétur Jónasson.

UPBEAT SUMMER 2018 17 STAFF UPDATES STAFF UPDATES

Historical Violin professor Bojan Čičić has been appointed leader of the Academy of Ancient Right Music. The violin and viola d’amore specialist Tania Lisboa with has been principal player for the orchestra for musicians of the Neojiba Youth five years. Orchestra Piano professor Norma Fisher has released a new archive recording. Norma Fisher at the Below BBC, Vol.1 is Norma’s first-ever commercial William Mival at the Beijing release and features some of her best Modern Music broadcast performances from the BBC archives, Festival remastered by Sonetto Classics. Musicianship teacher Russell Hepplewhite was commissioned by the RCM Junior Department to compose this year’s Choral Commission. The resulting work, If Stars Dropped Out Of Heaven, for upper voices and organ, received its world premiere in the Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall in March. Joy Hill conducted the combined Girls’ Choir and Girls’ Concert Choir with Graham Thorpe playing organ. The piece is due Visiting Professor of Vocal Studies Brindley to be published later this year. Sherratt was shortlisted as a Finalist in the Solo Singer category at the Royal Philharmonic Piano professor Peter Jablonski will perform at Society Music Awards. The bass singer will also the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod perform Arkel in a new production of Pelléas in July alongside RCM alumna and Festival et Mélisande for the Glyndebourne Festival this Music Director, Vicky Yannoula. Forming part summer and Rustomji in Satyagraha and Ramfis of The Classical Collection, the duo’s energetic in a new production of Aida for the English two-piano extravaganza will include some of National Opera in October. the most iconic pieces from Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker Suite, as well as Debussy’s Fêtes Postgraduate professor of Conducting Peter from Nocturnes and Lutoslawski’s utterly thrilling Stark has been appointed Principal Guest Paganini Variations. Conductor of the Singapore National Youth Orchestra. Peter will conduct an international orchestra of 180 members from over 60 schools in Singapore, aged between 10 and 22. Head of Historical Performance Ashley Solomon will be performing Telemann’s 12 Fantasias for solo flute this summer at the Beverley Early Music Festival, Stour and Buxton Festivals and on tour in France, Italy and Spain. In addition Ashley’s ensemble, Florilegium, recently released a double CD recording of Telemann’s Essercizii Musici, which has been selected by British Airways for their inflight entertainment collection. Ashley was also featured in a New York Times article on baroque music in May. Composition professor Mark-Anthony Turnage has been awarded the Large-Scale Composition Prize at the Royal Philharmonic Society Music Awards for Hibiki. The piece was commissioned as a Requiem for the 2011 earthquake and

