Keyboard Legend Rick Wakeman Recalls His Time at the RCM
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The Magazine for the Royal College of MusicI Summer 2011 Keyboard legend Rick Wakeman recalls his time at the RCM What’s inside... Welcome to upbeat… It’s not often we get the chance to feature a rock star in Upbeat, but in this issue the keyboard legend that is Rick Wakeman graces our front cover. On Contents page 10, he relives his time spent studying at the RCM in the 1960s – from eccentric and inspiring teachers, to juggling session work with practice and 4 In the news lessons. Find out how he prepares for a concert, who is his favourite composer, The latest news from the RCM why it’s important to grab every opportunity that comes your way, and what including multiple triumphs valuable lessons classical musicians can learn from other music genres. for RCM performers at the Royal Over-Seas League Music Competition and a special We all know how critically important professors are, but in the rest of this issue visit from our President, we celebrate two of the many “backroom heroes” who every day make a huge HRH The Prince of Wales contribution to the life of RCM students. RCM Chief Librarian Pam Thompson looks forward to her retirement and, with her colourful memories of the last 10 Rick Wakeman 34 years of working at the RCM, dispels any myth that a librarian’s job might The composer, keyboard player be dull! We also take a glimpse into the workshop of Resident Luthier David and songwriter talks to Upbeat Hume, as he reveals the treasures of the RCM’s collection of string instruments. about his time spent studying at the RCM As usual, Upbeat is also packed full with news from around the College. So if you want to find out which RCM alumni recently won two Grammy Awards 12 Pam Thompson then read on! After 34 years service to the RCM, Chief Librarian Pam Thompson We’re always keen to hear from students past and present, so if you have checks out from the library for the last time anything you’d like us to feature in the next issue of Upbeat, send your news and pictures to [email protected] by 19 September 2011. 13 David Hume Resident Luthier David Hume on NB: Please note that we cannot guarantee to include everything we receive and that we the importance of understanding reserve the right to edit submissions. the setup of your instrument and services offered to RCM students 14 Meeting the supporters… Upbeat meets Canadian resident in London, Dasha Shenkman 16 Staff notes… News from professorial, academic and administrative staff 18 Student notes… Current student success stories 20 Alumni notes… Updates from RCM graduates 22 Births, marriages and obituaries HRH The Prince of Wales with prize winners Paula Sides, Antoine Françoise and Sarah-Jane Brandon Photo credit: Chris Christodoulou Chris credit: Photo Front cover – www.lwmultimedia.co.uk © Lee Wilkinson Inside front cover – Images from the recent Symphony Orchestra concert conducted by Bernard Haitink © Chris Christodoulou Inside back cover – A selection of images from composer Simon Holt’s residency at the RCM © Chris Christodoulou 3 In the news... Multiple triumphs for RCM performers Accolade for TheRoyal Over-Seas League Music RCM composer Competition is one of the UK’s most high profile competitions for young artists. In an astonishing year, nearly all of the main awards have gone to RCM musicians. The two Ensemble Awards, each worth £10,000, went to RCM Junior Fellows the Cavaleri Quartet and vocal ensemble Cries of London, which includes RCM singers Christopher Jacklin and Ben Williamson. The Cavaleri Quartet Collecting the Accompanist’s Award of £5,000 was pianist Michael Ierace, who Kitty Whately gained the Award for graduated from the RCM in 2010. Singers. They won prizes of £5,000 each, and competed for the Gold Medal Finally, three of the four Soloists’ and First Prize of £10,000 in the ROSL Awards went to RCM performers: Competition Final, held on 17 May at oboist Suzanne Thorn picked up the the Queen Elizabeth Hall. Worshipful Company of Dyers Award for Wind and Percussion; pianist For so many of the awards to go to and Junior Department alumnus representatives of one conservatoire is Ashley Fripp collected the Award an unprecedented feat. Congratulations for Keyboard; while mezzo soprano to them all. For more information, please visit Brahms in www.rcm.ac.uk/brahms RCM composer Steven Daverson is Registration is available via the RCM Box the youngest ever recipient of one of the Home Office:www.rcm.ac.uk/boxoffice the three prestigious prizes for young composers awarded by the Ernst von In November 2011, the Royal College Siemens Music Foundation. of Music is hosting an international conference on Brahms and the vital but TheErnst von Siemens Composer’s little-explored facet of 19th-century Award is valued at 40,000 Euros music-making: performance in the home. and also includes a commission for leading new