ISSUE #70

Newsletter

The International founded by Summer 2018

Registered Charity 312010

Welcome

YMS is an unusual school in many ways. Here there is no such thing as ‘study leave’. Multitasking is an important life skill, and this term pupils calmly navigated the waters of public exams while maintaining their regular routine: lessons and practice, performances and backstage duties, masterclasses, sport and outreach. This newsletter provides a glimpse of school life at home, on tour, on the public stage and in the community.

The Summer term was framed by two of the most uplifting events of the year: Founder’s Day and the Summer Festival. Parents, staff past and present, Friends and guests flocked to The Menuhin Hall to hear in competitions or attend holiday last evening of term. This transitional solo, chamber, orchestral and choral courses. It also helps to fund tours, time is bittersweet. One cohort moves works, and enjoy picnics on the sun- such as the Scottish Tour in May and on to pastures new, but another - 19 drenched lawn. In spite of abnormally the Spanish Tour this coming October. talented young musicians from 11 dry conditions, the flowerbeds and countries - is waiting in the wings to newly painted planters looked at their July is when we bid a fond farewell make its début in September. best. Pupils who had volunteered to to our leavers, both staff and pupils. be sales ushers did a roaring trade The three-fold ‘au revoir’ to our Class Kate Clanchy in school-related merchandise and of 2018 spanned the Wigmore Hall Head raffle tickets to raise money for the Concert, the Orchestral Picnic Concert YMS Student Aid fund. This benefits - with the traditional presentation of deserving pupils wishing to participate scores - and the Jazz Party on the

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of the Final performance. Playing SCHOOL LIFE 2 Max reflects on his in Symphony Hall with the City of time with the BBC Birmingham Symphony Orchestra is MENUHIN HALL 14 an opportunity I never believed would The BBC Young Musician experience happen to me, certainly not at this age, ALUMNI 16 was an amazing one, to say the least. so I was really honoured to be a part It was beyond any of my expectations of such an amazing event. It seems STAFF 17 to get the Category Finals, let alone like a pressurising situation, but with the Grand Final at Symphony Hall, and the incredible amount of support from it really was something I will never family, friends and the School, it was FRIENDS 18 forget. an opportunity I was able to enjoy and just play my very best. To experience the Strings Category Final with Will was amazing; to The whole competition was such have someone you know really an honour to be a part of and I will well alongside you cannot be be forever grateful to everyone Follow us! underestimated, and I truly believe who supported me it allowed me to play to the best throughout If you are active on social media (or would like to be) please have a look at our of my abiliity, as we kept each the whole various channels. other comfortable and out of the journey. ‘competitive’ environment. Please follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for news, events and images, but the best part is our YouTube channel Winning the Strings Final was which we keep updated with awe-inspiring unexpected, as was getting through videos of our students playing Schubert, the Semi Final, but nothing compared Poulenc, Vaughan Williams, Finzi, Wolf and to the excitement and adrenaline more. Through this channel you can watch and listen to our students in the comfort of your own home whenever you like.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @menuhinschool

Find us on Facebook @yehudimenuhinschool

Subscribe to our YouTube channel by searching for The Yehudi Menuhin School

We also update the news section of our website regularly, so please visit www.menuhinschool.co.uk/news to see what we are up to.

