LET's TALK STRINGS an Insight Into the Purcell
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CrescendoThe Official Magazine of The Purcell School for Young Musicians January 2019 INSIDE PURCELL: PRIDE & MUSIC THE PURCELL SCHOOL LET’S TALK STRINGS FEBRUARY 2019 OPEN MORNING An insight into The Purcell Showcasing and celebrating A massive thank you to the School’s Strings Department the contributions made by students and parents who led by Charles Sewart LGBT+ composers and artists offered their services! Also new to the department, INSIDE PURCELL: Anna-Liisa Bezrodny (Violin), was born into a distinguished family of musicians in Moscow, LET’S TALK STRINGS and currently in great demand An insight into The Purcell School’s Strings as a soloist, recitalist and Department led by Charles Sewart chamber musician, receiving praise from critics about her The Strings Department at Dvarionaite, Aiste’s aunt, was performances around the Purcell has had success over a famous pianist, especially globe. At the age of two she many years with former in Poland, and her brother began her violin studies with students playing all across Justas is a pianist and the her parents, and at the age the globe following their time current Vice President of of nine she enrolled at the at the School. The past few EMCY (a network of over fifty Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, months have been an exciting international and national Finland, in the class of her time for the department; we European music competitions parents, Prof. Igor Bezrodny have recently seen the addition for young people). Aiste’s and Prof. Mari Tampere- of three new teachers and father Jurgis Dvarionas is a Bezrodny. Her later years took another teacher coming to the well-known professor of violin her to London, winning the department very soon. at The Lithuanian Academy Gold Medal (2006), the most of Music and Theatre. Prof prestigious award from the Aiste Dvarionaite (Violin) is a Jurgis Dvarionas was brought Guildhall School of Music and fourth generation musician up by Prof Boris Belenky at the Drama, previously won by coming from one of the most Moscow State Conservatory masters such as Bryn Terfel and famous musicians’ dynasties who was trained by another Jaqueline du Pre. in Lithuania. Both her stellar violinist Leo Zeitlin. grandparents from her father’s Over the years Anna-Liisa side were piano professors No wonder that Aiste followed has appeared as a soloist at Vilnius Music Academy, in her family footsteps and is with orchestras in the most one of which included fostering the best traditions of prestigious concert venues Balys Dvarionas who was a the best violin school. Aiste’s in the world, such as Royal well-known composer and learning began when she was Festival Hall, Barbican Hall, conductor of the Philharmonic only four year old, playing Wigmore Hall, Konzerthaus Symphony Orchestra. Aldona recitals from the age of six. Berlin, Cologne Philharmonie, Cadogan Hall, Finlandia Hall, himself to his solo career, Club Karl Jenkins Classical Estonia Hall and the Moscow to teaching and to establish Music Award in association Conservatoire Great Hall. his now thriving chamber with Classic FM and the Royal Anna-Liisa has worked with ensemble, I Musicanti. He also College of Music’s President’s outstanding maestros such conducts and has a passion for Award. She has performed as Leif Segerstam, Nikolay researching lost or forgotten at the Royal Albert Hall with Alekseyev, Eri Klas, Paavo Järvi, music for double bass such as Sir Karl Jenkins and the Royal Olari Elts, Sian Edwards, Sascha by the Catalan Josep Cervera Philharmonic Orchestra, the Goetzel, Juha Kangas, Mihkel and the Danish court musician, Royal Festival Hall, Wigmore Kutson, Robin O’Neil, Arvo Franz Keyper. Hall, Manchester Bridgewater Volmer, Paul Magi, and many Hall and at St. James’s Place for others. With over a dozen solo CDs HRH The Prince of Wales. Joo to his name, he regularly Yeon also regularly appears on Along with Aiste and Anna- commissions repertoire for BBC Radio 3 and Classic FM. Liisa, we welcome Leon the instrument, making recital Her repertoire is striking Bosch (Double Bass), an and concerto appearances and diverse. She has played internationally renowned around the world. Whilst concertos by Mozart, classical double bass virtuoso. teaching in London, he also Mendelssohn, Barber, Dvorak, Leon grew up in 1960s and gives masterclasses in the US, Sibelius, Walton, Bruch and ‘70s South Africa, the son of Europe, South Africa and the Brahms; other concerto the political activist Jonas Fred Far East, and coaches young repertoire includes Haydn, Bosch. He left the apartheid eastern European musicians Beethoven and Tchaikovsky, regime to study at the Royal in the I, Culture Orchestra in and a particular interest in Northern College of Music in Poland and the young South 20th century works - Prokofiev, Manchester after achieving the Africans who make up the Khachaturian, Korngold, Elgar, highest ever marks awarded Miagi Orchestra. He also acts Britten, Schnittke, Khachaturian