ISSUE 6 GIFT OF EDUCATION Featuring Martin James Bartlett larkinsurance.co.uk What’s Inside Cover Story 8-11 4-7 Taught by the best 50 years young Martin James Bartlett says he has learned from the It's a celebration and Lark Music is proud greatest musicians and feels a responsibilty to pass on his to co-sponsor the London Sinfonietta’s knowledge (Cover and inside images by Jeff Fuidge) 50th Anniversary Concert 12-15 20-22 Trust your luck Magical debut Distinguished violinist György Pauk is one of Cellist Jamal Aliyev’s rendition of Sayuri’s London Sinfonietta’s greatest fans and he talks about the Theme from the film Memories of a Geisha city's exciting music scene in the 1960s stole the audience’s hearts at the BBC Proms Welcome he Gift of Education is cherished by the musicians featured in this edition of LARKmusic. In our cover story pianist Martin James Bartlett reveals his Tthoughts on teaching; cellist Jamal Aliyev tells us how sponsorship has given him so many opportunities and distinguished violinist György Pauk talks about his fascinating musical journey. 2017 was a fantastic year not only for the music division but also for our overall business as we merged with the Aston Scott Group. This will create one of the UK’s leading, privately owned insurance brokers and employee benefit practices. Aston Scott and Lark both have a rich heritage and combining the businesses represents a transformational opportunity for our clients and staff. It will be very much business as usual and you will continue to deal with the same people, with the same passion and love for music. While Brexit remains a divisive issue in the UK, Lark remains thoroughly committed to its clients and friends based in Europe. It’s in all of our interests for the UK to maintain strong ties with Europe, and this includes being able to trade effectively. We are busy working on our post-Brexit solutions and will keep you posted. We will also be contacting you shortly with more information regarding our merger but in the meantime please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions. Gemma Deavall Divisional Director [email protected] 24-26 18-19 Starting early Musical Notes Lark Music Early Years Private Client Director bursaries, for children Julie Webb shares her up to five years at The news; meeting clients and Conservatoire, Blackheath, musicians while attending are probably the first of the concerts, recitals and visiting their kind in the UK the V&A 27-29 30 Music in Art Out & About Our guest writer, art Isabella Valentini has been dealer and historian Angus running, singing – and flying Haldane, discusses musical to Lake Annecy – as well as imagery from the Old returning to Cremona, in Italy, Masters to 20th century for the annual Mondomusica Mondrian event 5 larkinsurance.co.uk My BIG Five Charismatic Martin James Bartlett is poised for a stellar career as a solo concert pianist and he tells Lark Private Client Director Julie Webb about his Big Five musical ambitions ianist Martin James Bartlett more TV and radio coverage; pass on Martin revealed why he also wants has become a great friend his knowledge by teaching and, the to teach – because he feels ‘a deep of Lark Insurance, playing ultimate for a concert pianist, to own responsibility’ to pass on the Pat several Lark-supported a Steinway piano. knowledge he has reaped from his events at the Royal College of Music piano teachers. Martin said: “My plan is to stay and wowing guests with his artistry at RCM for two more years before He said: “I have had the privilege to at the piano. travelling to reach wider audiences. learn from the greatest teachers and He is also blessed with a cheeky I want to be able to pass on the skills. “I would love to play in South Korea charm and wit that will carry him where the average age of an audience “I’d love to teach at the RCM but not far. He talks 19 to the dozen about there is 20. So many teenagers enjoy so much that I could not have a full- the piano but also has another classical music because there is a time performing career. I want to be great appetite – for food. heavy influence on culture and music playing but if, for instance, I had a The BBC Young Musician of the Year from an early age. That’s really few students, for a few hours a week, that would be ideal. 