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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 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 , 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 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, 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 . 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 , 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 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 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. until well into the . He is widely recognised as one of the foremost Howells won an Open Scholarship to composers of his age, and the RCM the RCM in 1912 and was a student Library contains many of his manuscripts until 1917. He subsequently taught and a wide range of his letters.

5 In the news...

Instruments & Bows, and a minimum of Celebrating Double String two recitals. In addition, Yuki received a £5,000 prize, which he graciously 25 years of Success donated to the Japan Earthquake RCM performers have snapped up Tsunami Relief Fund. For his second the Britten Theatre the top two prizes at the prestigious prize, Jiafeng Chen received a cash prize Windsor Festival International String of £2,000. Competition. Following an exciting Currently in his fourth year at three days of competition, first prize the RCM, Yuki is studying with went to current student and Japanese Alexander Boyarsky on a Soirée d’Or cellist Yuki Ito, while second prize went full scholarship. After winning the to a recent graduate and violinist competition, he said: “I have been Jiafeng Chen. overwhelmed by the kindness and Yuki was awarded an impressive support which my family and I, and list of prizes including a concerto all the competitors, have received from performance with the Philharmonia everyone involved in mounting this Orchestra on 18 September at the fantastic competition. It is a huge honour opening concert of the 2011 Windsor to win and I am very excited about Festival, a fine contemporary bow returning to Windsor in September to Her Majesty the Queen meeting cast members at the opening of the Britten Theatre in 1986 to the value of £5,000 from Bishop perform with the Philharmonia.” We are delighted to be celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Britten Theatre over the course of the next academic year. The opening of the Britten Theatre in November 1986 was marked by three magnificent gala evenings; the first was in the presence of the Patron, Her Majesty the Queen, and the second in the presence of then President, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. It is fascinating to read the cast lists, which included distinguished Japanese cellist Yuki Ito alumni such as Dame Anne Evans, Roderick Earle and Sarah Walker, along with current students who are now household names, including Gerald In London, new music by JD student Finley and Graeme Broadbent. JD students out composers was featured in a concert at the Blüthner Centre. The None of this would have happened and about programme featured a wide range without the dedication of the Chairman of styles for both solo and ensemble of the Centenary Appeal, later Chairman In recent months, Junior Department pieces by composers aged nine singers and composers have been out of the RCM, Mr Leopold de Rothschild to 18 years old. The exceptionally and his energetic Committee. The 25th in force showcasing their latest projects high standard of composition and and works across the UK. Anniversary of the Britten Theatre also performance, mainly by the composers coincides with 125 years since the first Sixteen students from the JD Chamber themselves, reflects the energy and full-length opera production put on by Choir joined Rachel Elliot from the dynamism of musical creativity within the Royal College of Music. We will be English Folk Dance and Song Society the Junior Department. using the two anniversaries to celebrate (EFDSS), folk-singer Sam Lee, and JD the past and continuing excellence of teachers Joy Hill and David Sutton- the RCM International Opera School Anderson at musiclearninglive!2011, and performances in the Britten Theatre, the UK’s National Festival of Music and raising money to ensure that we Education in Glasgow. Together they continue to provide the best possible gave a presentation of the folk-song training for our students and the best inspired Living Song, a joint RCMJD/ possible performances for our audiences EFDSS initiative developed over the and supporters. past three years by Rachel and David, which included a description of the For more information about our plans, please contact Sophie Hussey project, its learning aims and objectives. RCMJD Chamber Choir [email protected] or 020 7591 4353.

6 Memorial Concert Hope for Japan On 6 April, the RCM community came A memorial concert to celebrate the life together to help raise funds for the of five-times Oscar-winning composer victims of the recent Japanese tsunami. John Barry was held on Monday 20 June at the . A special concert entitled Kibou: Hope for Japan took place in the Amaryllis One of the most celebrated film Fleming Concert Hall. Organised by composers of his generation, John RCM pianist Kentaro Nagai, the concert Barry scored more than 125 films over involved fellow Japanese RCM students the course of his career. All profits and other RCM musicians from around raised from the concert have gone the world. towards a newly established John Barry “I am extremely thankful and touched by Scholarship for Film Composition at all the support we received by the RCM to the RCM. make this event successful.” Kentaro told Upbeat. “A speech given by Ambassador The star-studded line up of guest artists Hayashi was very personal and made included Dame Shirley Bassey, Rummer the evening even more special. On behalf and RCM alumnus Alfie Boe, and of my fellow Japanese students at the tributes were made by , RCM, I would like to send our deepest , Sir , Timothy condolences to the people who were Dalton, Sir , Sir Michael affected in the disaster.” Parkinson and Sir . The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra performed throughout the evening under the baton of conductor and RCM alumnus Nicholas Dodd. John Barry

student Tomoko Endo explained to Focusing on journalists what a great step forward this is for blind and partially sighted Braille music musicians: “Up until now, Braille music Journalists from newspaper users were obliged to have pieces recently visited the Royal College of transcribed manually and although there Music to find out about the new Prima are organisations that offer this service, Vista system that has revolutionised the the selection is limited. With this new production of Braille music. system, we don’t need to wait as long for pieces to be made available, nor do we Developed by Lydia Machell, the Prima have to take into account the availability Vista system enables Braille music to be of a piece in Braille form when choosing produced automatically by computers new repertoire as Lydia liaises directly for the first time. RCM postgraduate with the music publishers.”

At the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards, Double Grammy held in Los Angeles on Sunday 13 February, Christopher won Best win for RCM Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s) for his work composer Baba Yetu (performed by the Soweto Our warmest congratulations Gospel Choir and Royal Philharmonic to American composer Christopher Tin, Orchestra) from the “Calling All who has won not one but two Grammy Dawns”. He also won Best Classical Awards. Christopher graduated from Crossover Album for the same album. the RCM’s internationally acclaimed These were the first ever Grammys to be Composition for Screen course in 2000, awarded for music originally written for a winning the Joseph Horovitz Award in computer game. the process.

7 In the news... RCM chamber concerts at the National Gallery

This term RCM musicians have been programme Debussy’s ethereal Et la The National Gallery has hosted RCM working closely with curators at the lune descend sur le temple qui fût (And chamber concerts for more than ten National Gallery to understand and the moon descends on the ruins of years. These are generously supported draw inspiration from works of art in the Temple), while the philosophical by Dasha Shenkman in the memory of the collection. subjects reflected in the paintings in her mother, Belle Shenkman, who was a the room inspired Canadian pianist great patron of the arts. Please turn to The first concert of the series took Andrew Aarons to perform Tristan page 14 for an in-depth interview with place in a room hung with landscape Murail’s Territoires de l’oubli (1978). The Dasha. For further details of the concert paintings by Great British artists from concert was enhanced with a talk by series, including dates, musicians and 1750–1850. RCM pianist Meng Yang RCM’s Junior Fellow in Performance podcasts, please visit: Pan was inspired by Turner’s renowned Documentation Katy Hamilton. www.nationalgallery.org.uk/whats- painting ‘The Evening Star’ (1830) to on/belle-shenkman

Meng Yang Pan talks about her inspiration: Turner’s ‘The Evening Star’ Pianist Andrew Aarons

60th Birthday Celebrations RCM Rag Week Junior Department alumnus Julian 24 cellos to perform Klengel’s Hymnus. RCM students have raised an Lloyd Webber has been celebrating The group also performed the wonderful impressive £2,000 during Rag Week his 60th birthday this year with a series of Bachianas Brasileiras no 5 by Villa Lobos for this year’s chosen charity: concerts featuring star-studded friends and a selection of other works for cello The Alzheimer’s Society. Cleo Laine, Melvyn Bragg, Tamsin Little ensemble.”A concert at St Paul’s Church and 24 cellists from the RCM. was enthusiastically received and acted “It was no easy task getting so many as a useful warm up for further concerts cellos together”, Head of Strings Mark at the Southbank and most recently Messenger told Upbeat. “But Julian at the RCM in the Amaryllis Fleming inspired us to hunt high and low to find Concert Hall.