18 UPBEAT SUMMER 2018 tsunami in Japan and to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Tokyo’s Suntory Hall. The jury commented that the work, ‘demonstrates an eloquent and mature handling of a culturally and politically sensitive commission ... skillfully woven with Japanese elements, from a master craftsman at the height of his powers.’ Professor Trevor Herbert has been appointed to a Personal Chair as Professor of Music Research. Trevor is a former foundation scholar of the RCM and Research Fellow. He has been a professional trombonist with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Welsh National Opera, amongst others, and has won various awards and prizes, including several AHRC and British Academy awards. Head of Keyboard Vanessa Latarche gave an afternoon masterclass at Dulwich College as part of the Dulwich College Piano Festival in Alexander Technique tutors Peter Buckoke and April. Head of Keyboard at Dulwich is an RCM Judith Kleinman led a number of workshops alumnus and former Junior Fellow, Luis Pares. and one-to-one teaching lessions at the Dr Tania Lisboa, Research Fellow at CPS, has Shanghai Conservatory in May. Both school- spent a week working with Dr Diana Santiago aged and graduate students were introduced and musicians of the Neojiba Youth Orchestra to the Alexander Technique through a variety in Bahia, Brazil, as part of a three-year research of practical sessions, which included hands-on project supported by the Brazilian Ministry work in semi-supine. Peter and Judith hope to of Education. The project is the culmination return to the conservatory in the future to see of a long-standing collaboration between the how the students have progressed after taking Centre for Performance Science and the Federal their ideas into personal practice. University of Bahia (UFA), Brazil. It applies RCM Museum Research Assistant Anna Maria findings from CPS research to the practice Barry has written two blog posts, available and memorisation strategies of children and at www.rcm.ac.uk/news, which detail recent adolescents who attend music making and research into the RCM collections. In May, she social inclusion programmes. received a request from some scuba divers who Senior Research Assistant Sasha Kaye has had discovered a Sébastian Erard harp in a Top received a CUBO RA Residence Life Award shipwreck off the Eastbourne coast. The RCM Vanessa Latarche gives a 2018 Award, in the category of RA Awards for Library houses the originals of Erard’s company masterclass at the Dulwich College Piano Festival (image courtesy of Private Partners, for her work with the student ledgers, and staff used digitalised versions of Dulwich College) community at Prince Consort Village. the records to establish that the instrument was most likely lost on a ship to Dublin in 1840. Above Assistant Librarian Federica Nardacci has Anna’s second blog post concerns the discovery written a play on the iconic opera diva Maria The wooden ‘wife’ of of a large wooden doll that has also been 18th-century double bassist Callas. The production, Maria Callas: The Black unearthed in the RCM collections. The doll has Domenico Dragonetti Pearl, will be performed at The Grange Park a somewhat unusual musical past:18th-century Opera Festival on 14 July and will star Marco double bass virtuoso Domenico Dragonetti was Gambino, with Sophie Aldred directing and said to have ‘married’ the figurine, and referred music by Claudio Di Meo. to it as his ‘wife’. William Mival’s Correntandemente (Runningly- SHARE ish) was performed at the ISCM World Music Day last month as part of the Beijing Modern YOUR NEWS Music Festival. The work was nominated by Tell Upbeat readers about the Welsh section of the ISCM and originally your recent successes by written for RCM’s New Perspectives ensemble. emailing [email protected] It was first performed at the RCM in 2015 and received its Chinese premiere in May by the Tianjin Symphony Orchestra under Li Yang. While in China, William also visited the Shanghai Conservatory where he gave a masterclass to BMus and Masters composers.