CONTACT US

The Yehudi Menuhin School Stoke d’Abernon, Cobham, KT11 3QQ

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Danse macabre – Poème symphonique Competitions Op 40 and Ysaÿe Sonate für Violine Solo Op 27 No 2. This term our pupils have had impressive and unprecedented SongHa and Coco competed at the success at competitions across Europe. Paganini Competition in Genoa. Coco was the youngest participant ever, and Max and Will performed in the Strings SongHa reached the Semi-Final with Category Final of the BBC Young an inspiring performance. Musician Competition, with Max moving on to the Final. He performed Jelena, Viviane and Darwin at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall with travelled to Fermo to compete in the City of Birmingham Symphony the Postacchini Strings Competition. Orchestra conducted by Mark They all performed extremely well Wigglesworth, and even though he and reported that they found the ultimately did not take the top prize, experience very rewarding and it was an unforgettable experience. A Seoyul Kim exciting. Congratulations to Darwin for full coachload of students, staff and reaching the Finals. Friends travelled from the School to Seoyul was extremely proud to win cheer him on and it was an incredibly Junior 1st Prize at the International We are so proud of every one of our uplifting day, topped off with Will being Anton Rubinstein Competition in pupils. It is a testament, not only to awarded the Walter Todd Prize, given Dusseldorf. The prize was a one-year their talent and discipline, but also at the judges’ discretion to a musician loan of a Carlo Bergonzi violin. to their courage and strength of who showed immense promise but did character that they are able to achieve not reach the Final. The Rubinstein Competition was such consistently high results on the doubly successful for YMS students as international stage. Thank you to the Kyota and Tianyou were selected to Otoha won the Promotion Prize. Music staff for all the hard work they compete in the Menuhin Competition in put into preparing the pupils for these April. Tianyou came fourth overall and Selina won 2nd Prize competitions. won the coveted Bach Prize. He was at the Schweizerishe joined in Geneva by Zamira Menuhin- Jugendmusikwettbewerb with a Congratulations to everyone for such a Benthall and teacher Diana Galvydyte. stunning performance of Saint-Saens successful term.

Tianyou Ma Selina Staeheli

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Founder’s Day Menuhin Hall to watch the BBC film ‘Who’s Yehudi’, after which teachers The entire School community Boris Kucharsky and Thomas Carroll celebrated the birth of our Founder talked about their memories of with two days of activities. On Sunday Yehudi and played a short concert, 22 April, many of our Friends and accompanied by Svitlana Kosenko and supporters gathered for a sold-out Nigel Hutchison, much to the delight of concert in The Menuhin Hall with the audience. Jeremy and Mookie Menuhin, and renowned cellist Gary Hoffman. They Choral Director David Condry then were joined onstage by some of our led the School in a rousing chorus of pupils, including the Junior Orchestra, Parry’s I Was Glad. The events of the conducted by Òscar Colomina i Bosch. morning had obviously warmed hearts, as after the singing, everyone spilled The following morning, the entire out onto the lawn for a joyful BBQ, and School had the morning off from the Juniors raced around the grounds lessons and came together in The for their Founder’s Day Treasure Hunt.

Edith Fischer

On 24 April, we were delighted to welcome back renowned pianist Edith Fischer to give a masterclass. Born in Santiago de Chile, Ms Fischer gave her first recital at the age of 11 and later studied with Claudio Arrau (as did our own Ruth Nye). In 1989, she and her husband founded the festival Semaine Internationale de Piano de Blonay-St.-Légier and Cours International in Switzerland.

Her wonderfully warm approach was most inspiring, and Ms Fischer remarked that she was extremely impressed by our students. Richard, Rebecca, Claire, Katie, Gorka, Viviana, Alasdair, Duru and the Brahms Trio all had the opportunity to spend time with her.

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Scottish tour for a Coffee Concert overlooking the Mira, Finlay, Caterina, Stefanije, Duru, Scottish tour picturesque harbour. In New Lanark Rebecca and Claire featured in we were hosted by old friends Dr The Herald. The tour to Scotland, which was Jamie Hill and fellow members of established and is still led by piano Music in Lanark. We were privileged Our final two concerts were held at teacher Ruth Nye, is an annual event to tour the World Heritage Site village Blair Castle near Pitlochry, where dating back 20 years. This time we dating from the eighteenth century, hosts Lavinia and Andrew Gordon broke with tradition and went in May and play in the Musicians’ Room accommodated our whole party in rather than February, and were able to housing a piano dedicated to Ruth. their lovely house with its magnificent enjoy the spring flora along the Falls views over the glen. Each of us wrote of Clyde and lambs gambolling in the Next stop was Canongate Kirk a message in the visitors’ book, which fields at Blair Atholl. in at the invitation of had been signed by all previous YMS Sebastian Thewes, where our concert visitors, including former pupils and First stop was Berwick-upon-Tweed, was in aid of the campaign to house current piano teachers Alexis White just south of the border, where we our fellow music school, St Mary’s, and Emmanuel Despax. were joined for the concert by Richard in the fine Greek revival Old Royal and Elaine Hillier. Thence to Eyemouth High School building. Our pupils

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The Menuhin School in bloom

In spite of the dry spell, our grounds looked at their best for the Summer Festival. The planters outside The Menuhin Hall were filled with geraniums, gaura trailing petunias and spiral bay, and the spectacular white bed near the music studios with lupins, hydrangeas, daisies and silver birch.