As always, there was a busy schedule of events, including joint parties with Imperial College, the Royal College of Art and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Laser Quest in the Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall, an Auction of Promises with some fantastic prizes up for grabs (including tea and a tour of the with RCM Chairman Professor Lord Winston), as well as the first concert by the newly re-formed Students’ Association Chamber Choir and Orchestra.

8 the LSO as second bassoon (1979– The Nicholas August 2005), a post in which he made Hunka Fund his unmistakable mark in hundreds of performs in the performances and many recordings. Britten Theatre Head of Woodwind Simon Channing makes this tribute: “Nick was a wonderful teacher to generations of students at the RCM and more recently at the Birmingham Conservatoire. He will be greatly missed especially in the Woodwind faculty where his generosity and kindness as a friend and a professor were an inspiration to us all.” Nick’s contribution to the development of even younger players was equally In an unusual merging of talents, important and he was a tutor for the composer, vocalist and NYO and a teacher in our own Junior Paul Carrack recently performed three Department. JD Director Peter Hewitt spectacular sell-out concerts alongside says: “Nick made an enormous impact the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in the on bassoon teaching in the JD (2006– Britten Theatre. It is with great sadness we report the 2010). He was a quietly wise presence Paul, a former band member of Roxy death of Nicholas Hunka, bassoonist, who was held in the greatest respect by Music, Squeeze, and Mike and the contrabassoonist and dedicated RCM colleagues.” Mechanics performed some of his own professor. In memory of her husband, The Nicholas Hunka fund will allow compositions (How Long and The Living his widow Alison has made a very kind Years) as well as of Nick Lowe’s us to award bursaries to talented and donation in order to establish a fund Battlefield and ’s Rain deserving young bassoon students who in support of bassoon teaching at the Today. The arrangements were by award RCM Junior Department. would have otherwise been unable to winning orchestrator David Cullen, study at the RCMJD. We are hoping to who also conducted the concerts. The Nicholas fell ill suddenly before increase the number of bursaries to performance was filmed and recorded Christmas and bore his short illness help more outstanding young students, for a TV documentary and DVD using with quiet courage. He studied at the so please join Alison and support this the services of RCM Studios. The result RCM with Archie Camden and Martin worthy cause. If you would like to make was an extremely successful event which Gatt. On leaving the RCM he joined a donation or further information ended in audience members taking to the BBC Northern Orchestra as second about how to support talented young dancing in the aisles – a very different bassoon and a year later was appointed students at the RCM, please contact vibe for the RCM Britten Theatre! For principal with the CBSO. In 1970 he Development Officer Joana Witkowski further details about hosting an event at left the CBSO to freelance with all the on 020 7591 4785 or the RCM, please contact Mary Cosgrave major London orchestras before joining [email protected]. on 020 7591 4764 or [email protected]

include new, narrative-based displays; the Refurbishing the opening up of the museum into a more flexible space for concerts, workshops RCM Museum and masterclasses; a new programme of We are delighted to announce that guided tours and outreach events; and a we are investing in a refurbishment of new temporary exhibition space, linked our famous Museum of Instruments, to major themes in the RCM’s artistic described by on and educational programmes. Sunday as: “The definitive place in Britain to see the history of music-making”. To allow for the necessary refurbishment the Museum is currently closed. The The newly refurbished museum will tell Museum’s main display will reopen to a series of fascinating stories about the the public on 13 September 2011 and creation and performance of music, all of new displays will be installed during which will be illuminated by instruments, September to December 2011. documents and works of art from the RCM’s collections. The developments will

9 Rick Wakeman

said: “What you should do is this. When you leave this lesson today, go down to your locker, get your stuff, walk out of the RCM, head across the road, walk all the way around the Albert Hall, and don’t come back. Don’t even look back.” So that’s more or less what I did. I met Basil again 30 years later, when I was on “This is Your Life”, and I finally got to ask him: “Why did you tell me to leave the RCM. You were supposed to be my teacher! You were supposed to encourage me to stay!” And he told me the reason is that exactly the same thing happened to him. He was at College and was offered a position at the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, so he left to take it up. He said that you’ve got to take these chances when they come along. Rick Wakeman and RCM Director Colin Lawson Was it a hard decision to leave the RCM? Composer, keyboard player and think he didn’t really want to be teaching There is still a huge part of me that songwriter Rick Wakeman is best known me! So I worked out that in this half-hour regrets leaving before I’d finished – it’s for being the former in the lesson, I could arrive three minutes late, something that’s rankled with me all band Yes, for his 100 solo then spend a while putting my clarinet my life. But on the other hand, if a – which have sold more than 50 together, then a few minutes tuning, door opens you have to go through it million copies – and for his contributions we’d have a bit of chat, talk about what otherwise someone else will take the to the BBC comedy series Grumpy Old I’d been practising in the last week, then opportunity and shut the door behind Men. But before all of that, Rick attended hopefully the next guy would arrive early them. the Royal College of Music. He talks to and I’d only have to play for about five Upbeat about his time at Prince Consort minutes! What do you think is the benefit of Road… ‘classical’ music training? When I heard all the other brilliant If you do your formal training – go What are your memories of the College? pianists at College, I realised I could never through your grades and theory exams, The College in the 60s was completely hope to play like them. So after a while, and go to College – that will teach you all different from now, but it still has that I moved from the Performers’ Course the rules. Then you can break them – the same buzz when you come through the to the Teachers’ Course. I don’t know secret is knowing how to break them! door. I can remember coming in on my why – I was never going to be a teacher first day and feeling so proud – there’s either! But I enjoyed the course – we had There’s been quite a revolution in how something very special about this place. this brilliant recorder teacher who took classical musicians view other genres a class, and treated us all as if we were of music. What do you think they can I know at that time cross-over work was about six years old, but I loved it. learn from more ‘popular’ genres? highly-frowned upon – clubs or rock I think the main thing is the importance bands weren’t allowed. Those were also You left the RCM before completing the of listening to a wide range of music. the days when you had to wear a jacket course. Why was that? In the 1970s, when I first worked with and tie! I started to get more and more work as a a London orchestra on some of my session musician. For a while I was able to compositions, they played all the notes Who were your teachers? juggle it with my lessons, and although correctly but they didn’t play it right. My absolute favourite teacher was Philip this work was very much frowned upon You can write the notes down, but you Cannon. He was an incredibly eccentric and I kept getting hauled up before can’t tell them how to fill those notes. In teacher, and you never knew what he Sir Keith Faulkner, the then Director, certain forms of the only way was going to say next, but he taught me because I kept turning up for my lessons you learn is by listening to it. everything I know about orchestration. and passing the exams, there wasn’t anything the College could do about it. When I worked with orchestras in My first study was piano, and my teacher the 1980s, however, it was completely Eileen Reynolds was absolutely great – But it finally got to the point when I was different. They had a much greater a real inspiration. I studied clarinet as getting so much session work, and it was understanding of rock music and interest second study with Basil Tschaikov. We going to interfere with my lessons. So I in different genres, which shows how sort of got into a great understanding – didn’t know what to do. Anyway, I talked much attitudes have changed. I didn’t really want to be playing, and I about it to old Basil Tschaikov, and he

