Upbeat Spring 2011 - Royal College of Music

In the news...Soirée d’Or 2010On 8 December last year the RCMwelcomed 400 guests to the Victoriaand Albert Museum for its annualfundraising gala, Soirée d’Or, describedby the Evening Standard as: “One of themost spectacular charity fund-raisers ofthe year”.BBC Radio 3’s Sean Rafferty hosted theevent with performances by a RCMstring quartet and electrifying pianoduo Jianing Kong and Caterina Crewe.The total raised from the evening wasclose to £200,000, which will be usedto award substantial scholarships totalented RCM musicians.The RCM thanks BP forgenerously supportingthe Soirée d’Or 2010. Wewould also like to thankthe following companiesand individuals for theirgenerous sponsorship and donations:• Finsbury• British Gas• Fujitsu• Champagne Taittinger• Steinway & Sons• Jane Packer• Sally Clarke Ltd• Stephen Morris• Pinsent Masons• Hildon• Prestat• Dreweatts 1739• L’Oreal• Galleries Magazine• Patriarche Wine• Agencies• The Rayne TrustThe RCM would also like to thankthe Soirée d’Or committee for theirongoing efforts in organising thisevent: Lady Carr (Chair), Mrs AnastasiaChristou, Lady Middleton, Mrs JudyMowschenson, Ms Emma Rose,Lady Walters.Three newProfessorshipsThe RCM has announced three newProfessorial appointments for 2011.The principal criterion for appointmentto a Personal Chair is distinguishedachievement in the area of text- and/orpractice-based research and innovation.Demonstrating exceptional artisticinsight, those appointed have madean outstanding contribution to thefurtherance of knowledge or to theapplication of existing knowledge in acreative context.We are pleasedto announce thatRCM Director ofProgrammes andResearch AmandaGlauert has beennamed ProfessorAmanda Glauertof Music andAesthetics; former Head of the GraduateSchool Richard Langham Smith hasbeen made Research Professor ofMusic; and Aaron Williamon, Headof the RCM’s Centre for PerformanceScience, has been made Professor ofPerformance Science.All three Professors are makingsignificant contributions to the RCM’sever-growing reputation as a leadinginternational centre for research.The natureof geniusIn October, the RCM was delightedto be host partners in the “Battle ofIdeas”, the Institute of Ideas’ annualfestival. The series of debates anddiscussions attracted some of the UK’smost important and influential artists,scientists and cultural commentators.The College hosted a pair of specialpreview events. The first, entitled“X-factor: Singing in the name of quality”,explored issues surrounding moderntalent shows, with the Director of OperaMichael Rosewell siting on the panel. Thesecond discussed the “Nature of Genius:standing on the shoulders of giants orgenes?” and looked at what part societyplays in nurturing geniuses of the future.Professor Colin Lawson sat on a panelthat comprised some of today’s leadingthinkers. www.battleofideas.org.uk4

A very specialaddition to theRCM MuseumThe Royal College of Music has takendelivery of a remarkable collection offour unique and important instruments:the ‘Kessler Viols’.Dietrich Kessler (1929–2006) wasan outstanding maker and restorerof stringed instruments, for whomthe viol and its music were always aspecial interest. During the course ofhis long working life he collected a fewexceptional viols that were used bothin performance and as a rich source ofresearch. Four of these were by Englishmakers: John Rose (c.1595), Henry Jaye(1619), Richard Meares (c.1680) andBarak Norman (1693).A bigthank youIn the last issue of Upbeat, we broughtyou news of our participation in the2010 Big Give Christmas Challenge,seeking to raise funds for RCMscholarships. To launch the scheme,a range of supporters – including SirAn honoured guestOne of our guestsat The Big GiveBreakfast wasinspirational RCMalumna BlancheMundlak, whobrought in a rangeof photographsfrom her long andvaried career inmusic (see right).She found work first as a violin teacherand then as the long-time proprietor ofthe St Cecilia music shop in Camden, butshe is perhaps best known as the founderof the Orion Orchestra, which sheconducted for 37 years without missinga single rehearsal. Blanche raised largeamounts of money for charity throughDietrich’s widow Jane Kesslercommented: “I am delighted tobe loaning these four very specialinstruments to the Royal College ofMusic. I am particularly thrilled thatRCM students will have the chance toperform on them, which is exactly whatDietrich would have wanted.”The collection, housed in the RCMMuseum, is open to the general publicto admire, and to makers and musiciansalike for historical and performancebasedresearch by appointment.Left to right: Jenny Nex, Jane Kessler, Ashley Solomon,Samir SavantMichael Parkinson and Professor LordWinston – gathered at the RCM onMonday 6 December for The Big GiveBreakfast.We are utterly delighted to report thatthanks to the extreme generosity of ourdonors, it took just 24 hours to reachour target of raising £95,000. Everypenny will go towards transforming thelives of talented young musicians. For afull list of donors please see page 21.the orchestra’s innovative concerts,which gave early concerto opportunitiesto many leading musicians, and onseveral occasions featured the eminentactress Dame Sybil Thorndike.Dietrich KesslerThe Richard Meares ViolScoringthe OlympicsNo fewer than five RCM alumnicomposers have been commissionedto create new works for the 2012Cultural Olympiad.The project is organised by NewMusic 20x12, a UK-wide programme,and features RCM alumni Mark-Anthony Turnage, Anna Meredith,Gavin Higgins, Richard Causton andDavid Bruce. Each commission will bebroadcast on BBC Radio 3 and tourthe UK, enabling as many people aspossible to enjoy excellent new musicas part of the celebrations of theLondon 2012 Olympic and ParalympicGames. www.newmusic20x12.orgGavin Higgins5