We all take pride in our environment. Younger pupils have learned to grow potatoes, deadhead pansies, take cuttings and plant herbs. Our chef regularly uses homegrown oregano, sage and thyme in sauces and lavender in his special shortbread.

Wigmore Hall Two coaches packed with students, concert on classicalsource.com, staff and Friends travelled to London which describes the performances as Our Senior pupils did themselves, to support the performers, and the “heart-stopping” and “spine-tingling”, and the School, extremely proud at audience was further filled with and the evening as “a remarkable our annual concert at the Wigmore parents, alumni and our generous occasion to witness...” Hall on 29 June. group of patrons. We would like to thank our entire community The programme consisted of: for their continued Debussy Sonata for Cello and Piano, support, and for sharing Gareth Wood Duo, Rachmaninov Trio such a special evening élégiaque No 1 in G minor, Halvorsen with us. Passacaglia after a Theme by Handel, Bartók Piano Sonata and Strauss If you were not able Metamorphosen (arr. Rudolf Leopold to join us, you can for string septet). read a review of the

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Concerts in the brought the magic of the concert hall to Community the dining halls and living rooms of the county’s care homes. From the lyricism The summer term included a visit to of Bottesini to the vigour of many a the Princess Alice Hospice in Esher, Spanish, Romanian and Hungarian Cedar Court Care Home in Cranleigh dance, they touched the hearts of and the Orchard Dementia Centre in audiences, not only with the quality of Chertsey. The students showed great their performances, but with the deep talent and professionalism as they sincerity of their music-making.

Primary Schools a stage for the first Concerts time. With dozens of violins, Dorking Halls In July, The Menuhin Hall opened its the stirring doors to hundreds of local primary accompaniment It was with great school children who listened to a of the YMS excitement that the recital of Summer Festival pieces, students, and members of the culminating in the combined the voices orchestra saw the performance of our older pupils and of around 200 School’s name ‘in lights’ ’s youngest. children, Twinkle as the coach delivered them Elliott Perks’ forty-odd students Twinkle Little Star to Dorking Halls for a concert from our Chance to Play scheme could not have sounded in May organised by the Dorking played their tiny violins in unison on more majestic. Concertgoers Society. The School used to perform there regularly before The Menuhin Hall was built, Painshill Park but extremely appreciative audience in but the current orchestral players the grotto. had never been there before. The weather forecast during the build-up to the Painshill performances This year the programme included A programme consisting of Howells was watched with particular care, several complete quartets, and a pair Elegy, with Boris Kucharsky playing especially by Max who recalled last of Intermezzi by Parry for string trio the solo, Vivaldi Concerto for Two year’s concerts as the wettest of (Ezo, Hattie Q and Pere) which had Cellos (soloists Juliet Wolff and his life! However, this year the sun been written for the Lushington family Pere Puertas Masferrer), Vaughan shone and the students spread their living at Pyports in Cobham (just Williams Fantasia on a Theme of performances over two days to a small opposite the parish church). Thomas Tallis and Schubert’s Death and the Maiden Quartet transcribed for orchestra by Mahler was very well received by the audience with many enthusiastic comments afterwards.

Additional enjoyment for some of the pupils was engendered by the discovery of the open lift which gave direct access to the stage – ideal for getting the harpsichord and the double basses (and some pupils!) up caption and down.

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Brackenbury Art Show

The rich diversity of YMS students drawings, photography, mixed media was reflected in this year’s vibrant and an installation entitled ‘Peace Brackenbury Art Show. Please’. The variety of artwork revealed the talent, enthusiasm and Visitors to the Summer Festival made creativity of our students. their way across the lawns from The Menuhin Hall to the new exhibition Martin Brackenbury and Kate Clanchy venue, the elegant Kentner Room in had the unenviable task of judging the Music House. They were treated to an exhibition. Both were very impressed abundance of art, poetry and music with the high standard of the work. created entirely by the pupils. Included Pictured here are pieces by Mika in the show were paintings, ceramics, (right), Judith and Rose (below).

New pupils

Giorgio Agnes (12, Italy) plays the piano and studies with Ruth Nye.