10 Today, the understanding of orchestral close my eyes and go through the entire regime in Russia at the time. I think his musicians in phenomenal. You never concert in my head. And then, I make music was a great comfort to Russians. know when you’re going to be asked sure I don’t see anybody before I walk up I also believe he is a composer who to play Latin rhythms or a bit of jazz. I to the stage, so my concentration isn’t would have been great in any era – his personally can’t stand the old Country broken. The last thing I do before going orchestration is so experimental, and he & Western style – you know, where on stage is clean my teeth. So it’s a pain wrote such poignant melodies. You could everyone’s depressed and the dogs when there’s no sink in your dressing put together a five-minute pastiche of and the truck go missing – but I’ve had room! his most famous tunes, and most people occasions in my careers when I’ve been would recognise them, even if only as asked to compose in that style. So then How do you go about composing? the music offThe Apprentice! You could I’m so pleased that I spent a couple of I don’t know – it just tends to happen, make a phenomenal film about him. days playing with a Country & Western something comes to you as you’re driving band – because as my dad said, you along or out shopping. And you think: You’ve worked on a number of films, never know when you’ll need it. “Where did this come from?” The more including the notorious Lisztomania, time you spend on creating the idea, directed by . Can you tell us How do you prepare for a however, the less likely it is to be right. about this experience? performance? You can mess around with something for The film was meant to be more likeThe My opening address at the RCM was ages, but if you keep having to change Music Lovers was for Tchaikovsky, but I given by . He came on things, the chances are it’s probably no think Ringo Starr arriving as the Pope in a the stage and just stood on his head for good. As a composer it’s very difficult to fairground ride pretty much ruined that! about five minutes! We didn’t know what hear your work for the first time, and so It’s a massive cult film and was hilarious to think. When he finally stood up, he to avoid conforming to the old phrase to do. The one thing it got right was how said: “I do yoga, that’s how I prepare for “familiarity breeds acceptance”, I often much of a pop star Liszt was in his day. every performance. You must all find put my ideas away for a few weeks. When a way of preparing yourself for every I listen to them again, it’s the closest I’ll Any final pieces of wisdom for our performance.” get to hearing them for the first time. budding students? So often you will play to audiences full of So, I have a silly routine I follow before Do you have a favourite composer? your friends and families, which is good, each concert. I always leave one area less I the eastern European composers, but it’s also important to play to people rehearsed than the rest, so I don’t get particularly Prokofiev, he’s my hero. I you don’t know. That’s the real test! cocky. About 20 minutes before we’re love the way that he portrays his feelings due to go on, I sit in the dressing room, through his music, particularly about the

Rick Wakeman meets Jason Chowdhury and other percussion students at the RCM

11 Pam Thompson

The current library opened on 6 January 1985. What are your memories of the transition? Well it wasn’t without problems, but the best moment was on the day before we opened. Four of us were in, putting up coat racks, lampshades, noticeboards, and all the finishing touches. And I can remember very clearly: we finished about 7 o’clock, walked out and locked the door behind us and I just started to grin! And I didn’t stop grinning for about a week! It was the most magical moment; the fact that against all the odds, it had happened. Do you have a favourite item from the library’s collections? With so many extraordinary manuscripts here, to have a favourite would be iniquitous. Of course, it is still breathtaking to show people Mozart’s original manuscript of the Pam Thompson and library staff receiving the first ever Excellence Award for music libraries in the UK and Ireland Piano Concerto in C minor, but I have a particular soft spot for the copyist’s Chief Librarian Pam Thompson retires in basically a jumble sale up there. On the manuscript of Dvořák’s 8th Symphony, July after 34 years of service to the RCM... other hand, compared to Blackwells, it which he used at the first performance didn’t look so vast, so I had great ideas in London and on which he writes a note What did you do before you came to that it might not be too difficult a job! to Novello, his future publishers, signing the RCM? The interview was very nice, I remember himself quite simply as “The Composer”. I studied Russian at Leeds University. very clearly coming out and hearing bits As part of the course we had to go on of music drift up from below pavement Recently, the IAML awarded the exchanges, and it was very difficult to go level, and thinking: “Oh that might be library an Excellence Award and to the Soviet Union in those days, so they alright, really!” And here I am, 34 years bestowed Honorary Membership on sent us to what was then Czechoslovakia. later! you personally. The library also scores I went there twice as a student, then after very highly every year in the National graduation I went back in 1969 to teach How was the library when you first Students Survey. What does this English in Ostrava, near the Polish border. arrived? recognition mean to you? And that was very difficult because it Back in 1977, there was a lending library When a whole international organisation was just after the Soviet invasion, and I up in the Durrington Room, with a few thanks you for having had unimaginable never knew if the staff or students would listening facilities a floor below, and opportunities and experiences, it’s be there the next day, or if they might be “The Parry Room Library” for reference dumbfounding and humbling. But, arrested. It was very tricky, but I wouldn’t in the Parry Rooms. So, it was a climb of for the whole library to be deemed have missed it for the world, and the five floors to any library, and when you “excellent” matters enormously. It’s a people I met then are still good friends. arrived you had to ask for everything – tribute to all the library staff and to the no browsing, very few seats for work, and College, and it’s in large measure due to When I got back from Czechoslovakia hand-written or card catalogues for the the appreciation which students show in I ended up in Oxford and got a job as a entire collection. their feedback. It’s what we’re here for, so cataloguer at Blackwells music shop. At that’s the most important tribute we can that time, it was probably the best music Watkins Shaw was head of the Parry receive. shop in the world. You saw everything Room Library, and it was his vision to that was published, and I had the most bring the libraries together. He retired in Do you have any particular plans for fantastic inspiration in the manager of about 1980, which meant that I became after your retirement? the music shop, Fred Dymond. It was a Chief Librarian; I took over responsibility Do all the things I’ve had no time for: wonderful seven years there, but in the for both libraries and for the project of garden, allotment, cats, translations, and end I found Oxford quite claustrophobic, amalgamating them both. I wanted a be my husband’s horological research and this job came up of Head of the library which students could explore and assistant. And, sleep! Lending Library at the Royal College of where they could work, I hoped that the Music. rare material would inspire students, and Anything else you would like to say? that the library would become a major I really would like to thank all the Library So the very first time I came to the focus for the College’s work, as well as staff, who have been so brilliant. We’ve College was for the interview. I was something of a social centre. People had such an eclectic bunch down there; they ushered into the lending library and enormous faith in the fact that I could all have so much to offer in so many it was a completely closed area. It do it, even though I had no music or different ways. It’s been a joy to work registered very quickly that it was library qualifications! with them over the years.