UPBEAT SUMMER 2018 19 ALUMNI UPDATES ALUMNI UPDATES

Michael Allis, Professor of Musicology at the Flautist Iris Derke has performed in the World SHARE YOUR University of Leeds, has published a new book, Premiere of Dinos Constantinides’ Concerto for NEWS Granville Bantock’s Letters to William Wallace Flute, Harp, and Orchestra at Lincoln Center, Tell Upbeat readers about your and Ernest Newman, 1893–1921: Our new New York. Iris was the flute soloist for the piece, recent successes by emailing dawn of modern music. As well as reproducing which was written by the composer in honour of [email protected] the letters the British composer penned to his DCINY’s 10th anniversary. friend and fellow composer Wallace, and to the music critic Ernest Newman, the publication Trumpet soloist Simon Desbruslais has released features a commentary and introduction. his monograph, The Music and Music Theory of Paul Hindemith. The detailed study charts the Violinist Wonhee Bae has won first prize in evolution of Hindemith’s use of language and the Wigmore Hall String Quartet Competition Below examines the theoretical legacy of the often Soprano Elin Manahan with the Esmé Quartet. The all-female Korean poorly understood composer. ensemble has scooped £10,000 as well as a Bottom package of recitals and residencies, including Lutenist Martin Eastwell has released a new The Bun-Leng Trio a Wigmore Hall date in the 2018/19 season CD, The Dark Lord’s Music The Lutebook of and residencies at the Banff Centre and Avaloch Edward, Lord Herbert of Cherbury. Martin has Farm Music Institute, and a record deal with also produced the CD booklet which contains Champs Hills Records. The quartet also received informative notes on the music and on lute the £1,000 Alan Bradley Mozart Prize. playing technique in the 17th century. Period-instrument wind ensemble Boxwood & Violinist Nadine Galea has performed for HM Brass, led by clarinettists Dr Emily Worthington the Queen, the Royal Family and the Heads of and Fiona Mitchell, will make its debut at the all the Commonwealth countries at Buckingham York Early Music Festival this July. A two-CD Palace for the opening of The Commonwealth recording project of Beethoven wind music, Heads of Government Meeting in April. Last including several first recordings, will also be May, Nadine also performed Tzigane by Ravel released during 2020. and Meditation from Thais by Massenet to a full house at the Victoria Hall in Geneva, as soloist Harpist Jenny Broome and violinist Frances with the United Nations Orchestra. Mason have released a new CD, Hommage aux Demoiselles: Chamber music for Harp & Soprano Anna Gorbachyova will perform the Violin from the repertoire of Marianne & Clara title role of Alcina at the Bolshoi Opera next Eissler. In addition to the Saint-Saëns Fantaisie, October. the recording features, among others, pieces Wynton Guess, together with undergraduate by Carl Oberthür, Louis Spohr, Alphonse student Francisco Vilar and doctoral student Hasselmans, Francis Thomé and John Thomas Vera Fonte, has organised an international (harpist to Queen Victoria). classical music festival in Vale de Cambra, Pianist Simon Callaghan has performed an Portugal, which also included performances all-Schubert programme at Conway Hall by RCM students David Zucchi and Nikola with fellow alumni cellist Ashok Klouda and Avramovic. violinist Jamie Campbell. The gala performance Composer Alexandra Harwood has scored included three magnificent and ever popular Mike Newell’s new feature film The Guernsey works, the Notturno in E flat major, the Trio in B Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, which was flat major and the Arpeggione Sonata. released in April and stars Lily James, Glen Antonio Romero Cienfuegos has been Powell and Tom Courtenay. Alexandra also appointed double bass teacher in the Higher scored the feature film The Escape, directed by Conservatory of Salamanca, Spain. Dominic Savage and starring Gemma Arterton and Dominic Cooper, and has produced four Mezzo soprano Katie Coventry has performed commissions for I Musicanti’s St John’s Smith the role of Jennie Hildebrand in Kurt Weill’s Square 2018 concert series. Street Scene for Teatro Real, Madrid, and has been offered a contract at the Salzburger Jon Hopkins has released a new album, Landestheater, where she will spend the Singularity. Described by the New Musical 2018/19 season. Express as a ‘blissful psychedelic experience’,

20 UPBEAT SUMMER 2018 the new recording offers 62 minutes of hypnotic electronic and organic techno. Composer George Kallis has been voted Breakthrough Composer of the Year by the International Film Music Critics Association for his work on three fi lms last year: Albion: The Enchanted Stallion, The Black Prince, and The Last Warrior. Amy Manford has performed in front of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle as part of the Anzac Day service at Hyde Park Corner. The Australian soprano, who is currently starring in Phantom of the Opera in the West End, was chosen by the Australian High Commission to perform an operatic rendition of the Australian national anthem at the sacred Dawn Service in April. entrance and walked up the aisle. Elin was accompanied by an orchestra made up of Rodrigo Moro Martín has joined the double musicians from the BBC National Orchestra of bass section of the Mahler Chamber Orchestra. Wales, the English Chamber Orchestra and Rodrigo is currently working as tutti double bass the Philharmonia, with solo trumpet by David in the National Orchestra of Spain. Blackadder. Pianist Luka Okros has performed at a sell-out Pianist Alexander Ullman has completed a concert at the Grand Hall of the Tbilisi State concert tour in Indonesia and released a live Conservatoire in Georgia and is currently recording made at the 11th International Franz touring Germany, Austria, Poland, China, and Liszt Piano Competition, in which he was Singapore. awarded First Prize. The Indonesian tour forms Soprano Robyn Parton has performed the titular part of the prestigious award, which comes with role in the Royal Opera House’s Coraline at the €20,000 and a Career Development Program. Barbican in March and April. Naomi Watts has joined the Royal Philharmonic Saxophonist Guillermo Presa Santana has Orchestra. Naomi played principal cello with established the Bun-Leng Trio with current the RPO during its 2017 Asia tour, and was Masters student Tipwatoo Aramwittaya and invited to join the cello section upon returning to George Pruksavanich. Since making their London. debut in London in February, the saxophone The sixth performance of composer Christopher trio has performed at the Mallorca Saxophone Williams’ oratorio Easter Morning has been Festival in Spain and will perform at the World performed at the O2 Centre. The work, Top Saxophone Congress in Croatia this month. composed for chorus and fi ve soloists, Amy Manford Soprano Elin Manahan Thomas has performed premiered in 2014 at St Pancras International. performs at the Anzac Day Dawn at the Royal Wedding on 19 May. Elin Piano musical comedy duo Worbey & Farrell Service at Hyde Park performed the Introit at the ceremony at St (Steven Worbey and Kevin Farrell) have Corner George’s Chapel, singing Handel’s Eternal performed at the Brighton Dome with the Source of Light Divine as the bride made her Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra under Barry Above Wordsworth, as part of the conductor-laureate’s Period-instrument 70th birthday concert. The two Steinway artists wind ensemble will be performing a full concert at Cadogan Boxwood & Brass Hall in September. Left Alexander Ullman