James Marshall (11, UK) plays the violin and studies with Boris Kucharsky.

Isla Schwarz (9, UK) plays the violin and studies with Lutsia Ibragimova.

Singing in School the Riemenschneider Chorale Book the Orchestral Picnic concert with Every now and then a so-called were bought for this purpose. Cathy Parry ‘My soul there is a country’, ‘Lesson from Life’ surfaces and Whitnall’s new Junior Choir gave its from Songs of Farewell, and will is widely discussed in the media. first performance at the Supporting perform again at the Christmas Recently the following message has Studies concert in June, with a concerts. been reported: Singing daily for at rendering of Purcell’s Sound the least 10 minutes reduces stress, Trumpet. Sometimes the pupils can be clears sinuses, improves postures and heard doing singing exercises as they can help you live longer. walk between classes!

At YMS, the inclusion of singing in the In April, David Condry was appointed pupils’ daily routine has been steadily Choral Director to take the School increasing. In September Òscar Choir on Saturday mornings, and introduced the singing of a chorale in to give individual lessons as a Morning Meetings, and 80 copies of supporting study. The Choir opened

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Summer Festival

The sun shone every single day of our Summer Festival this year for what was an uncomparable celebration of the pupils and their incredible achievements throughout the year. Every child had the chance to perform on The Menuhin Hall stage and each one did so with professionalism, artistry and flair, and the special moments were far too numerous to mention!

The concerts were well-attended as always, by a mixture of family from across the globe who flew in for the occasion (or cycled in, as the case was for one couple!), and our dedicated Friends and supporters who form the backbone of our audience base all year round. There were picnics on the lawn throughout the week, beginning with the sold-out Orchestral Picnic,

straight through to the last evening Showcase. Our thanks goes out to everyone who supported the pupils in whatever capacity.

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Junior Plant Sale

In preparation for our annual plant sale Dogs not only supply the for charity, the Juniors sowed some blind with extremely well vegetable seeds before the Easter trained dogs, but they also holiday. Janet then took them home and pay for the vet bills and food carefully looked after them. for the dogs.

On a beautiful sunny morning in May, In total, we raised £239 - we held our plant sale on the lawn. our highest total yet! We The plants we sold included Little Red would especially like to Devil chillies, cucumbers, courgettes, thank Janet Poppe (Junior tomatoes, Cotoneasters, Alchemilla School teacher) Philippa Mollis, Geraniums, Osteospermums, Brown (Junior classroom roses, fuchsias, and orach lettuces. assistant), Delphine Wellington and our We sold many plants but still had some magnificent left over so we held another sale before gardener the Friday Lunchtime Showcase Concert Caroline from later that week where we sold all the The Surrey remaining plants! Garden, addition we would like who to thank everyone who Our chosen charity this year is donated supported the sale. Guide Dogs for the Blind, and we are some lovely sponsoring a Labrador-cross Golden flowering By: James and Rebecca Retriever puppy called Oscar! Guide plants. In

replica of Darwin’s boat his steps in the Sand Walk Weald and Downland Charles Darwin’s cabin in which he spent which he used to do Museum House five years travelling the every day to improve his world. The boat was only health. A highlight of the In June, Jeanne took the C1s to This term, the Senior 24ft long and 10ft wide, visit was the greenhouse Weald and Downland Museum. Science students went and yet he managed to in which there were This is an outdoor living museum on an outing to Charles stay on it for that long! many exotic plants containing rural buildings set Darwin’s house. After There were also guns, including Venus fly traps, in a beautiful landscape. It tells exploring the the house minerals and some other Sarracenia psittacina and the stories of the people who itself, we were allowed items that Darwin took Drosera capensis. lived and worked in them a privileged look at his with him on his voyage. A great way from the Medieval to extended bird, beetle and to spend a the Victorian period. barnacle collection. We Outside, we saw the day. The trip enriched saw original drafts of On very tree that Darwin’s our knowledge of The Origin of Species, children used to climb lifestyle evolution, and the long lists of out of their windows and and how, food, observations about which a small garden in which clothing and Darwin was known to be Darwin carried out plant buildings have obsessive. We also saw a experiments. We traced changed through the Weald and Downland Museum years.

