The Magazine for the Royal College of Music I Summer 2012 marks the spot Exploring Exhibition Road RCM Upbeat Magazine - June-Summer 2012.indd 2 13/06/2012 15:49 What’s inside... Welcome to upbeat... Anyone who’s visited the RCM recently can’t have failed to notice the transformation to Exhibition Road. After two years of building works it was officially opened by Boris Johnson Contents in February and marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the road and the institutions that line it. 4 In the news The original idea for this cultural heartland grew out of Prince Albert’s vision and the Great Updating you on recent RCM Exhibition of 1851 and in this issue we talk to the Chief Exec of Exhibition Road Cultural activities including the President’s Group Paul Cutts to find out what it means to be part of such an exciting cultural quarter visit and the RCM’s participation today. The RCM has many special relationships with our Exhibition Road neighbours which in the Jubilee celebrations have resulted in countless opportunities for RCM performers and composers. On page 12 we find out about the College’s long standing relationship with theRoyal Albert Hall and 9 The Britten Theatre 25th its latest incarnation as the West London hub. Outgoing SA President Charles Bradley Anniversary News also gives us a glimpse into his working relationship with student bodies at the RCA and The latest events to mark the Imperial College and how that enriches College life. anniversary of this much loved space As usual Upbeat is also packed full with news from around the College, so if you want to find out which RCM professor recently featured in the BBC seriesMaestro at the Opera then read on! 10 All about Exhibition Road Paul Cutts explains what it means We’re always keen to hear from students past and present, so if you have anything you’d like to be part of such an exciting us to feature in the next issue of Upbeat, send your news and pictures to [email protected] cultural quarter by 17 September. 12 RCM meets RAH NB: Please note that we cannot guarantee to include everything we receive and that we Find out about a brand new reserve the right to edit submissions. collaboration that’s 128 years old Upbeat online 13 A student’s view Did you know that Upbeat is available to read online at www.rcm.ac.uk/upbeat. Outgoing SA President Charles If you’d prefer to read it in this way, do contact us at [email protected] and we’ll Bradley on Exhibition Road from a stop sending you a paper copy. If you’d like us to send you an email notification student’s perspective when Upbeat is published, let us know your email address too. 14 Meeting the supporters Upbeat meets RCM scholarship supporter John Nickson 16 Student notes… Current student success stories 18 Staff notes… News from professorial, academic and administrative staff 20 Alumni notes… Updates from RCM graduates 22 Obituaries Vladimir Jurowski conducts the RCM Symphony Orchestra in Prokofiev’sOde to the End of the War Front cover – Violinist Sean Riley performs on Exhibition Road as part of Super String Sunday Inside front cover – Great Expectations - a series of short new operas created and performed by RCM composers and performers © Chris Christodoulou Inside back cover – Piano masterclass with Lang Lang © Chris Christodoulou 3 In the news... Laura crowned BBC Young Musician Success for Sophie RCM Junior Department student Laura RCM Director Colin Lawson van der Heijden has been crowned commented: “Many congratulations to We are thrilled to announce that RCM BBC Young Musician 2012. Laura van der Heijden on her success alumna Sophie Bevan has won the Sky in BBC Young Musician 2012. We Arts South Bank Show “Breakthrough The 15-year-old cellist triumphed with are proud that she is a member of Award”. a mesmerising performance of Walton’s the Junior Department at the Royal Cello Concerto at The Sage Gateshead. College of Music, a natural first choice Since graduating from the RCM in 2007, Head of RCM Junior Department for ambitious young performers and soprano Sophie has shone in a number of Peter Hewitt, who was in Gateshead composers.” leading roles for English National Opera. cheering Laura on, wrote: “All of us An outstandingly versatile performer, at the RCM are absolutely delighted Laura follows in the footsteps of she has received rave reviews in for Laura, and for her family, teachers 2010 winner and fellow RCM Junior recent months for her star turns in and friends. What a role model she is! Department student Lara Melda, who Rameau’s Castor and Pollux and Richard Her achievement is a great tribute and entertained the Gateshead audience Strauss’s Der Rosenkavalier. testament to what young people can do with a