TRINITY LABAN CONSERVATOIRE /OF MUSIC & DANCE

Alumni newsletter Autumn 2019

From left to right: Paul Mounsey, John Powell, Emlyn Singleton, Gavin Greenway and John Ashton Thomas SEVEN NEW TRINITY LABAN HONORARY FELLOWS The intimate event honouring Steve Reich began with a captivating rendition of his Electric Counterpoint, It’s been an exciting and busy time at Trinity Laban arranged for electric viola and performed by our own recently, and part of the buzz has been down to the Head of Strings, Professor Nic Pendlebury. Following seven new Honorary Fellowships we have awarded to the performance – which received a standing ovation composers who have revolutionised their industry and from the composer – Reich imparted his wisdom to inspired our students. students and staff in a thought-provoking Q & A. Professor Anthony Bowne then made a speech recognising Reich’s June saw Trinity Laban Principal Professor Anthony achievements: “The impact that [his] work has had on Bowne travel to Highclere Castle, the location of iconic today’s music making can hardly be overstated. He is TV show Downton Abbey, to present an Honorary responsible, perhaps more than anyone, for widening Fellowship to Emmy winning composer John Lunn. the audience of today’s classical music.” John has composed several operas and scored the music for multiple TV programmes and is probably best Later the same week, we welcomed John Powell, known for composing the music for Downton Abbey. Gavin Greenaway, Emlyn Singleton, Paul Mounsey The presentation formed part of an event called Downton and Trinity Laban professor of Composition John Ashton Abbey Live, attended by 5000 fans of the show. Thomas. Between them, our ‘Hollywood Five’ have had extraordinary careers in composition, performance, More recently, we were delighted to be able to host conducting, arranging and orchestration and still Steve Reich and five Hollywood musicians who are all collaborate; in fact, they worked together on the latest alumni of Trinity Laban (or Trinity College of Music as it Star Wars filmSolo: A Star Wars Story. Before receiving was then) and present them with Honorary Fellowships their awards from Trinity Laban Governor, alum and as part of our Festival of New Music, a week of eclectic President of Decca Records UK Rebecca Allen, the five Composition Department activities. took part in an entertaining conversation in the Laban Theatre with Head of Composition Dominic Murcott and postgraduate student Megan Storer at the helm.

trinitylaban.ac.uk/alumni NEW STEINWAYS AND SUPPORT INNOVATORS REWARDED BY FOR TRANSITIONS DANCE COMPANY TRINITY LABAN’S NEW SCHEME

Following the arrival earlier in the year of top-quality pianos funded by Trinity College London (TCL), we hosted a VIP event to formally open one of the newly We’ve always known that Trinity Laban students refurbished practice rooms and to thank TCL for are a creative bunch. Many are entrepreneurial too, their generosity. starting their own collectives, showing their own work and making a name for themsleves even before they The Trinity College London Room is named in memory graduate. It can be hard, though, to crack into the of Alan Britten CBE, who gave many years of dedicated industry without an injection of money and guidance service as a trustee of both Trinity Laban and TCL. It from someone who’s already been there. is one of six rooms which house the new pianos (five Steinways and a Yamaha), enabling our students to Last year, we decided to harness the creativity of our rehearse and perform on the very best instruments. student body in the TL Innovation Award. We asked final-year students to propose original projects. The ceremony was attended by Alan’s wife, daughters Six projects were chosen and we are now supporting and granddaughter, alongside TCL Executives. Christos the recipients to turn their ambitions into reality with Fountos, who recently completed his Masters in Music the help of funding and mentorship from industry and benefited from a TCL scholarship during his studies experts who are all alumni. delighted the guests with a recital. The projects are diverse, ranging from a bid to connect Five members of Trinity Laban’s Keyboard department youth musicians up with community projects, a – Head of Department Sergio De Simone (pictured above), collective of 11 dance artists hoping to give women Martino Tirimo, Penelope Roskell, Deniz Arman Gelenbe, a platform for creative expression and an integrated Alexander Ardakov and Philip Fowke – then performed, concert and recording series to highlight work by demonstrating the talent among our teaching staff. recently graduated composers.