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Duke of Edinburgh Head on the South Coast, with some spectacular views of the cliffs and sea. This term both the Bronze and Silver Their navigational skills were excellent D of E groups have been busy planning and their enthusiasm in rainy and cold and carrying out their practice conditions was a pleasure to see. expeditions. As well as spending the weekend hiking The seven pupils in the Silver group in the local area for their expedition, the camped for two nights in the South Bronze group have been raising lots Downs. They had very wet weather of money for charity. They organised on the first day and spent the evening a cookie sale where they baked fresh huddled under a tarpauline cooking cookies for the whole School, which was on their trangias but the rain stopped very popular. Their expedition went very enough for them to enjoy a speedy sucessfully and they are looking forward camp fire and some well-toasted to their assessed weekend in July. marshmallows. They finished at Beachy

Leavers’ Destinations

Vivana-Zarah Baudis (19, Germany) gap year Max Calver (18, UK) The , London Ketan Curtis (19, UK) The Royal College of Music, London Aïda Lahlou (19, Morocco) St John’s College, Cambridge Katie Morgan (18, UK) Conservatorium van Amsterdam Joseph Pritchard (18, UK) The , London

Otoha Tabata (18, Japan) The Royal College of Music, London Juliet Wolff (19, Germany) The Juilliard School, New York

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Cricket match

The end of term cricket match pitched two equally inexperienced teams together in perfect English summer weather on Monday 2 July. The two captains were Otoha and Max, and they recruited pupils of all ages (and managed to capture some teachers too!) The pitch had a tinge of green and the bounce was not completely true. The game was played in good spirit and we had a delicious barbecue between innings. In an exciting finish Otoha’s team won by four runs.

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Football

Anyone who has been reading the biographies of the pupils in the new programmes at Showcase Concerts in The Menuhin Hall will know that there are a lot of keen football fans at the School. This term has been a good one for our footballers, not least because of the World Cup, but also because, once a week, two coaches from the Chelsea FC Foundation just up the road have been visiting the School to put the pupils through their paces on the top field. There are many a casual kickabout during downtime as well.

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Tennis Activities Day

This term the tennis court received a The day after the Summer Festival was much-needed resurfacing. A coach from reserved for non-musical activities, and Take Tennis Lessons now comes once a all the children were taken off-site by week to work with our pupils, who also various members of staff for a day of enjoy playing each other in the evening fun. The trips on offer included bowling, and at weekends when they have free aqua sports, the Guildford Lido, Wild time. Before resurfacing Wood Challenge, a nougat factory in Lille (which required a 4am wake-up call!), and the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and Mary Rose Museum.

All of the outings provided opportunities for the pupils to unwind after the busy weeks of exams and performances, and a great time was had by all.

term a large group of staff undertook Swimming At the Mary Rose Museum the National Rescue Award for Swimming is always popular at YMS, Swimming Teachers and Coaches so a both for fitness and for fun, with pupils greater number of pupils can participate having several sessions per week. This in programmed poolside activities.

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This term in The Menuhin Hall

Looking back at the activities in the © Nikolai Lund Hall this term, it seems like such a long time ago since the incredible Founder’s Day concert with Jeremy and Mookie Menuhin in April. They were joined by the wonderful cellist Gary Hoffman, who spent an afternoon with our cello pupils. What better way to commemorate Lord Menuhin’s birthday?

Imogen Cooper provided a night of exquisite music in June. Her performance of Beethoven’s Diabelli Variations was the highlight of an The Menuhin Duo exceptional evening. Maiden (orchestrated by Mahler) I cannot sign off without a special The pupils’ Showcase Concerts this stealing the show. Of course, the mention to both Kate Clanchy and term have been outstanding, with leavers presentations were full of joy, Òscar Colomina i Bosch, who have audience numbers through the roof. emotion, and a few revelations! both done so much for the Hall, be it It is a real testament to the hard work planting flowers and scrubs around of every one of the pupils that they An academic year at The Menuhin the grounds, introducing new and can perform so brilliantly whilst also Hall would not be complete without exciting merchandise to be sold revising for, and sitting, academic the Summer Festival, and not only at concerts, or programming such exams. Well done to them all. was the music superb, but the sun wonderful music for us all to enjoy. shone. All our pupils, along with The Menuhin Hall is going from Those audience members who were their instrumental teachers, can be strength to strength, and we are all lucky enough to get a ticket to the so proud of their achievements this looking forward to another fabulous sold-out Orchestral Picnic Concert year, and after so many incredible year. were treated to an absolute feast performances, we hope everyone of orchestral gems, with the little- has a well-deserved break over the Alice Benzing, Menuhin Hall Manager performed Schubert Death and the Summer.