12 David Hume

builds up the object (in this case a violin) gradually by adding material one layer at a time. I was able to string it up for students to play and it made quite a good sound. But for me the most exciting prospect about the technology is the opportunity for makers to experiment with different nuances of thickness and arching of an instrument. When did your interest in string instruments start? I’ve been working at the RCM for about 11 years now. Previously, I played with the LSO, but after about ten years there I started to develop an interest in instruments and gradually did less playing as a result. I think it all started when I went to pick up an instrument I had ordered from Brian Maynard, a violin maker. I walked into his office and just fell in love with the smell of wood and varnish! He gave me a piece of wood and said: “Ok, if you’re that interested go home and make a scroll”. So I went home and into the little shed in my garden and made one. I found I really enjoyed working on my own and being individually creative, perhaps because it was such a stark contrast to working Photo credit: Jess Pearce Jess credit: Photo in a large orchestra. But in the end I Resident Luthier David Hume talks in my studio but the best are out with haven’t become a violin maker – what to Upbeat about his zest for string students. Shortly though many of the I really enjoy is setting up and adjusting instruments and a rather unusual violin instruments on display in my workshop instruments. that recently arrived in his workshop… are going to be moved to a properly acclimatised room behind the Recital What advice would you give to budding How do you see your role here at the Hall to ensure they are kept in the best Luthiers? RCM? possible condition. My workshop is going If you can, go to violin making school. I have two main responsibilities: to look to have a bit of a ‘make-over’ too – I’m Unfortunately, because of family after and maintain the string instruments hoping it will have more of a workshop commitments I wasn’t able to do that, that belong to the RCM collection feel than a display room. They are also but I have done pretty much everything and to help students with their own going to fit special daylight bulbs, which else. The most formative course I instruments or ones the RCM has loaned will really help when I’m varnishing attended was at Oberlin College in to them. instruments. the USA, where they offer a six week programme on restoration. I went three Day-to-day, students visit my workshop Do you have a favourite instrument in years running and it completely changed to ask for advice about their instrument, the RCM collection? my life. I came back with so much often on why it isn’t playing as well as Yes, it is the Amati cello built by Antonio knowledge and confidence. it should. We sit down and try to work and Hieronymus Amati (known as the out together why that is – it may be ‘Brothers Amati’) in 1610, which is kindly Do you think it’s important for students that the strings need changing, that the on loan to the RCM by the trustees of to take an interest in how instruments instrument is in poor condition or that the Balmain Charitable Trust. My own are set up? a corner needs gluing up. I also offer a viola is an Amati too and about five years Absolutely! It’s particularly useful if you bow repair and I used to run a string older than this cello, so I’m fascinated start teaching – having the confidence to library, which allowed students to try out to see another instrument made by the check over your students’ instrument’s a wide variety of strings without going same members of the family. or adjust the bridge is very handy (I have to the expense of buying them. It was a a practice violin in my workshop for great resource for students and hopefully Can you tell us about a rather unusual students who want to learn how to do something we can offer again in the violin that graced your workshop this). Ultimately, I believe understanding future. recently? your instrument makes for a better I was sent a violin from the Royal College player. Can you tell us about the RCM of Art that had been made using 3D string collection? technology. It’s really miraculous! The We have at least a hundred instruments process starts with a blueprint on a in the collection, some of which are here computer and then a special printer

13 Meeting the supporters...

Why did you decide to support a It is a pleasure just knowing them, number of projects and programmes at listening and watching the enjoyment the RCM? of people making music together. I also We wanted to continue the association like being involved at the grass roots of with the RCM that our mother had projects. As a Trustee of the Concordia begun. We started with the Belle Foundation, a charity which buiIds Shenkman Lecture Series, in which bridges through music and the arts speakers focussed on the importance of worldwide, I became involved with a presentation and style, principles close to school in Tower Hamlets and now go in my late mother’s heart. each week to work with the kids. This has given me a lot, personally, and shown me This series was then replaced by a roads to other things that has given me Masterclass Series: I am a big believer great pleasure and added to my life. in the masterclass idea. Scholarships are vital, of course, but I think that a Do you have any advice for musicians? masterclass can have greater impact on The importance of presentation can’t more people. That appeals to me. I like be over-emphasised. Learn as much as the principle of being part of a group and possible from many different performers. everyone learning from each other. You never know who is listening – it might be an agent or promoter! Do Photo credit: © Derek Thompson © Derek credit: Photo There’s a new National Gallery project your best, know your stuff and be starting this term. Can you tell us , a Canadian resident in prepared. Take a rest or even meditate Dasha Shenkman about this? London, has been a devoted supporter of for five minutes before you perform – This is a continuation of a programme we should all bear this in mind as we the arts including several RCM initiatives that my brother and I set up a number since 1998. The next new venture is an live our everyday lives. Of course, good of years ago. The new three-year scheme programming is vital and it’s helpful innovative recital series at the National for RCM musicians is based on the Gallery which began this summer. if students are curious and want to idea of allowing musicians to explore broaden their imagination. Your family connection with the RCM and respond to paintings in different goes back some time. How did it begin? galleries with imaginative programmes. And thoughts for supporters? It began through my mother: music was It’s more work for everyone but fantastic You can make a substantial impact and a huge part of her life and she was an experience for the students. I hope it contribution without spending a huge accomplished pianist. She was passionate will offer a different way of learning, and amount of money. It is also uplifting and in every way, had an idea a minute and encourage musicians to understand you get so much back. never let an opportunity go by. the complexity of programming and presentation. For more information about supporting One of her many talents was persuading the RCM please visit www.rcm.ac.uk/ people to support the arts. She lived What do you most enjoy about your Support+Us. Alternatively, contact across the street from the College and engagement with the arts? Development Executive Kate Eberwein on when she met the then RCM Director It’s a combination of things. I love being 020 7591 4320 or [email protected] Michael Gough Matthews, she had an involved with young musicians. idea that would benefit both the College and Jaguar, for whom she was acting as consultant. Out of this came the Jaguar RCM Recital series in British Embassies throughout Europe and Scandinavia, to begin with, eventually stretching to Japan and Australia, whereby young musicians from the College would give concerts in British Embassies, a brilliant initiative.

How did your own interest in the arts come about? My brother and I were exposed to all types of art as children – visual, musical and theatrical. Both of our parents had great curiosity and instinct. Surrounded by this environment, you either get interested or rebel... or do both at different times. I still play the piano Pianist Andrew Aarons gives a talk and performance at the National Gallery. These concerts are generously and am involved with numerous arts supported by Dasha Shenkman in the memory of her mother, Belle Shenkman, who was a great patron of the arts. organisations. See page 8 for more details.