During the evening, Professor Anthony Bowne reflected One recipient of the award, Sahra Gure, who recently on the long-standing relationship between Trinity Laban won The Musicians’ Company 2019 Young Jazz and TCL and our mutual mission to promote and Musician Award, was aiming to release an EP of her own support musical performance and education worldwide. work. She has already released a single, Better Dream, and her EP is launching later this month. Reflecting on We are also delighted that Transitions Dance Company her studies, she said: “I have met so many wonderful has received extensive scholarship support this year. people over the years studying at Trinity Laban and it’s Thanks to the generous support of the Leverhulme hard to say whether I would have achieved as much as Trust, The Newling Scholarship, Headley Trust, South I have had I not been here at this time.” Square Trust and Mercers Company, students from India, the USA, Italy, France and Switzerland, as well as The scheme has been a great success so far, and we’re home-grown talent from the UK, have been able to take looking forward to seeing what this year’s cohort of up their places on the MA in Dance Performance. students has in store for us.

Over the coming year, the company will perform a mixed bill of new, innovative dance work specially commissioned from choreographers H2DANCE, Cameron McMillan and Elisa Pagani. We hope to see you on this year’s tour!

2 MOVERS AND SHAKERS IN A SUMMER OF REUNIONS THE FACULTY OF DANCE

Chris Cox shared with us a lovely account of a reunion The new academic year often brings with it new things – he organised for alumni who studied at Trinity College faces, names, programmes. This year was no different in of Music. Chris, who is now living in Australia, studied the Faculty of Dance, particularly given the arrival of the piano at TCM, graduating in 1988. The reunion took first students on our brand-new BSc in Dance Science. place at an old haunt, The Angel in the Fields pub, just down the road from Mandeville Place with alumni Our new programme needed a new Programme invited from all years at TCM. Leader, and we were delighted to welcome Sonia Rafferty (pictured above left), who has been a member Chris admitted to feeling a ‘degree of trepidation’ before of the Dance Faculty since 1991. Sonia completed her the event, wondering whether anyone would turn up and BA (Hons) in Dance Theatre at the Laban Centre in 1983, if they did whether he would recognise them. He needn’t before becoming a founding member of Transitions have worried as the first people who arrived were two Dance Company the following year. In 2004, she was old friends who he hadn’t seen for over 35 years. People part of the first cohort for Trinity Laban’s MSc Dance arrived thick and fast after that and soon the reunion Science, graduating with Distinction. had taken over the pub.

Sonia’s clear desire to be at the cutting edge of The feeling of warmth felt in meeting old friends also developments in dance, whether as a dance artist, extended across the generations of alumni who hadn’t researcher or educator, make her an excellent addition previously met. Chris commented that “such is the bond to our Faculty. Professor Emma Redding, Head of between former Trinity [College of Music] students. If Dance Science, praised Sonia for her “extensive you are friends with one, you are friends with all and knowledge of safe dance practice, alongside what better epithet can there be than that?” professional performance and choreographic experience at the highest level.” He says that the reunion was the highlight of his trip, “I have such wonderful memories now of June 2019, Elsewhere in the Faculty of Dance, Dr Naomi Lefebvre the year I reformed connections with friends from so Sell (pictured above right), who has been teaching at long ago that I have so often thought about…” Trinity Laban for nearly 15 years, was made Programme Leader for the MA /MFA Creative Practice. Originally Also, this summer a group of dance alumni organised hailing from Canada, Naomi’s credentials are extensive. a reunion to celebrate 20 year since they graduated. The dancer, choreographer and researcher holds a Before the all-important socialising some of them were BFA in Dance from Simon Fraser University and an able to enjoy visits to look round Laurie Grove, where MA in Choreography and a PhD in Creative Practice they had studied, and the Laban Building at Creekside. from Trinity Laban. She is a Senior Fellow of The Higher Education Academy and her work has been widely If you are planning a reunion and would like to find published in academic journals. out how we can support you get in touch: [email protected] We’re delighted about both appointments and we wish Sonia and Naomi every success in their new roles.

