UPBEAT SPRING 2016 NEWS FROM INSIDE THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF MUSIC IN THIS ISSUE DIGITISING THE RCM MUSEUM A DAY IN THE LIFE… A NEW YEAR, A NEW LOOK HIGHLIGHTS SPARKLING DIE FLEDERMAUS ‘From the moment the Royal College of Music’s opera orchestra struck up the opening notes of the overture, supple and brisk with a quicksilver scurry of strings, there was cause for optimism.’ The Guardian Photos: Chris Christodoulou 2 UPBEAT SPRING 2016 CONTENTS WELCOME 4 NEWS The latest news and activities from TO UPBEAT the Royal College of Music 10 I am delighted to welcome you to our new look Upbeat DIGITISING THE magazine. I hope you like the fresh and modern design. Royal COLLEGE OF MUSIC MUSEUM Discover how the RCM Museum Our new visual identity pays homage to our long-standing became the first conservatoire on Google Cultural Institute history while recognising that the Royal College of Music is a dynamic environment for young musicians. No better is this encapsulated than in our new logo, which you can see on the front cover of the magazine. You can read more about the process to refresh our brand 12 A Day IN THE LIFE on page 4. Head of ICT Mark Soole describes a typical day for the team All of your favourite sections remain in the magazine. You can read about recent RCM activities in our News section starting on page 4, and find out about recent student, staff and alumni successes in our Updates section 14 (pages 16–21). SUPPORT US Each issue of Upbeat will also contain feature articles where you can read about aspects of RCM life in more detail. This term we find out about the digitisation of the museum collections and the exciting news that we are the 16 STUDENT UPDATES first conservatoire to be part of Google Cultural Institute. We also hear from Head of ICT Mark Soole, who describes a typical day in the life of this invaluable department. 18 We would love to hear your thoughts on the new look magazine, so please STAFF UPDATES do get in touch at [email protected]. And don’t forget to tell us about your recent projects and achievements; the deadline for submissions to the summer issue of Upbeat is Monday 11 April. 20 ALUMNI UPDATES 22 IN MEMORY Professor Colin Lawson, Director UPBEAT ONLINE 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 Jacquelyn Williams Designer May Yan Man Design www.splashofpaint.com Contact [email protected] UPBEAT SPRING 2016 3 NEWS IN THE NEWS RCM LAUNCHES PLANNING NEW VISUAL IDENTITY PERMISSION SECURED he Royal College of Music is delighted to lanning permission has been granted for the Tannounce the launch of a new visual identity. P Royal College of Music’s transformational Opposite development of the Blomfield Building. This will Dame Evelyn Glennie The new logo and visual identity will be introduced enable the RCM to deliver its vision for the highest- and Head of Percussion into all of the RCM’s print publications and digital David Hockings quality learning environment and remain one of the communications over the coming months. You Photo: Chris world leaders in music education. Christodoulou can already see them in action in this edition of Upbeat, on our new responsive website and on Renowned architect John Simpson has reimagined Below our social media platforms. The Students’ Union the RCM site and the planned developments RCM Students’ Union football kit football team are particularly proud of their new will enhance the learning environment for team kit! students by providing new performance spaces, recording facilities and practice rooms. The More Developed throughout the last year by world- Music: Reimagining the Royal College of Music leading brand-agency Landor, we have greatly project will also transform the College’s public benefitted from their expertise, which has been engagement programme, allowing more people provided to the RCM at no cost whatsoever. The than ever before to connect with the RCM in a changes reflect the respected heritage, innovative variety of ways. spirit and collaborative environment the College has fostered since opening in 1882, while Visit www.rcm.ac.uk/moremusic for more recognising it is also a modern and dynamic information. environment for young musicians. 