14 Supporting the future of music...

Generations of gifted students from Opperby Stokowski Collection Trust Tania Chislett around the world have been guided Sir Gordon Palmer Award David & Sue Lewis and inspired to develop their musical The Reed Foundation John Nickson potential within the Royal College Anthony Saltmarsh Junior Fellowship Russell Race of Music’s stimulating creative South Square Trust Other generous donors environment. This has been made The Stanley Picker Award Alan Bekhor possible by the support of many Janatha Stubbs Charitable Trust Sir Roger and Lady Carr HonRCM generous individuals, companies and Sudborough Foundation Centenary Group Ltd charitable trusts. We would like to thank Tsukanov Family Celia Clarke HonRCM in particular the following who have Sir Peter & Lady Walters Award Karen Cook made donations of £1,000 or more in last Michael Whittaker Award Jonathan Davie year: Mills Williams Junior Fellowship The Kathleen and Margery Elliott Professor Lord Winston Supporters of named awards Scholarship Trust The Worshipful Company of Drapers (including scholarships and Junior Maria Ermolayeva The Worshipful Company of Musicians Fellowships) Esmée Fairbairn Foundation The Worshipful Company of ABRSM Richard Everard Fishmongers Ackroyd Trust Friends and Family of Ms Patricia Flory Adami Junior Fellowship Supporters of RCM Sparks (née Sutton-Mattocks) Arts & Business David Ross Foundation Estate of Albert Frost Boltini Trust Angus Allnatt Charitable Trust Jeremy Furniss John & Catherine Armitage Award EMI Music Sound Foundation Peter Granger Phoebe Benham Junior Fellowship ING Bank N.V. Linda Hill Monica & Guy Black Scholarship Lucie Allsopp Memorial Fund Nicholas Hunka Fund Derek Butler Trust Rodolphe Olard & Susan Sinclair Nicola Jones Richard Carne Trust Corporate Partners Kirby Laing Foundation Stephen Catto Memorial Award BP International Ltd Knights of the Round Table Estate of Roselyn Ann Clifton Parker The Royal Garden Hotel Estate of Pamela Larkin Elsa & Leonard Cross Charitable Trust Patrons of the RCM Opera Circle and Professor Colin Lawson FRCM Douglas Downie RCM Chamber Music Circle Michael Llewelyn-Jones Ann Driver Trust Philip & Christine Carne * Mark Loveday Gilbert and Eileen Edgar Junior Matthew & Fiona Collins * Satish Modi Fellowship Sir Vernon & Lady Ellis* Dr Victoria Moore-Gillon Gylla Godwin Gisela Gledhill * Paul Morgan Charitable Trust Irene Hanson Award Christina Hoseason * Sir Michael Parkinson HF Awards Yatish Joshi * The Charles Peel Charitable Trust Linda & Tony Hill James & Clare Kirkman * David Poultney Jenny Marsh Chapman Memorial Fund Dr Mark Levesley * Russell Race John Lewis Partnership Awards Sir Peter & Lady Middleton FRCM Geoffrey Richards HonRCM Georgina Joshi International Fellowship Dr Leonard Polonsky & Dr Georgette David Ross Kathleen Trust Bennett * Roland Rudd David Laing Foundation Richard & Sue Price St Marylebone Educational Foundation Hester Laverne Award Emma Rose & Quentin Williams * Dasha Shenkman Leverhulme Trust Victoria Sharp Miss Kathleen Beryl Sleigh Estate of Ian Evans Lombe Michael & Ruth West * Charitable Trust Estate of David Luck Matthew & Sian Westerman * Estate of Mrs Pamela Steele Lord & Lady Lurgan Trust Patrons Circle Michael Steen OBE HonRCM Charles Napper Award Jane Barker* RCM Friends JD Bursaries Fund Lydia Napper Award Halina & John Bennett Wolfson Foundation Noswad Charity Sally Bilboul *also support a named award Welcome to new Friends We are delighted to welcome the following people who have joined the RCM Friends recently: Mrs Sooji Ahn Mr Julian Dawes Mr Mike Mitchenall HonRCM Mrs Isla Baring Ms Anita Gorny Dr Graham Neale Mrs Rosemary Bartholomew Miss Sarah Hamilton Mrs Ann Rau Dawes Mrs Sally Bilboul Mr Charles Hoile Dr Martin Rowell Mrs Mercedes Buehlmann Mr Robin Johnson Ms Barbara Simmonds Mr A Burbanks Mr Tryphon Kedros Mrs Alexandra Tregear Mr David Candlin Dr Graham Kidd Mrs Geraldine Waters Ms Helena Coope Mr David Mildon

15 Staff notes

RCM composition professor Mark- Head of Strings Mark Messenger and Anthony Turnage has triumphed at the violin professor Berent Korfker have Royal Opera House, Covent Garden with both completed the London Marathon. his new opera Nicole. Based on the It was Berent’s first marathon and he controversial story of American model crossed the line in four hours and 42 Anna Nicole Smith, Turnage’s brilliant minutes having raised over £1,000 for score cleverly paints the scandalous Heart Research. By contrast, this was tragedy in compelling style. Among Mark’s sixth London Marathon and the star cast, RCM alumnus Gerald just four weeks before he ran the Rome Finley gave a terrific portrayal of the Marathon to help raise money for lawyer who became closely involved with ESTA (The European String Teachers’ Anna Nicole towards the end of her life. Association). Over the previous five London Marathons, Mark has raised over £15,000 for the Anthony Nolan Trust. However, this year he described his three hours and 51 minute run as “just for fun”!

Junior Department piano teacher Clara Rodriguez has recently collaborated with renowned Cuban pianist Eralys Fernandez for a special concert of much loved repertoire from , Argentina and Venezuela. Lively rhythms from the Caribbean alongside nostalgic melodies from Buenos Aires were weaved between readings of texts by Luis Carbonell and Federico Garcia Lorca, delivered by the BAFTA Award-winning actress Susan Wooldridge. Mark Messenger Eva-Maria Westbroek in Mark-Anthony Turnage’s opera Anna Nicole Piano professor Leon McCawley has performed the complete Mozart Piano Recent visitors to South Kensington Sonatas at Kings Place in London. won’t have failed to notice the enormous Jenny Nex, curator of the RCM Museum, Reviewing the series, Frances Wilson said: rainforest-inspired artwork created by has written an article on gut string “This was exceptional Mozart playing of Facilities OfficerChris Tomlin. Taking making in 18th-century London. It was the highest quality.” up the space of an office block, it was published in The Strad magazine and produced as a result of a commission highlights the little known fact that Conductor and opera coach Philip from Ocubus and was created from a strings were not only being imported Headlam has toured Canada with high-resolution, digital and from Italy, but were being made in a production of ’s printed onto mesh. London. Entitled ‘A Strong Stomach for Albert Herring with the University of Strings’, it also explores the contribution British Columbia Opera School and a made by women to this somewhat professional orchestra. unpleasant occupation. Vocal professor Janis Kelly has sung the Sophie Rees, Head of Human Resources, role of Sarah in the world premiere of is taking part in ten 10km races Clemency, a chamber opera by James throughout London and the South MacMillan, commissioned by the Royal of England this year. She is hoping to Opera House, Scottish Opera and Boston raise £1,000 for the Neuro Foundation, Lyric Opera. Next year she returns to the only UK charity dedicated to the New York to sing the title role in Rufus provision of support, advice and help Wainwrights’ opera Prima Donna and to those affected by neurofibromatosis, to Los Angeles to sing Lady Billows in their families and the professionals Albert Herring. She also sings Christine concerned with their care. To support in Strauss’ Intermezzo for the Buxton Sophie, visit www.justgiving.com/ Festival conducted by Stephen Barlow. Sophie-Rees. The enormous rainforest-inspired artwork created by Facilities Officer Chris Tomlin