TRINITYLABAN.AC.UK/ENCORE 3 FROM MUSIC ALUMNI

NEWS Jochebel Ohene MacCarthy Serefina Steer (BMus harp, 2004) (BA Musical Theatre, 2018) and released her new album The Mind Basil Athanasiadis (BMus Matthew Campbell (FDA 2011, Is A Trap. She has also been touring composition, 2002) released his BA 2012, Musical Theatre) joined with Jarvis Cocker. new album, Book of Dreams, on the cast of the Lion King UK, for the Divine Art label. the tour of Ireland. Rebeca Omordia (MMus piano, 2011) launched her debut album Laura Jurd (BMus jazz trumpet, 2013) Martin Speake (LTCL 1979, FTCL Ekele; Piano Music by African released her critically acclaimed new 1981) released his new album, Composers which features works album Stepping back, jumping in. Feathers, in collaboration with by pioneering Nigerian composers. pianist Alex Maguire. Melissa Kenny (BMus 2010, James Darch (FDA Musical Theatre MMus 2012, harp) has joined the Soumik Datta (MMus composition, 2009) received great reviews Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires as 2009) presented Rhythms of India, appearing as Brad in the UK tour Principal Harp. a three part series for the BBC of the Rocky Horror Picture Show. exploring the history and culture Anna Stereopoulou (Postgraduate of India through its music. Iyad Sughayer (MMus piano, 2018) Diploma 2002, Postgraduate Advance performed the Khachaturian Piano Diploma 2003, composition) won the Mark Kavuma (BMus jazz trumpet Concerto with the BBC Philharmonic Best Music Video award at the NEZ 2017) with ensemble, The Banger Orchestra and is a 2019 CMF Artist International Film Festival, Kolkata for Factory, released their self-titled with the City Music Foundation her album PLANO. album. Artist Programme.

Predrag Gosta (Dip TCL 1997, Jazz Septet Nerija, which includes Postgraduate Certificate 1998, voice) alumni, Lizy Exell (BMus jazz drums, has commenced a DPhil in music at 2013), Nubya Garcia (BMus jazz the University of Oxford. His research saxophone 2016), Cassie Kinoshi focuses on the opera The Siege of (BMus composition 2015), Sheila Belgrade by Stephen Storace. Maurice-Grey (Postgraduate Diploma jazz trumpet, 2016) and Jeff Wayne (Composition 1966) Rosie Turton (BMus jazz trombone, opened a new immersive experience 2015), released critically acclaimed of The War of the Worlds in London. debut album Blume. Reuben James (Jazz piano) released his long-awaited debut EP Adore. Terry Barber (MMus voice, 1996) has been touring the USA with his Ian Pope (BMus 2002, Postgraduate new album Mercury in tribute to Diploma 2003, voice) appeared as Queen frontman Freddie Mercury. Meister Hermann Ortel in Wagner’s Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg Lana Trotovsek (Postgraduate with Fulham Opera. Diploma 2007, Postgraduate Advanced Diploma 2009, violin) Manu Delago (Postgraduate performed works by Beethoven, Advance Diploma composition, 2011) Leo Richardson (BMus jazz Škerjanc and Prokofiev at presented his new album Circadian saxophone, 2013) launched his new Wigmore Hall. in a performance at the Royal Festival album, Move, at Pizza Express Jazz Hall, London. Club in Soho to critical acclaim.