In the news...RCM studentwins internationalawardPianist Nicholas McCarthy has wonthe Ability Media International MusicAward, run by Leonard CheshireDisability and supported by Orange.The AMI Awards identify creativityand encourage a more inclusiveworld for disabled and marginalisedgroups of people. Covering everyaspect of the arts, the winners arechosen for producing work thatpositively represents, involves or assistspeople facing major physical, mental,emotional or social challenges.Chosen by the judges for his creativeexcellence, Nicholas received theaward at a ceremony held at LondonStudios on 21 November last year. Hisvirtuoso brilliance as a left-handedpianist has secured him aninternational reputation andappearances at some of the UK’s mostprestigious music venues.“I am delighted to have received thisaward at such a young age, and amproud to have been able to representdisabled people in the music industry”,commented Nicholas.Wayne Drew, Chairman of the AbilityMedia Creative Board, said: “Today’swinners demonstrate outstandingcreativity and are all socially andculturally of the highest importance,and Nicholas McCarthy is a perfectexample of this.”New Year’sHonours for RCMsupportersIt is with great pleasure that we reporta number of honours for individualslinked to the Royal College of Music. Wecongratulate them all, and thank themfor their particular contributions to thelife and work of the College.Vernon Ellis, until recently a memberof the RCM Council and now Chairmanof the British Council and EnglishNational Opera, received a knighthoodfor his services to music. Chairman ofCentrica Roger Carr, who has broughtconsiderable financial support to RCMprojects, received a knighthood forservices to business. Peter Ellwood,Deputy Chairman of the RCM Councilfrom 2003 to 2006, was knighted forhis services to business and the publicsector.Principal of the Royal Scottish Academyof Music and Drama since 2002, JohnWallace was appointed CBE for servicesCoutts Arts FestivalIn January, the RCM was delighted toparticipate in the inaugural CouttsArts Festival, a new event dedicatedto raising awareness and support of theperforming arts.Coutts & Co, the private bank, plays anactive role in helping arts organisationsto deliver amazing performances andto seek the funding needed to achievethis. The RCM was proud to open thefestival, which offered up an intimateglimpse into the high-quality workProfessor John Lill and RCM Junior Fellow Jianing KongColin Matthewsto Dance, Music and Drama Educationin Scotland. Dr Colin Matthews, PrinceConsort Professor of Composition atthe RCM, was appointed OBE for hisservices to music. Dr Marjorie Ziffwas appointed MBE for nearly 60 yearsservice to the community in Leedsthrough her philanthropic and charitablegiving. She and her husband, who died in2004, have funded countless art-relatedprojects including the refurbishment ofthe Ziff Suite at the RCM.of nine arts organisations over threeconsecutive evenings from 18 to 20January.RCM Chairman Professor LordWinston and Head of Keyboard FacultyVanessa Latarche gave an introductionto the RCM. This was followedby a piano masterclass led by RCMalumnus and visiting professor JohnLill, and featuring RCM Junior FellowJianing Kong, finalist in the LeedsInternational Piano Competition 2009.Appropriately enough, the masterclassfocused on two Etudes by Chopin, whowas a customer of Coutts & Co.6

InspirationalDVD for singersIn March, the RCM was delighted tohost the launch event for a new DVDentitled ‘Singing in English – a sessionwith Catherine Lambert’. The DVDmarks the second in the series on thehistory of vocal teaching, devised andproduced by RCM professors Janis Kellyand Norbert Meyn.Janis Kelly commented: “We weredelighted to welcome Catherine back tothe RCM for the occasion. This new DVDis a vitally important resource for allsingers.”In the DVD, Catherine Lambertdiscusses her training with Elise Fogerty(1865–1945), the legendary founderof the Central School of Speech andDrama. She gives excellent detailof her own pedagogical approach,focusing on breathing, vowel sounds,the importance of consonants andthe relationship between speech andsinging. She also gives many examplesof useful exercises and their application.The DVD is available to purchasethrough the RCM Box Office.www.rcm.ac.uk/boxofficeCatherine LambertHoward Shorevisits the RCMIn September last year, RCMcomposition students had thechance to meet one of today’s mostacclaimed and respected composersof film music.Howard Shore is perhaps best knownfor his music for The Lord of the Ringstrilogy, which garnered him