16 Composition professor Timothy Salter’s Clarinet professor Janet Hilton has been String Quartet no 3 has been premiered engaged as a professor of woodwind at the Blyth Valley Chamber Music series instruments at the Den Nye Opera in Cratfield by the Sacconi Quartet. Later (The New Opera) Summer Academy this year also sees the recording of his in Bergen, Norway. She will give Piano Trio, performed by the Fournier masterclasses, section and ensemble Trio, and Chameleon performed by tutorials and prepare students for a saxophone professor Kyle Horch and chamber music concert. RCM Ensemble in Residence the Sacconi Quartet. Dr Matthew Shlomowitz has been commissioned to write a 40 minute work The 2011 International Congress of for 10 instruments and sampler for the the Alexander Technique is held in Dutch Nieuw Ensemble, to be premiered Lugano this August, with the RCM being at the Muziekgebouw in Amsterdam represented by professors Peter Buckoke later this year. He has also started and Judith Kleinman. Peter will give one work on an hour-long theatre piece in of the keynote talks and a workshop on collaboration with choreographer Shilia the ground-breaking work at the RCM, Anaraki and produced by Vooruit, a while Judith will give a workshop on theatre in Gent. Entitled A to Zzz, it will voice work and the Alexander Technique. be premiered at Vooruit in February Le Grand Macabre The Alexander work at the RCM has 2012 with further performances at the also recently featured in the Alexander Bruges Concertgebouw and Stuk in journal ‘Direction’. Leuven, . Roderick Earle, vocal professor, has sung the role of Nekrotzar in Ligeti’s opera Research Fellow, Tânia Lisboa, has Le Grand Macabre. The production was organised a symposium on ‘Memory and staged at the Teatro Colon in Buenos music performance: Intuition, spontaneity, Aires, Argentina and opened their 2011 and movement’, and presented a season. paper at the Performa’11 Conference in Aveiro, Portugal. She represents Head of Historical Performance Ashley the CPS at two summer conferences: Solomon and RCM Ensemble in the ‘Society for Music Perception and Association Florilegium have performed Cognition’ conference at the Eastman Bach’s two great Passions at the Royal School of Music in the USA, and at the Festival Hall. Their performance of the St ‘International Symposium on Performance Matthew Passion in April was broadcast Science’ in Toronto, Canada. by BBC Radio 3 on Maundy Thursday. Florilegium’s new Vivaldi CD on Channel Classics includes vocal works by Elin Manahan Thomas and Ashley Solomon’s performance of Vivaldi’s newly re- discovered Flute Concerto Il Gran Mogul. Vocal professor Sally Burgess has run a British Youth Opera Easter Workshop Yuri Zhislin and and his wife Natalia Lomeiko at the University of the Southbank in London. The workshops provide a fantastic opportunity for young singers Violin and viola professor Yuri Zhislin to explore and develop aspects of has performed and collaborated with their technique such as character, the many musicians in recent months relationship between text and music, including the Jerusalem Quartet and creativity and interpretation in an Adrian Brendel at Wigmore Hall; the intimate, private setting. Russian Chamber Orchestra and piano professor Ashley Wass at Kings Place; and his wife Natalia Lomeiko and the Queensland Symphony Orchestra in Australia. Bassoon professor Martin Gatt and his ensemble Amata Musica have released their latest CD which features works by Françaix, Thuille, Roussel and D’Indy. Spartan Press has also published Martin’s Sally Burgess running a British two bassoon arrangements of Schumann Youth Opera Easter Workshop and Brahms. Tânia Lisboa

17 Student notes Composer congratulations… Andrew Simmons and Nathan Stornetta have won First and Second Prizes respectively in the category ‘Best New Soundtrack to a Short Film’ at the Unheard Film Festival in Amsterdam… Following a highly successful run at the ADC Theatre in Cambridge, Edward Bell’s musical play ‘The Way through the Woods’ is being staged at the Edinburgh Fringe this summer. The show runs 14th–21st August at 5.10pm daily at Augustine United Church. Erick Flores

Tim Yates’ installation ‘The Drone Room’ Arne Gieshoff has secured a place on has run successfully at Soundfjord, the Dartington International Summer London’s only dedicated sound-art School to study with Gerald Barry and gallery in March… Raquel Garcia Richard Baker and on the Britten-Pears Thomas has been awarded the highly Young Artist Programme to study with prestigious Caja Madrid scholarship Oliver Knussen and Colin Matthews… for Spanish composers… Daniel Elms Composer and pianist Lola Perrin has has been accepted on a three month taken part in the Lang Lang Inspires series internship in Santa Monica, California. of concert at the Southbank Centre He will work as a Score and Studio performing an exciting programme of Assistant to the award winning Pirates lyrical works for two, four and six . of the Caribbean composer Klaus Badelt, as well as taking on other work as an orchestrator in Los Angeles… String stars… London-based Irish composer Solfa Carlile has won the Orchestra of St Violinist Mari Poll has won a Stephen Paul’s Composition Competition with Bell Charitable Trust bursary award for her work The Copper Faye… Composer the second year running… Violinist Joo and pianist Oliver Poole has founded Yeon and Gamal Khamis have won First a charity to raise funds and awareness and Second Prizes respectively at the for a children’s hospital in Siberia, and Eastbourne Symphony Orchestra Young is hosting the charity’s first fundraising Soloist Competition. Joo Yeon has also event in London this year… Ben been invited to perform the Tchaikovsky MacDougall’s A Royal Wedding has been Violin Concerto with the orchestra this Pedro Faria Gomes has received a used by the BBC to encapsulate the summer… Baroque violinist Colin Scobie commission to write an opera for the wedding of Prince William to Catherine has reached the final of the International Middleton on a highlights audio reel… Portuguese organisation Culturgest, in Telemann Competition in Magdeburg, The Headington Singers have premiered association with the Lisbon Metropolitan Germany. He was one of six finalists and Samuel Pegg’s setting of Wordsworth’s Orchestra. Pedro has also been the youngest violinist to have reached The Solitary Reaper to great acclaim in the final stages of this competition… accepted onto the prestigious ‘Intimacy Oxford… Mark Boden’s orchestral work of Creativity’ project, a partnership Violinist Olivia Scheepers has won First Six Degrees has won the University of Prize and a Gold medal at the North between composers and performers St Andrews Composition Competition, hosted by the School of Humanities London Music Festival recital class… part of the University’s 600th anniversary Five Junior Department violinists have and Social Science at The Hong Kong celebrations. The same piece was also University of Science and Technology, been successful at the international broadcast on BBC Radio 3… William competition attached to the Musical and has been commissioned to write has reached the final of Dougherty Performance and Pedagogic Forum at a work for large symphony orchestra the King James Bible Competition… the Madeira Conservatoire in Portugal. for the City of Guimarães’ orchestra in Karl Fiorini has won Third Prize at the , celebration of it becoming the European Luxembourg Sinfonietta composition Mathilde Milwidsky Edward Tomanek- Capital of Culture in 2012… Erick competition… Chris Roe has been Volynets, Sienna Bramwell-Pearson Flores has attended the premiere of his accepted onto two composition courses and Egor Grigorev (JD alumnus) have work Foliage performed by the London this summer: the St Magnus course won First Prizes, and Clementine Philharmonic Orchestra at the Queen in Orkney and the Etchings Festival in Metcalfe and Seriozha Tugarinov (JD Elizabeth Hall. Auvillar in France. alumnus) have won Second Prizes in