4 CATCH UP WITH YOUR PEERS IN THE WORLD OF MUSIC LOOK OUT FOR MORE ON OUR WEBSITE

Mark Lockheart (LTCL saxophone, Duncan Sandilands (FDA 2010, Ben Corrigan (BMus composition, 1982) released new album, Salvator BA 2012, Musical Theatre) joined 2014) won Bronze in the Best Arts and Mundi, to great reviews. multi-platinum selling, vocal harmony Culture category at the British Podcast group G4. Awards for Excuse the Mess. Sheila Maurice-Grey’s (Postgraduate Diploma jazz trumpet, Peter Edwards (ISP 2007, MMus Cassie Kinoshi’s (BMus composition, 2016) ensemble, Kokoroko, were 2009, jazz piano) directed a selection 2015) SEED Ensemble were nominated selected by Nile Rodgers to appear in of works from Duke Ellington’s The for a Mercury Music Award for their Meltdown at the South Bank Centre. Sacred Concert at the BBC proms, album Driftwood. with the Nu Civilisation Orchestra. Nafis Umerkulova (ISP piano, 2014) Sahra Gure (BMus jazz voice, 2019) celebrated the launch of her debut Sam Jewison (BMus 2017, MA was announced as The Musicians album, Darkness Illuminated, at St 2019, voice) was invited to perform Company 2019 Young Jazz Musician. John’s Smith Square. the late show at the New Generation Festival in Florence. Nardus Williams (BMus voice, 2014) has been announced as a Harewood Béatrice de Larragoïti, (MMus Artist 2019/20. 2015, Postgraduate Artist Diploma 2016, ISP 2017, Voice) Charlotte Ayanna Witter Johnson (BMus Osborn (Postgraduate Diploma 2016, composition, 2008) released her Postgraduate Advance Diploma debut album Road Runner. 2018, Voice) and Alice Usher (MMus 2017, voice) launched their company Gothic Opera with a production of Der Vampyr by Heinrich Marschner. Steve Rubie (Flute 1976) received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Musicians’ Company. AWARDS, HONOURS Bethany Horak-Hallett (MMus voice, AND COMPETITIONS 2018) won first prize at the 2019 Normandy International Baroque Congratulations to our alumni for Music Competition Concours Corneille. Jesper Gasseling (Postgraduate the many awards and prizes they Advanced Diploma violin, 2019) have won. Guy Elliot (BMus 2016, ISP 2017, performed at the opening concert voice) was in the finals of Wigmore Hall of the Bürgenstock Resort’s Elliott Morris (Certificate The Independent Opera International Song Classics with a View concert Practice of Music Making, 2019) won Competition and won the Britten-Pears series in Switzerland of which the Best Music Prize at Italy’s premier young Artist Programme Prize. he is Artistic Director. music festival, the Andrea Parodi World Music Festival in Cagliari. Marta Ramírez García-Mina (BMus Ibrahim Aziz (BMus 2003, MMus violin, 2014) was a finalist of the York 2005, viola de gamba) released his John Powell (Composition 1986) Early Music International Young Artists debut solo album, Risonanze, on won the ASCAP Film Score of the Competition. the First Hand Records label. Year for Solo: A Star Wars Story and the Public Choice Award at the World Kate Howden (BMus voice, 2011) John Savournin (BMus voice, 2007) Sound Track Awards for How To Train competed in the final of the 2019 By appeared in Il Segreto Di Susanna Your Dragon: The Hidden World. Voice Alone opera competition at Kings at Opera Holland Park and as Fotis Place, London. She was selected from in Opera North’s production of over 400 entrants nationwide. The Greek Passion. TRINITYLABAN.AC.UK/ENCORE 5 FROM DANCE ALUMNI

NEWS Paola Drera (BA 2017, Transitions Elisabeth Schilling (BA 2011) toured 2018) and Osian Meilir (BA 2016, her work Felt throughout Europe in Yukiko Masui (DDS 2009, Transitions Transitions 2017) were both selected the summer. 2011) received a commission for a to take part in Laboratori with new work from Northern School of National Dance Company Wales. Daisy Harrison (BA 2014, Transitions Contemporary Dance. The mentors included fellow alum 2015) is one of four women leading Lea Anderson (BA 1984). Barbican Theatre Plymouth’s FUSE Emily Jenkins (PDCD 2014, MA Diverse Dance project. Creative Practice 2016) has expanded Dalton Valerio (Transitions 2016) her innovative dance project, Move had a series of performances of his Benjamin Pohlig (Transitions 2009) Dance Feel, to Bristol. This project solo work Whitenoise. joined Cullberg Ballet, Sweden. helps women affected by cancer to reconnect with their bodies and Naomi Lefebvre Sell (MA access group support. Oona Doherty (Transitions 2010) Choreography 2004, PhD 2013), was the featured artist at Dance Tara Silverthorn (BA 2008, Umbrella 2019, which presented Transitions 2009) and Lucille two of her works. Teppa (BA 2008) presented Moving as a thought process: James Pett (BA 2011) presented studio development and creative new choreographic work at the th encounters (2018) at the 5 Lilian Baylis Theatre as part of International Dance and Fabula Collective. Somatics Conference.

Wilhelmina Ojanen (BA 2017, Transitions 2018) premiered her new (BA 2018) was invited Thomas Page work at Sadler’s Wells as part of the to show their work at Offbeat Festival Young Associate Programme. 2019 in Oxford.

