The Magazine for the Royal College of MusicI Autumn 2015 Hitting the Right Note Inside the Royal College of Music’s new percussion suite... What’s inside... Welcome to upbeat... The Royal College of Music welcomed new and returning staff and students this term after a summer break which saw a number of exciting developments. Contents The Durrington Room on the fourth floor of the South Building has been 4 In the news renovated into a new purpose-built percussion suite – see page ten to find out more from Head of Percussion David Hockings. The state-of-the-art Amadeus The latest news from the RCM, practice pods that were in the courtyard have been moved to the third floor Ziff including the recent visit of the Suite and the remaining practice rooms have been refurbished. First Lady of China, a tribute to former RCM Director Sir David Meanwhile, improvements to the Blomfield Building include the creation of a new Willcocks and the launch of the performance space on the ground floor. The Corelli Room encompasses the old Royal College of Music’s Creative G15 and G16 rooms and will hold chamber concerts, lectures and classes. Careers Centre... This issue, we also look at how young musicians at the RCM are supported 10 Percussive Progress through scholarships. Turn to page 12 for an interview with pianist Martin James Head of Percussion David Bartlett and his supporter Terry Hitchcock to find out more about this valuable Hockings describes the exciting programme. development of a brand new The Royal College of Music is delighted to announce that the RCM Symphony percussion suite in the South Orchestra will return to the Royal Festival Hall in 2016. Conducted by Diego Building Masson, the all-Stravinsky programme on Sunday 26 June forms part of the Philharmonia Orchestra’s Myths and Rituals series. Save the date as tickets will be 12 Supporting Young Musicians on sale soon. Upbeat meets with pianist Martin James Bartlett and his scholarship Do you have any news you want to share with staff, students and supporters of the supporter Terry Hitchcock to RCM? We’re always keen to hear from students and staff, both past and present, so find out more about how young please send your news and pictures to [email protected] by Monday 11 January. musicians are supported at the Royal College of Music 14 Meeting the Director Meet Lily Harriss, the RCM’s new Director of Development 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 and marriages On Sunday 20 September, 170 alumni from 1956-65 attended a reunion in the Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall. You can see more photos online at www.rcm.ac.uk/alumni Upbeat online Front cover – The Royal College of Music’s new percussion suite Upbeat is available online at Inside front cover – Images from the Royal College of Music International Opera School’s summer production of Britten’s Albert Herring www.rcm.ac.uk/upbeat Please help us to reduce our carbon Inside back cover – A selection of images of Royal College of Music students and alumni performing at the 2015 BBC Proms footprint and receive Upbeat by email. All photography © Chris Christodoulou Contact us at [email protected] and we’ll send you an email notification NB: Please note that we cannot guarantee to include everything we receive and that we reserve the right to edit submissions when Upbeat is published. 3 In the news... Sir David Willcocks (1919–2015) Music in Hospitals Photo © CW+ www.cwplus.org.uk Photo Royal College of Music pianists have taken part in a successful project to bring music to older patients on hospital wards in Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. Results from the Royal College of Music’s ‘Memory Lane’ project at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, devised in collaboration with CW+ (the hospital charity) and Concordia Foundation, have shown that 100% of patients Former Royal College of Music became the musical director of The have been relaxed by the sessions. The Director, much-loved choral conductor, Bach Choir in London, a post he held published findings also revealed that for 38 years. He was the editor of Carols composer and organist Sir David 95% of patients and 100% of staff found for Choirs, the collections which to this Willcocks died on 17 September. Sir the musical activities to be a positive day make his name synonymous with David made an enormous contribution distraction from and improvement to British choral music at Christmas. to British cultural life and current RCM the hospital environment. Director Professor Colin Lawson said: David Willcocks succeeded Sir Keith ‘Sir David Willcocks presided over a The scheme is a response to significant Falkner as Director of the Royal College golden period in the RCM’s history. The research that shows how music can of Music in April 1974, holding the post College benefited enormously from the improve visual awareness, attention, for ten years. During this time he saw leadership of a musician of such talent mood and verbal memory in patients. the College through difficult financial and flair. His influence is still keenly RCM alumna and pianist times and led the Centenary Appeal Maria felt within the RCM and we are deeply has been involved for the to develop the courtyard, starting the Marchant last three years and visits Chelsea and saddened at the news of his passing.’ programme to build the new opera Westminster Hospital on a weekly basis theatre – even if this development Sir David studied at Westminster to play a range of musical favourites. Abbey, Clifton College, Bristol, and did take away the space where he was organ scholar at King’s College, would play cricket with students and Its success has led to the development of Cambridge. He interrupted his studies colleagues on warm summer days. a year-long training programme which at Cambridge during World War II He was appointed CBE in 1971, created sees six pianists from the RCM and to serve in the Duke of Cornwall’s a Knight Bachelor in 1977 and awarded Concordia Foundation undertake a range Light Infantry for six years and won a Fellowship of the RCM in 1971. In of workshops and regular performances the Military Cross for outstanding addition, he held over 50 honorary on the wards. RCM pianists Kheng service. After completing his studies degrees. Hoe, Sohyun Park and Theresa Yu at Cambridge, he became organist and Concordia Foundation pianist and of Salisbury Cathedral, later moving A memorial concert for Sir David former RCM Junior Fellow Jocelyn to Worcester Cathedral from 1950 Willcocks will be held at 3.00pm on Freeman have taken part in the scheme to 1957, during which time he was Sunday 22 November at King’s College since September 2014. Chapel, Cambridge. The St Cecilia’s Day also Principal Conductor of the Three ‘Memory Lane’ is generously supported Choirs Festival. concert will be given by the choir of King’s College, Cambridge, conducted by Dasha Shenkman OBE. He succeeded his mentor, Boris Ord, by Stephen Cleobury. See www. as Director of Music at King’s College, davidwillcocksmemorial.com for more Cambridge, and, in 1960, he also information. 4 Before departing, the First Lady RCM Involved in First Lady of was presented with a facsimile of the original manuscript of Mozart’s Ambitious Seven China Visits Royal Piano Concerto in C minor K 491 in the RCM’s collections, and a copy of Seeds Project College of Music Director’s Choice. In return, the First Lady presented the Royal College of The Royal College of Music, as part of The Royal College of Music opened its Music with a Sheng – a traditional the Tri-borough Music Hub, has been doors to the First Lady of the People’s Chinese wind instrument. involved in an event featuring 1,200 Republic of China, Madame Peng young musicians at the Royal Albert Liyuan on Thursday 22 October. The RCM has developed partnerships Hall. TheSeven Seeds concert on 23 with conservatoires across China and a June featured a new piece written by A renowned singer of Chinese folk strong connection with world-famous 350 children with writer Hazel Gould music, the First Lady enjoyed a tour pianist, Lang Lang, who received and award-winning composer and RCM of the College and performances from an Honorary Doctorate in 2011. In alumnus John Barber. RCM musicians including Gemma addition, Professor Vanessa Latarche, Lois Summerfield (Kathleen Ferrier Head of Keyboard at the RCM, is Along with the Royal Albert Hall Award 2015) and pianist Martin James Vice Chairman of Lang Lang Music and Aurora Orchestra, the RCM is a Bartlett (BBC Young Musician 2014). World – his school for gifted pianists Strategic Partner of the Tri-borough They were joined by notable alumni in Shenzhen. Music Hub, which oversees the delivery including award-winning accompanist of music education in the three West Ian Tindale and Chinese soprano You can see more photos from the London boroughs: Kensington and He Wu, who is now at the National visit online at www.rcm.ac.uk/ Chelsea, Hammersmith and Fulham Opera Studio. firstladyofchina and the City of Westminster. The RCM’s contribution is provided by its ground- breaking Learning and Participation programme RCM Sparks. Seven Seeds was commissioned by the Tri-borough Music Hub and is generously supported by the John Lyons Charity, The Mercers’ Company and The Golsoncott Foundation. Royal College of Music alumnus Sir Thomas Allen has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate by RCM Chairman, Professor Lord Winston.