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Next season

Òscar has put together a fabulous and our ever popular Christmas ©Sven Arnstein programme of events for our Autumn Showcases in between. Winter 2018/19 season, including alumna , a public We also have performances from two masterclass with Natalia Gutman, the exceptional pianists, José Ramón Piccadilly Dance Orchestra and our Méndez and Artur Pizarro, who will wonderful pupil Showcase Concerts. be presenting unique and varied programmes. Christmas at The Menuhin Hall lasts Artur Pizarro a whole month this year, with visits Wherever your musical interests lie, from The Grange and Peter Medhurst, we look forward to seeing you soon. ©Eva Vermandel

Alina Ibragimovacaption José Ramón Méndezcaption

Coming up @ The Menuhin Hall Christmas Concerts

This year we will be running our SEPTEMBER Christmas Showcase Concerts THURS 20 SEPT 7.30pm JOSÉ RAMÓN MÉNDEZ over two days instead of holding THURS 27 SEPT 7.30pm SHOWCASE CONCERT two concerts on the same day. The afternoon concert will be at 3pm OCTOBER on Monday 10 December and the THURS 4 OCT 7.30pm ENDELLION STRING QUARTET evening concert will be at 7.30pm on MON 8 OCT 10.30am THE GENIUS OF GILBERT AND SULLIVAN WITH Tuesday 11 December. PETER MEDHURST

FRI 12 OCT 2.30pm NATALIA GUTMAN MASTERCLASS These concerts are hugely popular TUES 16 OCT 7.30pm SHOWCASE CONCERT so do book your tickets early to For further details please see The Menuhin Hall What’s On guide avoid disappointment! or visit www.themenuhinhall.co.uk.

WWW.MENUHINSCHOOL.CO.UK 15 ALMUNI ©Brant Tilds Alumni news 20 June to 11 August, and was hailed by The Stage as ‘‘a riveting, quicksilver became the new ESTA thriller”. (UK) President in June. She succeeds David Le Page in the role. Lucy Parham recently performed at the Guildford Spring Music Prach Boondiskulchok collaborated Festival, of which she is also Artistic with former YMS Artist-in-Residence Director. Additionally, she was one Geraldine van Heemstra on a recent of the commentators of the Piano project which combined artwork Final of BBC Young Musician 2018 and music inspired by Jorge Luis and will appear in a new BBC 4 TV Borges’s faux-medieval bestiary Book Cheryl Frances-Hoad documentary about women composers, of Imaginary Beings. Geraldine’s discussing Clara Schumann. paintings and prints echoed Prach’s Cheryl Frances-Hoad’s Beyond the compositions, responding to the Night Sky was performed at the Elliot Perks has released a CD with colours and shapes of the music funeral for Professor Steven Hawking Guitarist Tom Ellis. The album, intertwined with the narrative of the at the end of March. Cheryl was recorded in The Menuhin Hall, is called texts. commissioned last year by Gonville Marchenbilder (Fairytale Pictures) and and Caius, her former college, to write is inspired by Germanic text. Prach also performed at The Menuhin a piece of music for the Caius Choir to Hall earlier this year with the Linos perform in honour of the Professor’s Louisa Staples won 2nd Prize at the Piano Trio. 75th birthday. It centred around the 2018 Carl Flesch International Violin theme of space, with influences from Competition in Mosonmagyaróvár, Konstantin Boyarsky’s Pushkin, a scientific texts, NASA recordings and northwestern Hungary. Later in June, lyrical opera in two acts, had its UK the children’s poem, Universe, by the she performed a recital of Prokofiev, premiere with Grange Park Opera on American poet Stephen Schnur. Debussy and Ravel at the Harrogate 11 and 12 July. Music Festival. At the birthday celebrations in 2017, Jean-Francois Carrière won 1st Prize Professor Hawking said the music in the Enrico Mainardi Competition in “captured the vastness of space, and Salzburg in May. a sense of wonder at the universe and the earth, [taking] us all on a mental Dillon Jeffares shared 2nd Prize in the journey around the universe”, he said, Leonid Kogan Competition Brussels adding, “I probably won’t need to take (no 1st Prize was awarded). up my promised place on Richard Branson’s spaceship now.” He then