Yanaëlle Thiran (DDTL 2019) performed in Dance West and Creative Youth’s Emerging Dance Platform at Rose Theatre in Kingston with her Company Concentric which Martina Conti (BA 2006) has was formed at Trinity Laban. toured her exhibition Exercises for a Polluted Mind, at venues in Italy and San Marino. Rosemary Lee (BA 1981) presented Circadian, an intimate durational Monika Błaszczak (BA 2019) was performance at First Light Festival Work by Ivana Ostrowski (BA 1997) in Suffolk. invited to perform her work Soliloquy was featured in Fairytales at Sadler’s at the Art House Eindhoven. Wells. A latin and ballroom inspired Amy Voris (MA Dance Studies show for disabled and non-disabled (BA 1985, 2002) and Wilhelmina Ojanen artists. Sir Matthew Bourne’s (BA 2017, Transitions 2018) have Transitions 1986) new work, Romeo and Juliet, toured the both been invited by Gianluca Jenny Reeves (Transitions 2012) UK to great reviews. Vincentini (Transitions 2003) to founded About Time Dance choreograph new work for Company. Based in Lancashire (BA 2017) has been Möbius Dance. the company works with a range Olly Bell performing with Rosie Kay Dance of artists to explore heritage and Company in 10 Soldiers. local history.

6 CATCH UP WITH YOUR PEERS IN THE WORLD OF DANCE LOOK OUT FOR MORE ON OUR WEBSITE

Hannah Connor (BA 2019) joined Mandeep Raikhy (BA 2005) Congratulations to alumni who Phoenix Dance Company as an premiered his new work, Anatomy received awards at the 2019 One apprentice dancer. of Belief, in Delhi. Dance UK Awards. Dr Emma Redding (BA 1993) – Dance Science Theo Lowe (BA 2008) presented his Greta Gauhe (BA 2015) presented her Award, Sanjoy Roy (DDS 1989) – new solo, Fragility in man, at Dance work, Nowhere, at Chisenhale Dance. Dance Writing Award, Jody Morgan Umbrella 2019. (Professional Diploma Community Dance, 2000) – Dance Healthcare Shivaangee Agrawal (Graduate Practitioner Award and Olivia Paddision (BA 2018) has Diploma Dance Science 2018) Kyle Eccles been touring with North-East of shared her choreographic research (MSc Dance Science 2017) – England company Fertile Ground. at Siobhan Davies Dance. Inspirational lecturer at college, university or conservatoire award. Simone Sistarelli (BA 2014) was Sophie Page (BA 2019) joined selected to be part of the first Motionhouse as an apprentice dancer. Red Bull Amaphiko Academy in the UK which champions Nancy Kane (MA Dance Studies social entrepreneurs. This was in 1988, Dance Movement Therapy recognition of his innovative dance 1998) published a new text book, project Popping for Parkinson’s. History and Philosophy of Physical Education and Sport.

AWARDS, HONOURS AND COMPETITIONS Congratulations to our alumni for the many awards and prizes they have won.

Tom Dale (BA 1998, Transitions Shelly Maxwell (MA Choreography, 1999) toured new work, Step Sonic, 2007) receivedthe Best Choreographer with his company throughout the UK. award at the 2019 Black British Theatre Awards for Equus at the Theo Arran (BA 2017) has joined Theatre Royal, Stratford East. Möbius Dance.

Dr Sara Houston (BA 1994, MA Dance Studies 1996) published Dancing for Parkinson’s which explores the experience and value of dancing for people living with Parkinson’s disease.