stunning performance of given hard work, the right environment Rachmaninov’s second piano concerto. Sophie was nominated alongside the and support. We are immensely proud Lara will be commencing her BMus nation’s best young actors, writers, pop to be a part of that and will continue studies at the Royal College of Music stars, comedians and dancers for this to be as she gets wider and wider in September. prestigious annual award, which was recognition (as she surely will).” voted for by members of the public. reconstructions allow audiences to 24 Violons savour the unique texture and rich inner voices as they might have been heard at du Roi the French court over 300 years ago. This summer, RCM musicians are taking For the final two performances – at a unique project on tour to major Montpellier Opera on 24 July and then French festivals, ending up with a special at a Chamber Prom at Cadogan Hall performance at the BBC Proms. on 28 July – RCM alumnus Sir Roger We have joined forces with the Centre Norrington and the RCM Baroque de Musique Baroque de Versailles to Orchestra will be joined by musicians recreate the distinctive sound of the from the Paris Conservatoire and the 24 Violons du Roi – the world’s first Conservatoire d’Orsay. professional orchestra, founded by To find out more, visit Louis XIII in 1626. Few of the original www.rcm.ac.uk/24violons instruments have survived but specialist 4 Katherine Woolley – and the Queen RCM and the The President’s Elizabeth The Queen Mother Rosebowl to composer Charlotte Harding, BBC Proms Visit 2012 who wrote two new fanfares for the On Wednesday 14 March, HRH The occasion. Prince of Wales visited the Royal After the ceremony, His Royal Highness College of Music where, in his role as attended a short concert in which the President of the RCM, he presented Tagore medallists performed works special honours at the College’s annual by Beethoven and Bach. The President awards ceremony. also heard the RCM Chamber Choir His Royal Highness conferred perform a short work by Sir Hubert Fellowship of the Royal College of Parry, the second Director of the Music (FRCM) upon six outstanding RCM and one of His Royal Highness’s figures in international musical life: favourite composers. violinist Benedict Cruft, philanthropist Sir Vernon Ellis, soprano and RCM vocal professor Eiddwen Harrhy, baritone Simon Keenlyside, RCM Head of Vocal Studies Nicholas Sears and composer, songwriter and keyboard player Rick Wakeman. Honorary Membership of the Royal College of Music (HonRCM) was presented to five individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to music and to the RCM: RCM Learning and Participation Manager Hayley This summer the RCM once again Clements, Wigmore Hall Director plays a big part in the BBC Proms, the John Gilhooly, RCM Strategic Planning world’s greatest classical music festival. Accountant Gary Purkiss, songwriter, lyricist and Orpheus Trust founder RCM Sparks Summer Music runs Richard Stilgoe, and RCM Registry alongside the BBC Proms season Manager Eleanor Taylor. and offers a series of workshops and discovery events for participants of all His Royal Highness presented the ages and levels of ability. Tagore Gold Medal to two students who graduated last year – baritone This year, there are weekly Summer Samuel Evans and horn player Music Workshops for 6–9 and 10–12 year olds, a Summer Springboard course for 13–18 year olds and on Saturday 31 March, Professor Robert Discovery Sessions throughout the The Spirit of Winston curated his own programme, summer for music lovers of all ages. introducing some of his personal There are opportunities for free tours Schubert favourites. These included a recording of the Royal Albert Hall and special £5 Royal College of Music musicians of Schubert’s setting of Psalm 92, Tôw tickets to all the BBC Proms concerts and staff participated in ‘The Spirit l’hôdôs, written for Salomon Sulzer, the linked to the workshops. Participants of Schubert’, BBC Radio 3’s eight-day cantor at the new synagogue in Vienna. are also entitled to free downloadable celebration of Franz Schubert, which Family Music Activity Packs, full of included every single note that he wrote. fascinating facts and ideas on fun music making activities to do at home The festival kicked off at London’s before attending any Sparks events. King’s Place on Friday 23 March, when RCM musicians performed selected All three strands run in addition to movements from Schubert’s Octet D803. the Proms Plus events that take place Professor Amanda Glauert and Natasha every day during the Proms season in Loges then both featured in episodes of the RCM’s Amaryllis Fleming Concert ‘The Schubert Lab’, where Tom Service Hall.