concluded: “It puts into lyrical form one Louisa Staples of my quotes: ‘Try to make sense of what you see, and wonder about what makes the universe exist’. Perhaps I Tanja Roos will be featured in the can be forgiven for saying that tonight I first Mellon Music Festival in the US, am wondering no longer.” organised by cellist Eunghee Cho. The aim of the festival is to ‘challenge Alina Ibragimova will play the world traditional notions of classical music première of Rolf Wallin Violin Concerto performance by creating an inclusive at The Proms on 21 August. and community-oriented environment while continuing to provide high- Cordelia Lynn’s play One For Sorrow quality performances of life-changing Dillon Jeffares was at the Royal Court Theatre from repertoire.’

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Staff news

The students and staff were very sad to lose Richard Tanner (Director of Studies and Maths teacher), Ann Sweeney (Head of Pastoral Care, School Nurse and Assistant Housemistress) and Janet Poppe (Junior School teacher) who all retired at the end of this term.

Richard has been here for 11 years, and during that time he guided pupils and academic staff with wisdom and sensitivity. Ann has been an essential part of the School’s pastoral care, dealing with issues of health and wellbeing at all hours of the day and night. Her experience and empathy have been invaluable over the past five years. Janet has been here for 20 years and, in that time, has taught all of our youngest children in various disciplines, giving them a solid grounding for the next phase of their school life. We wish them all the very best in their retirement.

Òscar Colomina i Bosch has been Staff leavers named an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music. The award was At the end of the term we were announced in this year’s Royal sad to say goodbye to a number Academy of Music Honours List. It of staff. Chris Owen, School Nurse is only given to past students of the and Kendra Shute, Housemistress Academy who have distinguished and English teacher, will be themselves in the music profession missed by the students, especially and made a significant contribution those in Music House. James in their particular field. The School is Young and Shu-Wei Tseng left tremendously proud. the General Music Department to develop further their performance careers. New staff Earlier in the term, Melanie Smith Matthijs Broersma is our new Assistant Cello Teacher. He and Edward Romain left to pursue is an alumnus of YMS, and studied at the Guildhall and the other opportunities. Hochschule der Künste, Bern. Mattijs is a member of the Gémeaux Quartet, a prize-winning Swiss ensemble. Kate Hylands will no longer work part-time in the Finance Alison Packman joined the School in May as Compliance Department but we are very Officer. After 25 years in the Oil and Gas Industry, she pleased that her friendly face will moved into the Education Sector in 2016. still be seen behind the bar in The Menuhin Hall. Philippa Stanfield is the School’s new Accounts Assistant. She is a qualified Chartered Accountant and has been a We thank them all for their work governor at a local primary school for several years. and wish them well.

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From the Chairman

Dear Friends of Music. in musical events. We Another academic year has ended. They bring want the Friends to be I’m sure you, like me, have found a new style part of these plans, and it amazing and fascinating. There and new we hope that, over time, have again been some outstanding enthusiasm to Young Friends will convert as student Showcase Concerts. A the School, and it they grow older into Friends and number of familiar faces whom we is clear from the foyer Best Friends, and that their families have seen mature and develop as gossip that you have embraced them and friends will want to join with them. talented musicians have left us for both enthusiastically. conservatoires and universities. Will We also hope this initiative will help we see their like again? They are so One initiative on which the Friends the School in its effort to forge greater good it seems impossible to imagine, Management Committee has been links with the wider community, giving and yet year after year comes along working is YMS Young Friends. It is our local people of all ages the opportunity another cohort of gifted pupils to general ambition to bring new Friends to benefit from the musical centre for inspire us. To all of us who attend into the School, and the reality is likely excellence in their midst. concerts and engage with the pupils, to be that new Friends will typically YMS is the gift that keeps on giving. be found amongst the same senior Best wishes, citizenry as already now constitutes And the year has been memorable too the majority of existing Friends. The for the arrival of new leadership in School itself has a lively outreach the form of Kate Clanchy as Head and programme to local schools that Òscar Colomina i Bosch as Director brings other students in to take part Sir John Baker, Chairman