threeAcademy Awards, and for as hisrelationship with leading directorssuch as Martin Scorsese, JonathanDemme and David Cronenburg.The composer held a Q&A session inthe RCM Studios with students onthe RCM’s acclaimed Composition forScreen Masters programme. He spenttwo hours discussing his work onsome of the most significant films ofthe past 40 years.SA Presidentattends ISMconferenceIn April, Students’ AssociationPresident Charles Bradley is takingup one of four free places offeredto conservatoire students to attendthe annual ISM conference. Entitled‘Connections – music through thearts’, the conference is being held atThe Sage Gateshead and focuses onthe important relationship betweenmusic and other creative art forms.This is part of a wider initiative fromISM to emphasise the value of joiningthe professional body. For moreinformation and to join online, visitwww.ism.org or call 020 7629 4413.Exploring Albertopolis onlineA fascinating new online exhibition tellsthe story of ‘Albertopolis’, the area whichincludes the Royal College of Music andis the UK’s leading centre of artistic andscientific institutions.The exhibition, which includes a widevariety of videos, drawings and writtenarticles, has been put together by theRoyal Institute of British Architects, andcan be viewed at www.architecture.comIt explains how the Great Exhibitionof 1851 enabled a huge plot of land inSouth Kensington to become home toa number of new artistic and scientificmuseums and educational institutions.A physical version of the exhibition willbe on display at the Victoria and AlbertMuseum from November 2011 untilApril 2012, in celebration of the newdevelopment of Exhibition Road.The Sage GatesheadPrince Consort Road during the State Opening of the Royal College of Music (1884)Photographer: Elliott & Fry7

In the news...MidsomerMurdersIn October, producers of ITV’sleading detective drama MidsomerMurders approached RCM pianoprofessor Andrew Ball to act asa pianistic advisor for an episodeentitled ‘Masterclass’. Former studentIvana Gavric and current studentChristopher Guild also featured ashand doubles. The plot centred on apianistic guru, James Fox, who gavemasterclasses in his rambling countrymanor.“It was quite a demanding job” Andrewtold Upbeat, “as the performances hadto be at different levels. For instance,the character of Orlando (played byChristopher Guild) had to performChopin’s Revolutionary Etude withtremendous dash but lots of wrongnotes!Masterclassesin RussiaIn September, RCM professor SallyBurgess visited Moscow for a specialseries of vocal masterclasses. Shereports: “I was invited to take vocalmasterclasses in Moscow by the LondonGates Education Group, which aimsto help Russians gain entry into highereducation in the UK.It was a very full week, in which I wasworking for seven out of my eight days inMoscow. I saw 27 singers, aged between20 and 30. By working with five or sixsingers for an hour each on consecutivedays, I gained enormously. My ear wasattuned, my wits sharpened and myability to suggest technical and musicalsolutions to vocal problems flowed fast.There were many good voices. I havesuggested that several of the singersapply to the RCM for postgraduatestudy, as well as steering sometowards the ROH Jette Parker scheme,the BBC Cardiff Singer of the Worldcompetition, and other possibilities.These masterclasses were a huge success,with the singers eager for guidance, andanother series is already planned for mein 2012.The sun was out for all but my free day!Still, I was able to walk around many ofMoscow’s wonderful buildings and sights.I look forward to returning in 2012.”“Filming took place in a variety oflocations in Buckinghamshire andBerkshire, not always at sociabletimes of day. We were all struck by thepainstaking and meticulous approachof everyone involved in the production.The end-product may not be strictlytrue to the life of the average pianostudent but it’s highly entertaining; andas the programme is sold all over theworld it may be the biggest audience toever view our hands!”Anna Meredith wins prestigious awardCreativeQuarter2010On 19 November, the RCM was delightedto participate in Creative Quarter 2010.Visitors to the College were treated toa guided tour of the RCM Studios, andhad the opportunity to quiz staff aboutworking in a busy recording studioand the skills needed to be a recordingengineer.Creative Quarter is a special eventorganised by the Exhibition RoadCultural Group. It offers the chancefor 13–19 year olds to learn aboutopportunities in the creative industries.www.exhibitionroad.comRCM graduate Anna Meredith hasbeen selected for one of the UK’s mostprestigious awards for composers. ThePaul Hamlyn Foundation Awards forArtists are the most generous in the UKwith winners receiving £45,000 spreadin equal instalments over three years.They exist to give artists the freedomto develop their creative ideas andto contribute to their personal andprofessional growth.Anna commented: “I’m beyond chuffedto have been given a Paul HamlynAward. To have the support of thisaward will not only give me time towrite the music I want to be writingbut has given me a massive energy andconfidence boost too.”Anna graduated from the RCM in2002 and is known as a composer ofacoustic and electronic music, as wellas a performer, curator, occasional TV/radio contributor and animateur. Hermany successes include having herwork froms for multiple orchestrasperformed at the Last Night of theProms in August 2008.Anna Meredith8

