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 , 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 , 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 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 , 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 appearances and diverse. She has played internationally renowned around the world. Whilst 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 ‘ 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 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 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. My dream is to perform and to have people not commenting on my playing Albanian born Alda Dizdari’s have some Elgar in their life!” but just recognising the power passion for things English English values are worth and beauty of Elgar’s music. I echoes that of Byron’s – a love living and fighting for she says have had no difficulty sharing affair with an adopted country and musically she is a great this great love of mine with and its best music and culture. promoter of the essence of people that knew nothing England is more than Alda’s everything English exemplified about British music. Because of home for the past 10 years. by the music of . his love of music and the violin’ She says that British values, Following her travels, Alda Elgar speaks to this still largely way of life, culture, liberal released a memoire entitled rural people. His evocation of thinking and democracy are “Kiss me again, a diary of Elgar land and water and nature, qualities she loves about her in unusual places”, recording forests and mountains in his adopted home. And for her as the journey with the music music get to them in ways that a passionate musician, Elgar’s of Elgar in some unusual amazed me.” music is the heart of England. unbeaten tracks of Eastern “If I bring Elgar’s music alive Europe. Much more than just Alda will be giving a lecture and the English countryside a book about music, this is recital and book signing at visible to the eyes of every a journey that blazes a trail The Purcell School on 3rd July person I play to, be that in through time and explores 2019. Booking information Albania, Poland, Russia or Alda’s relationship with her will be published in the Romania, then my mission is dramatic past, the world she Summer Concert Guide. completed. Everybody must left behind as a young girl in PRIDE OF MUSIC: OLD COLOURS, NEW LIGHT Celebrating the artistic contributions LGBT+ artists have made in the realms of music and beyond

Year 13 student, Josh Mock show other young people has curated two unique - queer or not - that their events which will take place identity should not be a during LGBT+ History Month barrier to expression and that (February) to showcase LGBT+ they should take pride in the composers and artists. communities they are apart of.

The first event, taking place at Why do you think there is The Purcell School on February a need to highlight LGBT+ 6th, will feature new works music? written by Purcell School me to sift through. I discovered students, who have been When I asked a group of lots of composers who I’d inspired by LGBT+ artists and young composers to name never heard of, but who I creators, performed by the as many LGBT+ composers thought were fascinating and innovative PRISM Ensemble. as they could, I was met with iconic nonetheless. many blank sheets of paper! The second event at St. John’s LGBT+ composers have been It was important to me to Church, Waterloo on February cornerstones of classical music, include pieces by queer female 8th will feature LGBT+ music and I think it’s important that composers, who are often from across the centuries – audiences learn more about under-represented in concerts. everything from Tchaikovsky who these colossal artists are Ethel Smyth was a natural to arrangements of Queen and which communities they choice for the concert, as her and Britney Spears, and will were a part of. story as a queer suffragette be a celebration of LGBT+ art, composer is nothing short of music, and culture. In addition we still live in a amazing! world that, despite becoming This week, we were able to sit more progressive, still I also wanted to make the down and interview Josh with oppresses LGBT+ people, and concert as accessible and as a Q&A to get his thoughts on by showcasing their music I friendly to those who wouldn’t the project, and here’s what he hope to highlight the good and usually choose to go to a had to say.. beauty that all people gain classical concert, which is why I from the LGBT+ community included the Nutcracker Suite, Why is this concert important and how we are a force for as it’s recognisable and can be to you? good. narrated to bring it alive to the audience. This concert is chance for me How did you choose the to showcase and celebrate a repertoire, and why are you What has it been like as small section of the wonderful focusing on some less well- a student curating and musical output that the LGBT+ known composers/pieces? organising these events? community, a community I am proud of, has produced across My initial stages of research Although organising these time. were simply to put “LGBT+ events have been extremely composers” into Google! As challenging, it has been an Hopefully I can highlight the trivial as it sounds, this brought invaluable learning experience. importance of their work and up a wealth of information for I’ve had to approach individuals and organisations musicians to put on events, I’m also a huge fan of Vicky out of the blue, organise as the skills you learn in the Beeching, a former Christian rehearsals, hand out flyers, process will stand you in good recording artist who chose attend meetings etc. stead for being a professional to come out and leave her of any kind. career as a musician in order In the process I’ve learnt how to advocate for better inclusion to pitch my ideas effectively, Who are your LGBT+ role of LGBT+ people across society, the importance of clear models? especially within the church. communication, and people Her vulnerability is admirable, management skills. I’m quite lucky in that I am and I am in awe of her involved with an LGBT+ intellectual abilities! I would I could not have done this Youth Project in Manchester recommend that everyone alone, and I’m so grateful to called The Proud Trust, who read her book and follow her all those who’ve helped with work tirelessly to support on Twitter! organising, spreading the word, queer youth and the wider and giving sage advice, as well community, and so many of My final role model is Harvey all the students who have so the volunteers and workers Milk, the first openly gay graciously (and keenly!) taken there have been inspiring and person to be elected to public part! I would encourage young nurturing. office in America. He worked fearlessly and tirelessly to further the LGBT+ cause, until he was murdered by a colleague.