4 UPBEAT SPRING 2016 CONTRACTS GLENNIE OPENS RESEARCH EXCHANGED FOR PERCUSSION PROJECT RECEIVES MARKOVA HOUSE SUITE AHRC AWARD he Royal College of Music has ame Evelyn Glennie officially opened he RCM has won an Arts and Texchanged contracts for the purchase Dthe Royal College of Music’s new THumanities Research Council 10th of Markova House in South Kensington, percussion suite on 26 November 2015. Anniversary Cultural Engagement Fund the current headquarters of English Award of £50,000 to support a three- The renowned percussionist was greeted National Ballet. month research project led by vocal by an enthusiastic group of students professor Norbert Meyn. The enlarged estate will allow for a who demonstrated the range of facilities substantial increase in practice rooms, available and the exceptional level of Entitled ‘Exile Estates – Music Restitution: as well as providing two large orchestral music-making fostered within the RCM’s The Musical Legacy of Conductor/ and opera rehearsal spaces. Markova Percussion Faculty. Dame Evelyn remarked Composer Peter Gellhorn’, the project House will also provide a new home for ‘it’s such a pleasure, not just to witness the aims to bring the work of Peter Gellhorn the RCM’s leading Research department, amazing playing from our young players, (1912–2004) – and especially his offering a dedicated environment for but to see this amazing facility.’ compositions, which remain largely work that includes research into the unpublished – to a wider audience. Introduced to the new percussion suite impact of music on health and wellbeing. by Head of Percussion David Hockings, The award will, among other things, Many administrative and academic staff Dame Evelyn saw the dedicated rehearsal enable the employment of a researcher to will also move into the new premises, spaces for timpani, vibraphone, marimba assist in archival research for the project, returning the Blomfield Building into a and orchestral percussion, as well as the which is part of the RCM’s wider research space primarily for making music and rehearsal and studio spaces and state-of- into musicians forced to emigrate from providing an extraordinary environment the-art technology for teaching, recording Nazi Europe in the 1930s and 40s. for RCM students. and rehearsing. The pair also reminisced More information can be found online at RCM Director Professor Colin Lawson said about their own time as students 30 years www.rcm.ac.uk/singingasong ‘Together with the planned development ago, when space was scarce and large of the RCM’s Blomfield Building, the instruments often unavailable for practice. acquisition of Markova House will Before cutting the red ribbon and officially contribute to a state-of-the-art creative opening the suite, Dame Evelyn praised infrastructure across both sites, supporting the new facilities and said ‘there’s a and sustaining the RCM as a world- wonderful working creative area here and leader in music education for generations that’s very important for any musician.’ to come.’ The final sale is expected to coincide with ENB’s planned move to London City Island in autumn 2018. UPBEAT SPRING 2016 5 NEWS SUCCESSFUL RCMJD FINALISTS SOIREE D’OR FOR BBC YOUNG he RCM’s annual fundraising gala, Soirée d’Or, MUSICIAN 2016 Traised £216,000 to support scholarships for talented RCM students. ive talented young musicians from the RCM Opposite F Junior Department have made it through to the Dame Kiri Te Kanawa Attended by 400 guests, the event was held at the category finals of BBC Young Musician 2016. in Die Fledermaus Victoria and Albert Museum in December 2015, Photo: Chris and featured live and silent auctions. Professor Current RCMJD horn player Ben Goldscheider, Christodoulou Colin Lawson presented the RCM’s More Music pianist Tomoka Kan, percussionist Joseph Parks and Below development plans to guests before RCM soprano flautist Marie Sato and RCMJD alumna violinist Joo Yeon Sir performs Josephine Goddard gave the appeal speech. Stephanie Childress have all been selected to at Soirée d’Or take part in category finals of this prestigious Photo: Steven Morris Musical entertainment was provided by award- competition. winning singers Gemma Lois Summerfield and Simon Shibambu and violinist Joo Yeon Sir They are all hoping to follow in the footsteps of the (pictured). Guests also enjoyed reception music previous three winners, RCMJD musicians Martin from marimba duo Aristel Skrbić and Hyun-Gi Lee, James Bartlett (2014), Laura van der Heijden and a performance of David Willcocks’ Infant (2012) and Lara Melda (2010). Holy, Infant Lowly by the RCM Chamber Choir Miranda Francis, Head of Junior Programmes at the directed by Thomas Allery. RCM, comments: ‘I am thrilled that so many RCM Support for the evening was generously provided Junior Department students have been selected to by Finsbury, BAE Systems, The Dorchester, perform in the BBCYM category finals. They are all Taittinger and Steinway. The RCM thanks all those incredibly talented performers. We are all so proud who attended and donated on the night. The RCM of them, and wish them well!’ The competition is also grateful to members of the Soirée d’Or final will be held at London’s Barbican Centre on Committee, led by Lady Carr, who are integral to Sunday 15 May. the success of this event. 6 UPBEAT SPRING 2016 OPERA STARS APPEAR IN DIE FLEDERMAUS orld-renowned opera stars Sir Thomas Allen Wand Dame Kiri Te Kanawa thrilled audience members by appearing as special guests in the RCM International Opera School’s November production of Die Fledermaus.