Out and aboutA trip to SydneyIn October last year, a group of RCMstudents and professors travelledto Australia as part of an HistoricalPerformance exchange programme withthe Sydney Conservatorium. Rachel Stacyreports:“It’s a great coincidence that as soonas the RCM announced the HistoricalPerformance exchange with the SydneyConservatorium there was an influx ofstudents wanting to learn a baroqueinstrument! Luckily, I’d already had theinsight to take up the baroque viola, andso in October Colin Scobie, Ben Norris,Elektra Miliadou, Rosie Moon, EllieRobertson, Martin Clark, Aidan Philipsand I joined professor Ashley Solomonand Director Colin Lawson on board anaeroplane to the other side of the world!Our visit started with a welcome meetingat the Conservatorium (Con) withvarious speeches by professors from bothinstitutions, and a lot of tea and coffee(in an attempt to erase our jet-lag!). Wemet the students at the Con at the firstrehearsal and all got on very well. We alsogot on well with our hosts. One morningwe caught a ferry to Rose Bay (near thesouthern headland of Sydney Harbour)where we met professors Neal Peresda Costa (harpsichord), Danny YeadonRCM composers’jaunt to GermanyJust before Christmas a group of RCMScreen Composers packed their bags forGermany. Ben MacDougall describestheir trip:“The end of the autumn term isnormally time for students to gathertheir thoughts, drink Glühwein in HydePark and congratulate themselves on agood three months of work. Last year,however, this was not to be for RCM’sscreen composers – we were headedfor Germany, sponsored by the GermanAcademic Exchange Service. Guidedby Area Leader in Composition forScreen, Vasco Hexel, the group visitedSoundTrack_Cologne 7.0 before headingto Berlin, where we had been invited bya number of Berlin institutions to visit,learn, and talk to the people there.Part of SoundTrack_Cologne 7.0’s makeupis the European Talent CompetitionRCM students and professors in Australia(cello/viola da gamba) and NicoleForsyth (viola) with their cars. Theydrove us out to South Head and we hada short walk around the windy headlandand a quick paddle in the SouthPacific, followed by a leisurely breakfastoverlooking Bronte beach.We gave two concerts during our visit:one orchestral, and the other chambermusic and concerti that included musicby Charpentier, Corelli, Bach, Vivaldi,Telemann, Fasch, Mozart and Graupner.Colin Lawson played with us in theFasch Concerto and Mozart ClarinetQuintet, and he and Ashley Solomonboth joined us for the Graupner SinfoniaConcertante. We were also lucky enoughto have the chance to watch a concert atthe Sydney Opera House during our trip,where we saw the Australian ChamberOrchestra play Schubert, Beethoven andBrahms.and we were thrilled to have had two ofour number shortlisted: Martin Batchelarand Robert Ashbridge. The films werescreened, judged and we were lefthanging… There was an almighty cheerwhen Martin won.Travelling to Berlin the next day, thegroup was very proud and happy. Noone,however, was ready for the coldthat hit us as the train doors opened!We visited the Hochschule für Filmund Fernsehen (HFF) ‘Konrad Wolf’in Potsdam, where we attended ascoring session with the Babelsberg FilmRCM Screen Composers in GermanyAfter the concerts we had a few free daysfor sightseeing, while Colin Lawson andAshley Solomon took masterclasses andlectures with the Sydney students. Onour first day, we took a ferry to Manlywith some of the Sydney students andwalked along the coast to Spit. In theevening Neal, Danny and Ashley put ona fantastic concert and it was great towatch them having so much fun playingtogether! On our second free day, wecaught a train to Katoomba in the BlueMountains National Park and then a busto the Three Sisters.We all had an incredible time on the trip.It was a great opportunity to meet all theplayers and teaching staff at the SydneyCon and see how they work out there.We look forward to seeing them all in thesummer when they come to London.”Orchestra. Their facilities were incredible– including some of the sets fromTarantino’s 2009 film Inglourious Basterds.Other visits to the Academy of MusicHanns Eisler Berlin and UdK were full offascinating debates and discussions. Wewere grateful to them for their warmthand hospitality.Between these visits we managed to fitin some sightseeing of Berlin and visiteda genuine Weinachtsmarkt. The onlydownside to the week was trying to holda metal camera at 18 degrees belowzero!”9