2014 is off to Japan in February to exciting.” play at the Tokyo Opera City Concert Releasing a debut CD is not so far off “I got so much from my teacher Hall, his biggest recital so far, so the and Martin is in talks with a major Emily Jeffrey. She is the greatest foodie fan will no doubt also revel record label with a view to record the musician I have ever met and has in the cuisine as well as the cultural music later this year. passed on a huge amount to me. It delights. should be my responsibility to try to He has also been invited to play in pass that on to others. It would be Martin loves to cook and says he a BBC Young Musician of the Year selfish if I didn’t. is always in the kitchen – his top concert in July. Martin said: “It is treat is comfort food. “Hearty an anniversary special, celebrating “Every Saturday, from the age of French stews and pasta dishes are 40 years of the competition and it seven to 17, my mum and dad took just the best,” he says. will be wonderful to play alongside me to the RCM for chamber music former winners. More exciting and choir sessions. Back to the music, at the age of 21, details are still coming through but Martin says he has a Big Five when it “My mum loved Emily Jeffrey – she it will be amazing to be part of the comes to career ambitions; to study is so dedicated – and before the BBC celebration.” for his Masters before taking on the Young Musician competition we world; to release a debut CD; enjoy Despite an already busy schedule, worked together until one or two in the morning. She has made me. “Although I practised every Saturday, she said ‘let’s ramp it up, My mum loved Emily Jeffrey – she is why not come to Purcell then we can have time there as well as the RCM’, so dedicated – and before the BBC Young so that’s what I did during my last Musician competition we worked together years at secondary school.” Martin explained that he wasn’t an until one or two in the morning early starter when it came to 6 LARKmusic 7 larkinsurance.co.uk taking up the piano. His talent only ‘Yes, you’ve got to come here’. began to surface when he was seven “The RCM was a leap of faith and years old. At 13, I stopped Piano Professor Emily Jeffrey He said: “My mother Hazel is a piano playing and wanted helped me achieve things I never teacher but, when she first began dreamed I could. Apart from my to teach me at the age of five, I was to be a marine mother she has been the greatest unfocused and quite a nightmare. inspiration in my life.” “We stopped, totally. She said biologist Despite the great influences, ‘we’ll start when you have a better Martin’s path was not all plain attention span’. sailing and at one point, when Martin was 13, he stopped playing “When I went to school, sports were for a year because he decided he never my forte but I began to enjoy Music when I was eight. wanted to be a marine biologist. music, so every night after school I “We got to Grade 5 in a year – we began to practise – piano, recorder He said: “I suppose it was a teenage went quickly, but she was also very and bassoon. thing but Emily was cleverly careful about how we were doing it. persuasive. She said ‘you can do “After that I was never really “I think she took me along just to see what you want, God has given you interested in much else. how I would fare but after I played this gift but if you choose to waste “My mother put me forward for for the Director of the RCM’s Junior it that’s fine’. She got me – and I an audition at the Royal College of Department Peter Hewitt, he said haven’t looked back.” 8 LARKmusic Pictures of Martin James Bartlett by Jeff Fuidge ast-forward to 2018, Martin is now an undergraduate at the FRCM with Head of Keyboard Vanessa Latarche. Martin James Bartlett July 2015 BBC Proms debut He said: “I feel so lucky continuing Concert pianist performing Gershwin’s my musical development under Rhapsody in Blue with Eric such inspirational guidance from Born July 20, 1996 Whitacre Vanessa.” 2004 Began piano studies at September 2015 Alongside his piano lessons Martin is RCM Junior Department Performed also immersing himself in advanced private concert at RCM for 2009 Extended studies with the First Lady of China, Peng stylist studies such as ‘how Bach Emily Jeffrey at Purcell School wrote his preludes and fugues and Liyuan imitating the style ourselves’. May 2014 Winner BBC Young June 2016 Performed at Her Musician of the Year, playing Martin said: “The difficulty with Majesty The Queen’s 90th Rachmaninov’s Rhapsody on Bach is that when studying his work a Theme of Paganini, live on Birthday thanksgiving service, there are so many different, correct BBC TV and radio broadcast live on BBC One ways of actually notating the music from St.