CONNECT Connect with fellow RCM alumni by joining our LinkedIn group or visit www.rcm.ac.uk/alumni Contact the Alumni team on [email protected] or 020 7591 4353.

UPBEAT SUMMER 2018 21 IN MEMORY IN MEMORY

Stephen Williams began playing violin at the Livia Gollancz was a gifted musician and age of nine, before moving on to the viola. publisher. She learned to play the piano at He studied at the Birmingham School of age six and at 15, she purchased her first horn Music and taught strings with Worcestershire for £5. Livia was 16 when she was accepted LEA. He was later awarded the Spencer into the RCM to study horn and viola. After Scholarship, which enabled him to study at graduating, she joined the London Symphony the RCM with Sir Adrian Boult (conducting) Orchestra and in 1943 she was appointed and Gordon Jacob (composition). Stephen principal horn of the Hallé Orchestra. During the continued his studies at Berlin’s Hochschule war, she joined the Scottish Orchestra and later für Musik, before returning to Coventry to the BBC Scottish Orchestra before becoming freelance as a conductor and teacher. He set principal horn at Covent Garden. She worked up the Coventry Music Appreciation Class at the Old Vic Theatre Company and at Sadler’s LEAVING A in 1963, and ran the course for almost 50 Wells Opera during the early 1950s, until LEGACY years. He lectured at the Coventry Centre for dental problems forced her into retirement in Performing Arts and also founded and directed 1953. She then joined her father’s prestigious By remembering the RCM the Midland Youth Orchestra. Stephen passed publishing business, Victor Gollancz Ltd, and in your will you can play a away peacefully in March 2017, aged 82. eventually became managing director. Despite significant role in helping the her professional retirement, she continued with College continue to inspire amateur music, as a choral singer, violist and and educate musicians of the Roderick Swanston joined the RCM as a violinist. Livia died in March 2018, aged 97. future. student from 1966–69 and then attended Pembroke College, Cambridge, where he For more information on held the organ scholarship. Roderick was an Livia Gollancz leaving a legacy to the RCM, RCM staff member for over 28 years, from please contact Lily Harriss, 1976 until 2004. During this time he held a Director of Development number of posts including Reader in Historical & Alumni Engagement, on and Interdisciplinary Studies. Roddy was a 020 7591 4746 or very popular lecturer, whose humour and [email protected] enthusiasm is remembered with fondness by his former students. He taught a variety of courses and inaugurated a large number of others, and his significant contribution was formally recognised when he was admitted as an RCM Fellow in 1994. Most recently, Roderick lectured at Birkbeck College, Imperial College, King’s College, and Dartmouth College, New Hampshire. He died in April 2018, aged 69.