Kevin SatizabalKevin Satizabal studied for eight yearsat the Junior Department on the Visually-Impaired Musicians’ Scheme. His familyis from Colombia and he lived therebetween the ages of five and nine. A giftedcomposer, pianist and improviser, Kevinis now at the Birmingham Conservatoirewhere he has earned a reputation assomeone who makes things happen.How old were you when you first tookan interest in music?My parents bought me a little twooctavekeyboard when I was four yearsold. I fell in love with it immediately andbegan listening to tunes, which I learntto play by ear. I started to consider musicseriously around the age of nine, whenI was thrilled to have the chance toaudition for the RCM Junior Department.Who and what have been the mostimportant influences on your music?First of all, my teacher Rosalind Deckerat Woodmansterne Primary Schoolin Streatham Vale has been a greatinfluence – she encouraged me to applyto the Junior Department and has alwaysbeen supportive of me. My parents havebeen very encouraging too – particularlywith my practice – they bought me myfirst upright piano when I was 12 yearsold. My love of performing really startedin earnest in Colombia. My friends wouldsing to me and I would play the tunesback – they were amazed – and I enjoyedthe attention too!How important was the RCMJunior Department in your musicaldevelopment?Absolutely crucial! I started at theRCMJD when I was ten years old andstudied piano, recorder, musicianshipand theory lessons with Jackie Clifton(Director of the Visually ImpairedMusicians’ Scheme). I also took acomposition class in my final year. Theteaching was fantastic and I had somany opportunities, including learningBraille music. Being around musicianswas inspiring and showed me what greatmusic could be.What was the highlight of your time atthe Junior Department?The highlight was being involved in afilm project with the London SymphonyOrchestra. I had the opportunityto socialise and perform with manyoutstanding players, some of whomallowed me to try out their instruments,meaning I was able to learn themechanics of how they worked. For thefinal concert of the project, all of us fromJackie’s class collaboratively devised anarrative entitled The Princess’ Tale. It wasmade up of different scenes and theircorresponding music, which we had eachindividually written, and was then allstitched together in a final arrangement.The project helped me to mature as amusician and it inspired an interest infilm music.How is Birmingham Conservatoirehelping you to develop as a musician?I have set up an improvisation band.We made our debut at an event calledThe Night of the Unexpected and youcan’t get anything more unexpectedthan improvisation, can you?! I studycomposition with Edwin Roxburgh whois an amazing and inspiring musician,with so much knowledge. I recentlycompleted a recorder duet Bubble andSqueak for the recorder duo Blockheads,inspired by a book by Philippa Pearce.Last year I composed the original scorefor a short film made by Mucky DuckMedia Productions, a company madeup of students from Birmingham CityUniversity. Now I’m working on a set ofpiano variations on a Mexican folk song,Cielito Lindo, one of my dad’s favourites,which he always used to ask me to playfor his friends. I like my music to bedirect and to the point. Music should beexpressive and should leave the audiencewith the feeling that they have gainedsomething in hearing the work. I enjoyjuxtaposing tonality and atonality, butonly in the interests of being expressive.So what’s next?Next year I have to complete amajor project which will either betaking the improvisation band roundvenues in Birmingham, or performingShostakovich’s Second Piano Concertowith an orchestra I fix myself. That’s amajor amount of organisation but I’m aperson who’s always up for a challenge.After I leave, I’d like to come back toLondon to work with some singersongwritersand I may follow up aninterest in teaching.Any tips for success?Be an all-rounder, open-minded to avariety of styles, including listening tomusic you think won’t be to your taste,because after a while you may cometo like it! Work with performers whoare open to new music, avoiding thosewho get ‘stuck’ in their classical waysand performing styles, and won’t lookbeyond. I wrote a piece recently, and toldthe players to just ‘swing it’ as if playingjazz. They didn’t have a clue! That’sdangerous. Be focused, disciplined andhave a good social life. You need yourfriends to support you and to be part ofyour network. Oh yes, and it’s annoyingthat more composers don’t perform. Asa composer, I can relate to what it meansto be a performer and I really believe thisinfluences the way I go about composinga piece. It’s a shame there’s often adivide.What’s your view on the funding cutsfor higher education?Popular music is deteriorating aspeople focus on image rather thanon music. Conservatoires uphold thehighest possible standards. Cuts will bedetrimental to the future of music. If youlower standards you will not get goodmusic. It’s that simple.11