Janine Harrington (BA 2006, Specialist Diploma Choreological Studies 2012) presented her Roman Baca (MA Choreography performance and research work, 2019) was awarded the 2019 Selma Jeane Cohen Dance Lecture Screensavers, at Nottdance festival [email protected] YOUR NEWS which was curated by fellow alum Award from the Fulbright Program. Matthias Sperling (Transitions 1998). Email Mark Bushby (1979 – 28 Sept 2019) studied IN MEMORY voice, graduating in 2003 with a BMus. He We are very sad to announce the following studied with Omar Ebrahim and was an deaths and our condolences go to their outstanding member of the Trinity Laban families and friends. Chamber Choir. He sang with the Sixteen and choirs of All Saints, Margaret Street and St. Mary’s, Bourne Street before gaining Jovannni-Rey de Pedro (4 Aug 1982 – 18 his teacher’s qualifications. He was Head Aug 2019) studied piano graduating with a of Middle School at Queen Anne’s School, masters in 2008 and winning the Gold Medal. Caversham and since 2015 Head of Prep at He then gained his Doctor of Musical Arts St. Joseph’s College, Reading. degree from the University of Michigan. He had a very successful career as an international Tina Ruta (d. Oct 2019) was a much sought- soloist winning many prizes. A committed after voice coach at Trinity College of Music philanthropist and educator, he held academic and the Royal Opera House. positions at the University of Idaho and most recently as Assistant Professor of Piano and Tino Valdi (1929 – Sept 2019) studied voice Piano Pedagogy at Samford University. at Trinity College of Music in the 1950’s. He was a popular singer as well as a virtuoso on Nicholas Johnson (7 Feb 1971 – Aug 2019) the bandura. He performed at top concert studied organ at Trinity College of Music, venues and starred in When in Rome at the completing his BMus in 1986. He taught and Adelphi Theatre. He was awarded a lifetime was an examiner for ABRSM. He held the achievement award by the British Music position of organist at many churches and was Hall Society and the Order of Merit by the Director of Music at St Peter’s, Wolverhampton president of Ukraine for his cultural and and St John’s, Sheffield. artistic foundation. (d. 11 July 2019) taught for Dave Wickins John Wakefield(21 June 1936 – Nov 2019) many years at Trinity Laban. He was a much was the recipient of the Kathleen Ferrier respected jazz drummer who performed with Scholarship in 1958 and enjoyed a stellar many musicians and in particular had a long international career as a tenor, frequently association with Kirk Lightsey, Liam Noble and singing at the Royal Opera House, London, Bobby Wellins. Santa Fe Opera and Glyndebourne. He joined Trinity College of Music in 1975 as professor Dame Heather Harper (8 May 1930 – 22 April of singing and was appointed Director of 2019) proclaimed as “one of the great sopranos Opera Studies in 1980, finally retiring in 2018. of her generation”, studied piano, viola, violin and singing at Trinity College of Music. She sang with the Ambrosian Singers, BBC Chorus and George Mitchell Singers before taking on countless opera roles. She frequently appeared at Glyndebourne and the Aldeburgh Festival and with the English Opera Company. KEEP UP TO DATE We love to hear what you have been doing since Keith Stent (26 Oct 1934 – 3 Sept 2019) you graduated so get in touch and let us know. studied piano at Trinity College of Music in N.B. Please note that we cannot guarantee to include everything the 1950’s. He continued at TCM as a teacher we receive and we reserve the right to edit submissions. and conductor as well as 35 years as an Email: examiner, 12 of which were as Chief Examiner. [email protected] He held positions as adjudicator, adviser and Call: + 44 (0)20 8305 9420 examiner for many other organisations. Well into Post: Alumni Relations, retirement he remained very active musically, King Charles Court, notably as the leader of the Wandsworth Old Royal Naval College, Symphony Orchestra. Greenwich, London SE10 9JF Like facebook.com/trinitylabanalumni

FACULTY OF DANCE: LABAN BUILDING, CREEKSIDE, LONDON SE8 3DZ, TEL: +44 (0)20 8305 9400 | FACULTY OF MUSIC: KING CHARLES COURT, OLD ROYAL NAVAL COLLEGE, GREENWICH, LONDON SE10 9JF, TEL: +44 (0)20 8305 4444 [email protected] | TRINITYLABAN.AC.UK | FOLLOW US ON: /TRINITYLABAN | PATRON HRH THE DUKE OF KENT KG | CHAIR HARRIET HARMAN MP | PRINCIPAL PROF. ANTHONY BOWNE Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales. Company No: 51090 Registered. Charity No: 309998. King Charles Court, Old Royal Naval College, London SE10 9JF. Photo credits: Chris Cox, Fiona Cullen, James Keates, Tas Kyprianou, Chris Nash, Brian Slater, Juno Snowdon, Jack Thomson