for the B. Mus performance as a mentor for South African and Shostakovich. In recital, examination at the University musicians worldwide. she is equally at home in solo of Cape Town. Remaining in violin repertoire (Bach, Ysaye, the UK, he was soon appointed Coming soon to The Purcell Kreisler and Paganini) as she principal double bass with School Strings Department is is in close collaboration with the acclaimed Academy of St Joo Yeon Sir (Violin), a Korean- piano or guitar (the latter as Martin in the Fields. He left born British violinist and the one half of the Snowden-Sir the post in 2014 to devote winner of the prestigious Arts Duo). Also a composer, Joo Yeon Monday 6th March. Josephine “The last few months have is a former winner of the has performed as a soloist with seen outstanding work from coveted BBC/Guardian Young leading orchestras across the string players of all ages and Composer of the Year and her world and has worked with disciplines. The run-up to works have been premiered many conductors including Music College auditions is and performed at the Wigmore Vasily Petrenko, Christian always a challenging time for Hall and on BBC Radio 3. Her Zacharis, Richard Hickox and Upper-Sixth students and I latest work, written for herself Jac Van Steen. am immensely proud of the and duo guitar partner, Laura commitment and resilience Snowden, was premiered Described in The Strad as ‘an shown by our students on BBC Radio 3 to celebrate uninhibited virtuoso, with throughout this process. The International Women’s Day soul and fabulous technique’, offers of places for further 2017. the Romanian-born violinist study is highly impressive and Remus Azoitei, graduate of the it is re-assuring to know that, Along with new additions to Julliard School in New York will as a result, students will have the department, students be taking a Violin Masterclass the finest opportunities to are fortunate enough to take on Wednesday 20th March continue their studies after part in Masterclasses given by and Wednesday 3rd July. Purcell. In the middle-school I incredibly talented musicians. Remus has been a featured am delighted that we will have This year, we have already soloist of many prestigious three string soloists performing seen violinist and Chamber ensembles including the concerto movements with the Musician in Residence at the Orchestre Philharmonique Sinfonia: Henrietta Dalgleish – Royal Academy of Music, Levon de Radio France, George Barber Violin concerto, Tianao Chilingirian, give a Chamber Enescu Philharmonic Pan – Shostakovich ‘cello Music Masterclass, renowned Orchestra, Orchestre National concerto, Ella Richardson - soloist and chamber musician de Belgique and Deutsches Lalo Symphonie Espagnole and Jack Liebeck take a Violin and Kammerorchester. the Lower School strings have Chamber Music Masterclass recently excelled themselves along with performer, Last, but not least, Guy with colourful and energetic editor and composer, Simon Johnston, one of the most interpretation of Rautavaara Rowland-Jones giving a Viola exciting and versatile British “Fiddlers” in our ensemble Masterclass. cellists of his generation will concert. The recent chamber be giving a Cello Masterclass music auditions revealed an The next few months will on Wednesday 1st May. incredible and broad range continue with this fantastic Born into a musical family, of work with of outstanding trend with Jack Liebeck Guy joined his brother in the performances in a wide range returning to the School world-renowned choir of of instrumental combinations offering a Violin Masterclass King’s College, Cambridge, and repertoire including on Wednesday 6th February where he recorded the famous students’ own compositions; and Alina Ibragimova; one of carol Once in Royal David’s most impressive to me has the most accomplished and City, under Stephen Cleobury. been the eagerness for our intriguing violinists of her Guy then went on to achieve students to self-motivate and generation, leading a Violin early success winning BBC learn to work independently. Masterclass on Wednesday Young Musician of the Year, The quality of performance, 27th February and Wednesday the Guilhemina Suggia Gift, dedication to practice and 13th March. the Shell London Symphony broad range of experience Orchestra Gerald MacDonald and insight offered by my The School will also play host Award along with receiving professors is truly inspirational to British cellist Josephine a Classical Brit Award. His and I am honoured to be in a Knight, one of the most mentors have included Steven position to oversee and help to sought after performers of Doane, Ralph Kirshbaum and nurture this precious musical her generation, who will be Bernard Greenhouse. talent.” - Charles Sewart leading a Cello Masterclass on Albania and later as a young KISS ME AGAIN: A MEMOIR OF woman in Romania. Elgar is the meeting point of her past and ELGAR IN UNUSUAL PLACES her present. Alda Dizdari, of The Purcell School Strings “This concerto is a symphony Department, talks about her latest venture with a soloist.