What do the studentsthemselves think?Nine-year old Oliver is in his second yearof the Sparks Juniors programme andis learning percussion. He particularlyenjoys playing the snare drum andxylophone because of “all the differentsounds you can make.” Ellie, also nineyearsold, loves her French horn lessonsalthough she finds it quite hard tomuster “enough puff” to play for longperiods of time. She performed in frontof her friends at a school assembly lastterm, which she described as “a littlefreaky”, but was pleased her friends wereso impressed with her playing. All thechildren on the project enjoyed singingwith the training choir as part of aFriends event in November last year. Theyalso had the opportunity to meet PrinceCharles when he visited the College inMay 2010.Hayley comments on the fantasticprogress the students have made: “Youreally notice their confidence growingand after being here for a year, they areso much more self-assured. They come toCollege on a Saturday and treat it like itis their second home. They know wherethey are going and don’t get lost. There isa lovely feeling of camaraderie – they evenbring snacks in and share them with eachother!”For the programme to succeed, however,it is also important to gain the trustand commitment of the parents. “Whenrecruiting for the scheme it was reallyimportant to involve the families, asit does impact on their time,” explainsHayley. “We also welcome the parents tocome into College and sit in on lessons sothey feel involved in their child’s progress.”So what do the parentsthink of Sparks Juniors?Iman, who is the mother ofsecond-year Sparks Junior Aya,told Upbeat how much herdaughter enjoys coming to theRCM. Originally from Sudan,they are part of an artisticfamily (Iman’s father was theDean of the College of Fine Artsin Khartoum) but Aya had neverreceived formal music lessonsbefore coming to the RCM. Sheis now learning the guitar, andis even teaching her youngersister too.Tammy, the mother of Ellie whois learning French horn, says herdaughter had always shown signs ofbeing musical. “Ever since she was a baby,even before she could walk, she used torock to the music from side to side. Shegets so much out of her day here, and it’sreally great that they allow me and hergrandmother to sit in on lessons.”Future plansThe programme runs for three years,but it doesn’t end there. The childrenwill be encouraged to audition for theJunior Department if they have theappropriate level of accomplishment andfurther development potential. If they aresuccessful, a bursary will enable them tocontinue their studies. But if the JuniorDepartment isn’t the right path for them,there are many other opportunitiesavailable. RCM Sparks,the College’s learningand participationprogramme, organisesa variety of projectsin the local boroughof Kensington andChelsea and sendsa number of RCMstudents into localschools to teachinstrumentallessons.The JuniorDepartment aimsto welcome manymore SparksJuniors to theirSaturday schoolin the future.“We wouldlike to lookat developing thePhotos © Sheila Burnettprogramme by possibly extending itinto a fourth year to allow for smalleror even individual instrumental lessons,and to look at how we can give moreintensive training on an instrument” saysHayley. Overall, everyone involved inthe project is incredibly enthusiasticabout the children’s commitment andprogress. Peter adds that he hopes “theexperience of working with our wonderfulteachers and alongside our excellent youngmusicians will inspire them to achievegreat things for themselves.”Sparks Juniors is part of the RCM’sgroundbreaking learning andparticipation programme, RCMSparks. Every year it ignites the flameof music in the hearts and minds ofthousands of people. We are only ableto continue this vital work thanks toour generous donors and sponsors.If you would like to find out howto support the RCM, please call theDevelopment Department on020 7591 4320 or emailsparks@rcm.ac.ukThe RCM is grateful to EMI forproviding funding to help withthe purchase and maintenance ofinstruments used by Sparks Juniors,and to J Paul Getty Jnr Charitable Trustfor providing the funding to help withset up costs for the first year of theproject.13

Viol consort coach Claire Bracher hasrecently released a highly acclaimedCD with the ensemble ORLANDOviolsentitled Sound Out My Voice. EarlyMusic Review described the playing as“mellifluous, beautifully tuned, agile anddeft, and always full of passion and light.”Claire also performed live on BBC Radio3, as part of the Brighton Early MusicFestival, with the ensemble Amaranthos.Christine Stevenson, Junior Departmentpiano professor, is celebrating thebicentenary of Liszt’s birth in 2011with a series of concerts in the UKand Australia. The programmefeatures repertoire from the threevolumes of Années de Pèlerinage,works from Harmonies poétiques etreligieuses, waltzes, csárdás and songtranscriptions. A recording of Années dePèlerinage II - Italie is also in preparation.Professor Colin Lawson has releaseda second volume of Lefèvre sonatasfor clarinet and cello. This volumecompletes the set of 12 sonatas fromthe composers’ Méthode de Clarinette(1802). Repertoire on the new discreflects the progressive nature of the set,ranging from the concise Sonata no 2to the complex final Sonata no 12, withits characterful set of variations. Theperformance offers a vivid contrast tothe medium of the modern B flat clarinetand piano, on which a few of the sonatashave been played from modern editions.The CD is available from Clarinet Classics.www.clarinetclassics.comBassoon professor Martin Gatt’s windand piano ensemble Amata Musicahas released a CD for sextet of worksby Thuille, Roussel, Vincent d’Indyand Françaix. The chamber ensemblecomprises fellow RCM professor SueDent, RCM alumni Colin Parr andMargaret Lynn, and Leslie Shiells andJane Finch.Upbeat ad Summer 2011:Layout 1 