music group Ensemble Distinguished researchers from Europe, Recherche. The award was presented the USA, Australia and the RCM will to Steven at a musical ceremony at convene at the RCM to explore the the Cuvilliés Theatre in Munich earlier composer’s connection with domestic this year, when Ensemble Recherche music, which was a crucial medium premiered his work for flute, clarinet, throughout the 19th-century and trombone, percussion, viola and cello. embraces an enormous array of repertoire. A range of wider issues The Board of Trustees of the Ernst von will also be discussed including the Siemens Music Foundation, which overlap between public and private includes the composers Wolfgang venues (salons and chamber concerts), Rihm and Helmut Lachenmann, sees performance forces and source materials. Steven Daverson as being one of the most important up-and-coming ‘Brahms in the Home’ takes place at the young composers: “In his works, RCM from Friday 4 November to Sunday Daverson creates exceptional sound 6 November and includes spoken papers textures that are, by virtue of their and lecture recitals. A concert series density, reminiscent of techniques and runs alongside the conference from role models from the visual arts. His Wednesday 2 November to Tuesday 8 music is characterised by a specifically November and features performances haptic quality, and by a special and yet by RCM Director Colin Lawson and always elusive physicality.” celebrated pianist Ashley Wass. 4 The President’s Visit Holst: In the Bleak Midwinter On Thursday 12 May,HRH The Prince Orchestra and Chorus General of Wales made his annual visit to the Manager Paul Hughes, RCM HR On Easter Sunday, a new documentary Royal College of Music. administrator Margaret Packham, and film by Tony Palmer featuring RCM Dr Kit Wynn Parry, who has pioneered musicians was aired on BBC4. In his role as President of the RCM, His important work in musicians’ health Royal Highness conferred Honorary and wellbeing. Holst: In the Bleak Doctorates in Music (DMus) upon Midwinter is the pianist Lang Lang, composer James His Royal Highness also presented the first ever full-length MacMillan and conductor Esa-Pekka Tagore Gold Medal to two students TV biography Salonen. In addition, Fellowship of who graduated last year – pianist of the famous the Royal College of Music (FRCM) Antoine Françoise and soprano Paula composer and was conferred upon five outstanding Sides – and the Queen Elizabeth The RCM alumnus, musicians: singer Sally Burgess, Queen Mother Rosebowl to soprano and includes conductor Laurence Cummings, Sarah-Jane Brandon. These three extracts from composer George Fenton, organist exceptional artists also gave a short some of his most David Graham, and conductor John concert well known works, performed by the Wilson. RCM Symphony Orchestra. The film After the ceremony, His Royal Highness also includes previously unseen material Honorary Membership of the Royal had the chance to explore some with Holst’s daughter Imogen, his pupils College of Music (HonRCM) was objects from the RCM’s internationally Michael Tippett, Herbert Howells, presented to six notable individuals renowned collections including a Edmund Rubbra and the 102 year- who have made an outstanding manuscript score by Parry, an engraving old Elliott Carter, as well as featuring contribution to music and to the RCM of Liszt and the recently acquired representatives from institutions where in particular: RCM librarian Sarah “Kessler Viols”: a unique collection Holst taught: St Paul’s Girls’ School, Batchelor, philanthropist Philip Carne, of four outstanding early English Morley College and the RCM. English Touring Opera General Director instruments. James Conway, BBC Symphony RCM and the BBC Proms This summer the RCM once again plays a big part in the BBC Proms, the world’s greatest classical music festival. RCM Sparks Summer Music runs alongside the BBC Proms season and offers a series of workshops and discovery events for participants of all ages and levels of ability. This year, there Pictured left to right: RCM Chairman Lord Winston, Lang Lang, HRH The Prince of Wales, Esa-Pekka Salonen, will be weekly Summer Music Creative James MacMillan and RCM Director Colin Lawson Workshops for 6–9 and 10–12 year olds, Summer Springboard courses for 13–18 years old and Discovery Sessions for music lovers of all ages. All three strands Remembering run in addition to the Proms Plus events that take place every day during the Herbert Howells Proms season in the RCM’s Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall. Chief Librarian Pam Thompson attended For more information see a ceremony for the unveiling of a blue www.rcm.ac.uk/summermusic plaque commemorating the life and work of RCM alumnus Herbert Howells. The plaque was mounted on the outside wall of his former home in Barnes, where he lived from 1946 until shortly before composition at the College from 1920 his death in 1983.