18 Belinda Jones has won the Counter tenor Rupert Enticknap Accompanist Prize at the Maggie has been offered the role of Ottone Teyte Prize… Organist Simon Hogan in L’incoronazione di Poppea at the has been appointed Organ Scholar at Schlosstheater, Rheinsberg as a result St Paul’s Cathedral in London from of his recent prizewinning success in September 2011… Sohyun Park has won the Kammeroper Schloss Rheinsberg First Prize at the 2011 Norfolk Young competition in Berlin… Tenor Jaewoo Musician… Rick Powell has won Second Kim has secured the role of the Duke Prize at the Hastings International in Opera Holland Park’s summer 2011 Piano Concerto Competition with production of Rigoletto… Soprano a performance of Rachmaninov’s Joanna Songi has successfully auditioned for the role of Flora in Glyndebourne’s Piano Concerto no 2 and the Sir Philip summer production of Britten’s The Ledger Prize for the youngest finalist… Turn of the Screw… Tenor Edward Alexey Chernov has won Third Prize Hughes has performed the chamber at the Maria Canals International Piano arrangement of Das Lied von der Erde at Competition in Barcelona… Caterina the Philharmonie in Berlin with Ensemble Grewe has won First Prize and recital Megumi Nagae MINI… Tenor Anthony Gregory has opportunities in France at the Fourth been awarded a place at the National International Piano Competition in Opera Studios and has won Second Prize their respective age and instrument Mayenne, France… Harpsichordist Alice at the annual Intercollegiate Joaninha categories… Violinist Lyrit Milgram Wai Kit Chan has given a solo recital in Singing Competition… Mezzo-soprano has performed Prokofiev’s First Violin Hong Kong at the invitation of the Italian Emily Kenway will be singing in the Concerto in D major at the Queen Cultural Society of Hong Kong and has chorus at Glyndebourne Festival Opera Elizabeth Hall with the Purcell Symphony performed at the British Harpsichord this summer… Soprano Robyn Parton Orchestra… Violinist Megumi Nagae, Society Recital in the Handel House has stepped in at two days notice to who is supported by the Sir Peter and Museum in London… Elmar Gasanov sing the role of Mercédès in Bizet’s opera Lady Walters award, has won First Prize and Sergey Sobolev were joint winners Carmen at the Grand Théâtre de la at the Springboard Festival concerto of the RCM Joan Chissell Schumann Ville de Luxembourg. She has also won competition and the Croydon Music Piano Prize. a Making Music Young Concert Artist Festival concerto competition string Award. section. She has also performed at the Royal Hospital Chelsea as part of Sir Peter Walters’ 80th birthday celebrations. Saxophone stars... Huw Wiggin has won the Philip and Keyboard Dorothy Green Award, a competition run by the Making Music organisation and accomplishments… was a finalist in the Woodwind category of the Royal Over-Seas League Music Vasco Rocha has won First Prize and Competition… Jose Manuel Banuls the prize for the best interpretation of Marcos has won Second Prize at the the Portuguese compulsory piece at the XVIII Concurso de interpretación musical Eighth Iberian Piano Competition in Alto “Villa de Cox” in Alicante, Spain. Minho in Portugal. Alice Wai Kit Chan Singing sensations… Soprano Kitty Whately has won the highly prestigious Competition, following in the footsteps of previous RCM winners such as Sarah- Jane Brandon, Kate Royal and Bryn Terfel… Soprano Susanna Hurrell has won a Miriam Licette Scholarship at the Musicians Benevolent Fund singing competition and has successfully secured a place at the National Opera Studio. Vasco Rocha Susanna Hurrell

19 Alumni notes

Violinist Sara Deborah Struntz has Violinist Francesca Dego and pianist featured as a soloist on Gods, Emperors Francesca Leonardi have released their and Angels, the latest CD by baroque latest CD on WideClassique label. It is group La Serenissima. In addition, their third album together and features Ensemble Amaranthos, comprising Sara three French jewels of the violin and and fellow alumni Marta Goncalves piano repertoire: the Frank and Ravel (flute),Elektra Miliadou (cello) and sonatas, and Ravel’s fieryTzigane . Erik Dippenaar (harpsichord), and viol Francesca has also performed Paganini’s professor Claire Bracher, performed at Concerto no 1 in Ravenna’s Saint Francis the Brighton Early Music Festival and Basilica with the Orchestra dei Giovani London Handel Festival last year. Europei. The concert formed part of the national celebrations for the 150th anniversary of Italian unification.

Morgan Szymanski

Guitarist Morgan Szymanski has premiered Alec Roth’s Concerto for Guitar and Strings with the Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields at Wigmore Hall. He has also performed concerts with guitar professor Carlos Bonell, the percussion group O Duo, tenor Mark Sara Deborah Struntz Padmore and cellist Gemma Rosefield. www.morganszymanski.co.uk Simon Coleman has recently composed Acclaimed violinist and conductor Peter music for The Dales, a new programme Violinist Francesca Dego and pianist Oundjian has succeeded Stéphane for ITV. The 12-part series sees the actor Francesca Leonardi Denève as the music director of the and musician Adrian Edmondson return Royal Scottish National Orchestra to Yorkshire, the county of his birth, to of Scotland for the 2012/13 season. report on the stories of the people who Cellist Andrew Joyce has taken up the Oundjian will split his time between live and work there. position of Principal Cellist of the New Scotland and Canada, where he is the Zealand Symphony Orchestra. Andrew music director of the Toronto Symphony Trumpeter Simon Desbruslais has has performed all over the world with recorded Johann Wilhelm Hertel’s Orchestra. the London Symphony and London Third Trumpet Concerto on the natural Philharmonic Orchestras and has been trumpet for Signum Classics. The work Guest Principal with Northern Sinfonia, features on Concerti Curiosi, a disc by Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and Charivari Agréable, one of the UK’s the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. leading early music ensembles. Composer Kenneth Hesketh has released three new works: Three Japanese Miniatures, a work for solo piano on Prima Facie; Notte Oscura for piano solo on UHR; and Point Forms (after Kandinsky) a work for basset clarinet and piano on NMC. The latter disc also features new works for clarinet and basset clarinet by RCM alumni Gavin Higgins and Mark-Anthony Turnage. In addition, Hesketh has contributed to a special themed edition of Contemporary Music Review on the occasion of the 95th birthday of French composer Henri Peter Oundjian

Photo credit: Cylla von Tiedemann Cylla credit: Photo Dutilleux.