25/02/2011 17:23 Page 1Performance Coordinator Jess Pearcerecently ran the 16-mile KingstonBreakfast run in aid of Abracadabra 2.The charity is raising funds to supporta new adolescent cancer unit ofHascombe Children’s Ward at the RoyalSurrey County Hospital. “It was a hugepersonal challenge and a bit of a struggletowards the end, but knowing I wasraising money for such a great charityreally kept me going” Jess told Upbeat. “Itis a truly fantastic ward which not onlytreats patients, but also cares about thefamilies of the children and young adultsthey nurse.” Jess has raised just short of£1,000. Anyone wanting to support hershould go to www.justgiving.com/jessruns16miles to donate.Jess Pearcethe ROYAL COLLEGE OF MUSIC presentsCHILINGIRIANMOZART FESTIVALMONDAY 20 & TUESDAY 21 JUNE 2011Two days of concerts, talks and masterclassespresenting Mozart’s best-loved chamber music -and some very special rarities!Chilingirian Quartet • Sacconi QuartetCavaleri Quartet • Colin LawsonTickets: £8 (daytime events) £8 (evening concert)£13 (all-day ticket) £20 (all-festival saver ticket)available from the RCM Box Office on 020 7591 4314 or at www.rcm.ac.uk/boxofficeFor full programme details see www.rcm.ac.uk/mozart17

Student notesPiano successes…Alexey Chernov has won First Prizeat the Fourth Campillos InternationalPiano Competition in Malaga, Spain. Healso gained First Prize, together with thespecial prize for 20th-century music, atthe Concorso Pianistico Internazionale“Luciano Gante”, in Pordenone, Italy…Valarie Xiao Chun Liow has won FourthPrize at the Moray Piano Competition inScotland… Elmar Gasanov has gainedThird Prize at the Isang Yun InternationalPiano Competition in Korea…Jun Ishimura has won Second Prizeat the finals of the 20th InternationalPiano Competition in Rome with aperformance of Chopin’s Concerto no 2in F minor… Alex Wilson has gainedThird Prize in the British ContemporaryPiano Competition… David Malusa haswon Second Prize at the InternationalHindemith Competition in Berlin,Germany… Junior Departmentpianist Lara Melda, BBC Young Musician2010, appeared on BBC Radio 3’s InTune programme in October 2010, fora performance and live interview withSean Rafferty at BBC BroadcastingHouse… Vasco Rocha has won FirstPrize at the Porto Conservatory ofMusic Competition in Portugal. His prizeincluded a recital at the Sala Suggia inthe Casa da Musica, one of Porto’s mostprestigious venues, where he performeda diverse programme including works byPortuguese composers.Compositioncongratulations…Erick Flores has been selected for theLondon Philharmonic Orchestra’s YoungComposers Scheme. He will write a newwork for members of the orchestra forperformance at the Royal Festival Hallin the summer… Martin Batchelar wonMartin Batchelar at SoundTrack_Cologne 7.0the European Talent Award in Film Musicat SoundTrack_Cologne 7.0 (see page9)… The Malta Philharmonic Orchestrapremiered Marcos Fernandez’s workJourney for Orchestra as his prize forwinning their ‘Call for new Compositions’competition. Thanks to sponsorship bythe Anglo-Spanish Society, his Spanishinspired ballet Hispania also received itsfirst performance by the Alba Sinfoniain Glasgow earlier this year. In addition,Marcos has been selected as a finalistfor the Composers’ Competition 2011,organised by the Orion SymphonyOrchestra and in association with theRoyal Over-Seas League... Karl Fiorini hassecured several performances of his workLa nuit commence a Tomber for violinand orchestra, including two concertsin Poland with RCM alumnus violinistEmanuel Salvador earlier this year. Karl’swork will also be performed in May withthe Orquestra do Norte in Portugal, andin September with the Orchestra daCamera Fiorentina in Italy…SoundTrack_Cologne 7.0Earlier this year, Pedro Faria Gomes’Returning received its first performanceby the Eidos Trio at Wigmore Hall, andhis O Violino Cigano for narrator andorchestra was given two performancesby the Orquestra do Algarve in Portugal.The Royal Opera House also premieredan opera scene, which was written incollaboration with librettist AllisonSmith, as part of the ROH VOX –Composing for Voice programme…Jude Obermuller saw his first musicalForbidden Fruit premiered to greatacclaim at Brighton Dome’s CornExchange… Doctoral student andfilm composer Dimitri Scarlato hasbeen selected for this year’s BerlinaleTalent Campus, a creative academy andnetworking platform for filmmakers andother professionals working in film. Hehas also been accepted for VOX2 – theopera and vocal workshops run by theRoyal Opera House…Karl FioriniNimrod Katzir’s Juba’a for two clarinets,which was commissioned by the Stump-Linshalm duo, has been recorded by thegroup as part of their ‘ShortCut’ project,a compilation of newly commissionedworks. The recording has been releasedon Ein-klang records… Mark Boden’sorchestral work Six Degrees has beenselected for a workshop/performanceby the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.The same work has also been awardeda place in the final of St AndrewsUniversity Competition and receivesa performance there in the spring. Inaddition, Mark won the 2010 BritishComposer Awards Student Competitionfor his work Siegfried Stanzas for sopranoand violin.18