I highly recommend the film Milk if you want to find out more - but make sure you have PRIDE AND MUSIC tissues nearby! ______OLD COLOURS NEW LIGHT We would like to say a massive Celebrating the artistic contributions LGBT+ artists thank you to Josh for his work have made in the realms of music and beyond in creating these two events.

Featuring... PRISM Youth Ensemble For tickets to the second Tchaikovsky Nutcracker Suite arr. for Piano Four Hands event being held at St. John’s Ethel Smyth String quintet Queen Bohemian Rhapsody and Britney Spears Toxic Church please click here. arr. for Quartet (Tickets are £5 in advance) New music by talented teenage composers ...and much more!

Wednesday 6 February 7.00pm The Purcell School, Bushey Free Admission, no ticket required

Friday 8 February 7.00pm St. John's Church, Waterloo Admission £5 prideandmusic.eventbrite.co.uk COMING UP

Sinfonia Orchestra Chamber Choir and Prism Three Rivers Music Society Friday 1st February Ensemble Wednesday 13th February 19:00 Saturday 9th February 13:00 The Purcell School, Constance 19:30 Baptist Church, High Street, Pilkington Hall Stanborough Park Church, Rickmansworth, Herts, WD31EH Concerto soloists: Watford, WD25 9JL Deniz Cengiz, Zara Williams, Henrietta Dalgleish - Violin Copland - In the Beginning Magdalene Ho, Alpay Inkilap, Ella Richardson - ViolIn Paul Newland - 12.04.19 Emily Henderson, Billy Watman Tianao Pan - Cello Pauline Oliveros - Wind Horse and Petar Jovanovic Admission is free Josh Mock - Tides Tickets are £6 on the door. Free Alex Papp - Adrenaline for under-25’s Plus new works by Lauren Pride and Music: Marshall and Rio Harada-Parr Old Colours New Light Admission is free Middle School Chamber Wednesday 6th February Ensembles 19:00 Wednesday 27th February The Purcell School, Constance Concert for the Friends of 19:00 Pilkington Hall Benslow Music The Purcell School, Recital Admission is free Monday 11th February Room 15:00 Programme to include Friday 8th February Benslow Music, Benslow Lane, Schubert’s Trout Quintet and 19.00 Hitchin, Herts, SG4 9RB works for clarinet trio, jazz St Johns Church, Waterloo Radu Stoica, Lucia Breslin, Lydia trumpet, voice, bassoon, violin Tickets: £5 Cochrane, Fiore O’Sullivan and and piano prideandmusic.eventbrite.co.uk Ivan Varchenko, Benji Lock, Admission is free 01923 331109 Rebeca Lazar, Anya Blue Robins, Catherine White and Tianao Pan Tickets are £8 on the door only

GET IN TOUCH KEEP UP TO DATE FIND US General Enquiries - School Office www.purcell-school.org The Purcell School 01923 331 100 Aldenham Road [email protected] Facebook: @PurcellSchool Bushey, Hertfordshire WD23 2TS Concert and Ticket Information Twitter: @PurcellSchool [email protected] Nearest Stations: Instagram: the_purcell_school Watford (Met Line) PR & Communications / News Bushey (London Overground) [email protected] YouTube: The Purcell School Stanmore (Jubilee Line)