South African cellist Philip De Groote studied with Eileen Croxford, William Pleeth and Janos Starker at the RCM. It was here that he met violinist Levon Chilingirian and the two students founded the Chilingirian Quartet in 1971, which later became RCM Quartet in Residence. Philip performed with the quartet for over 40 years, touring over 50 countries in six continents. He died in March 2018 at the age of 68.

22 UPBEAT SUMMER 2018 Stuart Campbell studied Russian with French Renowned flautist Peter Lloyd was born in and additional music and economics at and studied at the RCM with Edward Walker. Edinburgh University and then, upon receiving After graduating, he spent three years as second a Carnegie Scholarship, completed a Bachelor flute in the Scottish National Orchestra, before of Music. An accomplished organist, he studied moving to Paris to perfect his technique under with William Minay and Herrick Bunney in Fernand Caratgé. He later joined the BBC Edinburgh, and with Alexander Anderson in Northern Orchestra and in 1958 he rejoined Glasgow. At 18 he became an Associate of the SNO, this time as first flute. When the BBC the Royal College of Music in Piano Teaching Northern Orchestra was increased to a full-sized and later a member of the Glasgow Society of symphony orchestra in 1960, Peter took up first Organists, interim music director at Glasgow chair once again. Over the years, he studied Cathedral, organist to Greyfriars Kirk in with Geoffrey Gilbert, Jean-Pierre Rampal Edinburgh and a Fellow of the Royal College and Marcel Moyse. From 1967 to 1987 he of Organists. In 1975, he was appointed was principal flute of the London Symphony University Organist and music lecturer at the Orchestra, a professor at the Guildhall School University of Glasgow. There he completed a of Music, and a member of several ensembles PhD and his research was published in several including the Tuckwell Wind Quintet and the journals. Stuart retired in 2000, but continued English Taskin Players. In 1987 he moved to to lecture, working with Scottish Opera and the Indiana University, where he spent six years as Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. In 2009 he a professor of flute before taking up a teaching founded the Russkaya Cappella choir with his position at the Royal Northern College of Music, wife Svetlana, and in 2016 he received the where he later became an honorary fellow. Russian Ambassador’s Letter of Recognition for Peter died in April 2018, aged 86. his work. Stuart died in January 2018 aged 68.

Alan V Abbott was a conductor, composer Sally Mays was born in Melbourne. The child and arranger. He was born in Birmingham in of two dance band musicians, she developed 1926 and as a young pianist trained under a keen love of music early on, and a fondness Joyce Chandler, before WW1 interrupted his for jazz in particular. She gave her first piano studies and he joined the Royal Air Force. Alan recitals aged 12 and attended the Melbourne taught himself to read orchestral scores during Conservatorium, where she was awarded the breaks between flying training sessions. He also Clarke scholarship. She subsequently moved developed his skills as an arranger by writing to London to study at the RCM, where she for dance bands at aircraft transit camps in won numerous awards, including the Chappell the Canadian prairies. Upon returning to the Gold Medal. Afterwards, she studied with University of Birmingham, he was awarded Irene Kohler and Marcel Ciampi in Paris. For the Barber Trust scholarship in the final year of more than 50 years, Sally made almost annual his music degree, which enabled him to study visits to Australia to give recitals. She was orchestration at the RCM. After graduating particularly celebrated for her performances from the College he specialised in opera and of contemporary Australian music and had ballet, and his conducting engagements took many works written for her. She edited the him across the globe, including appointments four-volume series Australian Piano Music, was in , Australia and Scandinavia. His a founder member of the Mouth of Hermes, most famous piece, Alla caccia for French and performed in various ensembles including horn and piano, has become a staple of the Sounds Positive, the Alexandra Trio and the recital repertoire, and he also worked on the Lavolta Ensemble. She was an examiner for score for Les Misérables and the ballet of the Associated Board and in 2016 she was The Merry Widow. Alan died in his home appointed a Member of the Order of Australia. in Birmingham in May, at the age of 91. Sally died in May 2018, aged 88.

UPBEAT SUMMER 2018 23 KEEP IN TOUCH

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