20 pieces by Rarescale’s composer-in- residence and RCM professor Michael Oliva, and associate composer and RCM student Claes Biehl. Pianist Maria Marchant has given a recital at Wigmore Hall as part of the 4–6 February 2011 Park Lane Group concert series. Her The Forge, Camden programme included works by Liszt, Friday 4 February the forge Poulenc and Prokofiev. 8pm 3–7 Delancey Street London nw1 7nl chamber music www.mariamarchant.com Violin Sonata supported by Pohádka The Richard Carne Trust String Quartet No 1: and ‘The Kreutzer Sonata’ The Nicholas Boas Trust String Quartet No 2: ‘Intimate Letters’ The longfordbrown piano duo tickets Philippe Graffin, violin £10 per concert James Barralet, 'cello £9 online at: comprising and The Solstice Quartet www.forgevenue.org James Longford Lindy Ivana Gavrić, piano or £25 for 3 concert pass

Tennent-Brown has given a recital for Saturday 5 February 8pm two pianos as post-show entertainment solo piano music In the mists Sonata 1.X.1905 for Exposure 2011 at the Linbury Theatre On an overgrown path Ivana Gavrić, piano

at the Royal Opera House in London. The Sunday 6 February 8pm programme for Exposure 2011 included song The Diary of One Who Disappeared a series of snippets from new operas and Nicholas Mulroy, tenor Lucie Špičková, mezzo-soprano featured singers Rachel Nicholls, Sarah- Jeremy Bines, piano Jane Lewis and John McMunn.

Pianist Ivana Gavric has been named Pianist Danny Driver has recently given Newcomer of the Year by the BBC a recital at Wigmore Hall with a lively Music Magazine Awards. She performed programme of C P E Bach, Schumann, Rachmaninov’s Moment Musical op 16 Debussy, Benjamin Dale and York no 3 in B minor and no 4 in E minor at Bowen. He has also travelled to the the ceremony, and was featured on In Australian Chamber Music Festival in Tune with Sean Rafferty on BBC Radio Townsville and is returning to London to 3. Earlier this year, she curated a festival make his BBC Proms debut at the Royal showcasing Janáček’s extraordinary Albert Hall on 13th August. The first ever chamber music, piano works and songs. ‘Comedy Prom’ will be hosted by Tim The three evening concerts took place at Minchin and , and features London’s new hidden gem, The Forge in Danny as soloist with the BBC Concert Camden, and included a stunning line-up Orchestra in Reizenstein’s Concerto of musicians. popolare, a riotous whistlestop tour of competing famous piano concertos. Yoko Nakamura has performed as a www.dannydriver.co.uk Lindy Tennent-Brown and James Longford guest pianist at the 34th PTNA Piano Competition Prize Winners concert Oboist Rebecca Kozam has given a at Fujisawa Lyra Hall in Japan. Her recital at Wigmore Hall as part of the Professor Neil Mackie, formerly Head programme included Rachmaninov’s Kirckman Concert Society’s series with of Vocal Studies at the RCM, has been Lilacs op 21 no 5, Scriabin’s Etude op the Lendvai String Trio and violinist awarded Honorary Membership of the 8–12 and Chopin’s Polonaise-Fantaisie Jonathan Stone. The programme (HonRAM). op 61. included works by Bach and Beethoven, He received the award from the and culminated with the Phantasy Academy’s President, HRH The Duchess Composer Jeffrey Wilson has won Quartet by the celebrated RCM alumnus of Gloucester in June at the annual the 2010 Recital Music Song Writing Benjamin Britten. Graduation ceremony. Competition with his songs Music to Hear, a setting of a text by Shakespeare, Carla Rees, an alto and bass flute Claus Efland has recently toured with and Peace, a setting of a text by Henry specialist and director of ensemble the Kammerakademie Potsdam and the Vaughan. Both works have been Rarescale, has participated in a oboist Albrecht Mayer to great critical performed in Yeovil, Somerset as part of performance of Morton Feldman’s four acclaim. Claus is one of the most widely- a Singing for Pleasure workshop. and a half hour work For Philip Guston respected Danish conductors of his with alumnus pianist John Tilbury and generation and has received numerous percussionist Simon Allen as part of awards including the Theodore Stier the Tirol Easter Festival. Her ensemble Prize for Conducting and the prestigious Rarescale has also held residencies at Scandinavian Léonie Sonning Award. He two universities in the US where they was also a prizewinner in the Donatella performed and recorded ten new works Flick Conducting Competition in for solo alto and bass flute alongside London.

21 Births, marriages & obituaries

painstakingly ensuring that they had Obituaries the tools to make the most of their time here, inspiring them with his own love of music and impressing them with his extensive knowledge of repertoire and style. Some may have imagined that the quiet and studious Philip spent all his time with his nose buried in a book, but he was in fact an inveterate walker and climber in places like the . His devotion to the College was legendary, and many of his former students used to visit him and his wife at their home in long after he retired. That he is remembered fondly by so many is indicative of the exceptional influence he was on the life and work of the College students for nearly 30 years. Robert Tear We are sad to report the death of The renowned Welsh tenorRobert Vaughan Moon who studied at the Tear, who was professor of singing College between 1947 and 1951. at the RCM from 1972 to 1991, has Following his studies, he was appointed Norbert Meyn and Stefanie Rumpelt-Meyn died at the age of 72. Nick Sears, RCM to a temporary post on the music staff Head of Vocal Studies, says: “It is with at Eton. This convinced him that he immense sadness that we mourn the enjoyed teaching, which he continued Marriages passing of Robert Tear CBE. Bob was a in independent schools for the rest one off, immensely talented, passionate of his career. He was assistant to the Congratulations to Norbert Meyn on about art in all its forms, pivotal in Director of Music at Bedales from his marriage to Stefanie Rumpelt on his ability to communicate the most 1963–1982. He was a skilled pianist, 26 February. esoteric of repertoire to a wide audience. organist and harpsichordist and he also Bob’s voice was instantly recognisable, played and recorder. His Births his powerful and flexible instrument compositions (unpublished) show charm radiated intelligence, humour and and originality within a tonal idiom. They Composition professor Mark-Anthony musicality. His artistry was always led by include folk songs for chamber choir, a Turnage and his wife Gabriella Swallow the requirements of text and score, and cello sonata, numerous piano pieces, a are delighted to announce the safe it was this passion for communication set of Flower Songs for contralto, two arrival of their daughter Amelie Siena which made him such an inspirational settings of children’s stories with narrator, Rose Turnage on the 4th March 2011 at figure whether in performance, the easy pieces for teaching piano and 6.24am weighing eight pounds and nine teaching studio or in a masterclass setting. recorder, and a cantata Deliver us from ounces. A sister for Milo. Bob influenced a whole generation of Evil for soloists, two choirs and orchestra. artists who now form the cornerstone He retired with his family to the Lizard of the British musical community and area of Cornwall, to which he had been his distinguished international career evacuated during the Second World War. provides a blueprint for any aspiring A keen botanist, he contributed to a singer. Students and staff loved him and series of guidebooks on the wild flowers everybody who met him will have their of the region. own cherished and inevitably irreverent story to tell. We mourn the passing of We are sad to learn of the death of a great artist, a unique and cherished Nicola Johnstone (nee Lindo) who individual, and send our deepest studied at the College from 1974 to sympathies to his family and loved ones.” 1978, with Graham Mayger as her flute professor and Bertha Stevens for violin. We are sad to report the death of Philip Wilkinson aged 81. A former RCM Patricia Sutton-Mattocks, who won student, Philip returned to the College as the John Hopkinson gold medal as a a professor from 1965 to 1994, teaching student and later taught for many years academic aspects of music including in the Junior Department, has died. The harmony and counterpoint, analysis and college was an enormous part of her life history. During that time he touched for over 60 years. Her funeral was held at the lives of hundreds of RCM students, Mortlake Crematorium on 24 March. Amelie Siena Rose Turnage

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