Bridge Tea Natalia Gutman masterclass

Sheila Rice-Smith and the Friends FRIDAY 12 OCTOBER – 2.30pm Events Committee of Janet Burr, Diana Foster-Kemp, Janet Kefford and We are excited to announce Angela Symes outdid themselves this our second open masterclass. year with our most successful Bridge Natalia Gutman is one of the Tea event to date. most distinguished cellists of the 20th century. The special musical The Menuhin Hall foyer was absolutely relationship she built with Claudio full with 22 tables of players who Abbado since the early 1980s has spent a lovely afternoon playing resulted in many performances with Bridge and enjoying a tea prepared him, and with such orchestras as the by the School chefs. After the raffle Berlin Philharmonic, the European This is a unique opportunity to see was drawn, the guests were treated Community Youth Orchestra, the this great artist work with students to a few words about the benefits of Gustav Mahler Orchestra, and the from The Yehudi Menuhin School, becoming a Friend, followed by a short Mozart Orchestra. From 1992–2002 sharing her musical knowledge and concert, much to their delight. together with Abbado, Gutman expertise. directed the Berliner Begegnungen The event raised a profit of £728 - our chamber series in Berlin, and she Friends will receive a special best yet. Our heartfelt thanks to Sheila was a regular section leader in the discounted ticket price of £5 (Young and the Committee for their dedication resident orchestra in the Lucerne Friends free). Please see your What’s and hard work. Festival. On brochure for more details.

18 NEWSLETTER / SUMMER 2018 FRIENDS

Young Friends

This Autumn we are proud to be launching our Young Friends programme, to enable more young people to attend concerts in The Menuhin Hall.

Young Friends is open to anyone under the age of 30*. The membership is free and will offer members the chance to attend concerts at a reduced price, and also to take advantage of last-minute, free ticket offers when we have seats available in The Menuhin Hall. Membership includes:

• £5 tickets to selected Showcase and Celebrity concerts • access to last-minute, free tickets (subject to availability) • free tickets to selected masterclasses • invitations to an annual post-concert celebration • discounts at local businesses

How it works:

Email [email protected] to let us know you would like to join. We will add your name to the Young Friends email list and this will enable you to book £5 tickets in advance, and you will then be eligible for last-minute free ticket offers. Further information, and terms and conditions will be included in your welcome email. *under 16s require the permission of a parent or guardian.

Join us - Become a businesses, including 20% off at Friend today The Old Plough in Cobham, 10% New offer from off at The Cobham Bookstore The Wine Reserve Lord Menuhin founded the Friends and half-price membership to in 1971 together with a few local Denbies Winery. Best Friends also for the Friends supporters of the School. Since receive complimentary tickets The Wine Reserve in Cobham then the Friends have grown to a Summer Festival Showcase has generously agreed to to over 750 supporters from all Concert. offer the Friends their case price for single over the globe, offering financial bottles. The case price is the price for six assistance to the School and a If you enjoy listening to bottles or more that usually works out warm, supportive presence at outstanding music and supporting approximately 10% less than the one to concerts. Many of our Friends emerging talent from around the five bottle price. enjoy following the journey of our world, become a member today. pupils as they progress through Membership starts at only £35 The shop stocks an extensive collection the School and into the wider per year. Simply get in touch with of hand-picked wines from around the world as professional musicians. the Development Department to world. Just show your concert tickets or request an information pack, or a copy of this page when purchasing to Friends enjoy a range of benefits, pick one up in The Menuhin claim your discount. For more information, including priority booking for Hall foyer. please contact Carol Edwards or Tim performances in The Menuhin Walker on [email protected] or Hall, invitations to masterclasses For more information contact 01932 866682, or visit their lovely shop at and pre-concert receptions, [email protected] or 7 Oakdene Parade, Cobham KT11 2LR. and special offers from local 01932 584409.

WWW.MENUHINSCHOOL.CO.UK 19 FRIENDS

Photography by Nigel Luckhurst, Kate Clanchy, Òscar Colomina I Bosch, Jenny Dexter, Dave Greenwood, Sarah Lee, Richard Lewisohn, Sarah McDonald, Tamas Reti and Cathy Whitnall.

20 NEWSLETTER / SUMMER 2018