A new CD from organist TimothyBond is released on Regent Records inthe spring. It features world premiererecordings of modern music from theUK with soprano Janice Watson andmezzo-soprano Catherine Wyn-Rogers.Timothy is also curating an exhibitionat the Newlyn Art Gallery in Cornwalluntil 2 May which is dedicated to theremarkable British painter Roger Hilton(1911–1975).www.newlynartgallery.co.ukPianoperformances…Warren Mailley-Smith has released anew CD of Mozart sonatas. Recorded atWyastone Hall in Monmouthshire on aSteinway piano, it features three of hissonatas and the Rondo ‘alla Turca’.In March, pianist Christina Lawriereleased her debut CD on the newPHAS label, featuring music by Brahmsand Rachmaninov. She is supportingthe release with a tour of concerts inDundee, London and Bristol.www.christinalawrie.co.ukIvana Gavric’s Wigmore Hall debut inJuly was greeted with critical acclaim.Praise has also been lavished by theBritish press on her debut CD In TheMists on the Champs Hill label, whichwas selected as Instrumental Choice ofthe Month in the Christmas issue of theBBC Magazine: “her playing is altogetherof an extraordinary calibre”.www.ivanagavric.comRecent alumnus Konstantin Lapshinhas won First Prize and the AudiencePrize at the Third International PianoCompetition “Premio Schumann” inLamporecchio, Italy, which attracted 47of the world’s finest young pianists.Sebastian Wybrew has won theAccompanist’s Prize at the JohnKerr English Song Competition. Heaccompanied RCM soprano and overallwinner of the competition SusannaHurrell on several of the historicalkeyboard instruments that make up theFinchcocks collection in Kent.The big giveWe would like to express our gratitudeto all those who helped make our firstBig Give campaign such a success,especially The Reed Foundation andArts & Business for creating such agenerous initiative in which we were sothrilled to take part:Arts & BusinessMrs Jane BarkerMrs Emma RoseMr Quentin WilliamsLady WaltersLady CarrMrs Fiona CollinsMrs Gisela GledhillMr Mark LovedayThe Reed FoundationThe Wyseliot TrustThe Ackroyd TrustMr Russell RaceMr Richard PriceWorshipful Company of FishmongersProfessor Lord WinstonProfessor Colin LawsonSir Michael ParkinsonMr Richard CranfieldMr John NicksonMr Rodolphe OlardMr Samir SavantMrs Susan SturrockLady Middleton FRCMMr Terence MowschensonMr Richard Edgar-WilsonMr Paul JoslinMr James McAlindenMr John WardMs Greta HemusMrs Anastasia ChristouDr Ingrid PearsonMs Heather BillsMrs Johanna WhiteMrs Leng CroxsonMs Catherine Farmer DunlopMiss Sarah FrancisMrs Valerie GreenMiss Franziska KuczynskaDr Jill PellewMr Christopher AllenMrs Morella CottamMrs Patricia BrokeMr John FergusonMr Barry FriendMrs Renske MannMrs A ThormanMiss Heather LetleyMr Roger LordMr and Mrs Rodney DonaldMrs Judy MowschensonMrs Moira Warr-kingMrs Linden Innes-HopkinsMiss Diana KeechMrs Pamela ThompsonMr Daniel BrinsdonMrs Agnes StuartMr Martin SnowdenMr Michael BurtonMiss Sheila FraserMr Matthew Hart-DykeMrs Leonie RichardsMr Walter AdamsMr Robert AndrewsMs Sophie HusseyMr Timothy WoodsIt was wonderful to have so many RCMalumni donating to the ScholarshipFund for the first time. If you wouldlike to discuss making a donation tosupport RCM Scholars or would liketo hear more about how this moneyis used please contact Kate Eberwein,Development Executive on020 7591 4320 orkeberwein@rcm.ac.uk21

Births, marriages & obituariesMarriagesDevelopment Officer, Joana Witkowski,married Jérôme Le Crapper on 21 August2010 at Heidelberg Castle, Germany.ObituariesWe were saddened to hear of thedeath of the great soprano and RCMalumna Dame Joan Sutherland, whopassed away in Switzerland on 10October last year. In 1951, Joan camefrom her native Australia to study at theRoyal College of Music under Clive Carey.It was at the RCM that she met herhusband, conductor Richard Bonynge,who was a fellow student. During thoseearly years in London they formedone of the most important personaland musical partnerships in the worldof opera, which was to serve her wellduring her incredible rise to stardomand over a long and astonishing career.She became one of the world’s mostlauded opera stars, and none other thanLuciano Pavarotti, with whom she oftenperformed, described her as “the greatestvoice of the 20th century”.Neil Richardson passed away in October2010. Neil studied clarinet, piano, andcomposition with professor WilliamLloyd Webber at the RCM in the 1940s.Following his studies at the College, hetook up National Service and played soloclarinet with the band of the Royal AirForce at Cranwell. It was as a composer,however, that he was perhaps best know.His music was used in numerous TV,film and radio productions includingApproaching Menace (the Mastermindtheme tune) and the famous test cardpiece Scotch Broth. He was also prolificas an arranger and conductor, workingwith various BBC Radio Orchestras inthe 1960s–1990s including the BBCNorthern Radio Orchestral, which he wasinstrumental in founding.Flautist and long-standing RCM FriendRichard Adeney died in Decemberlast year aged 90. Richard entered theRCM at the age of 17, where he studiedwith Robert Murchie, first flute withthe BBC Symphony Orchestra. Hewas later offered a professorship butdecided, apparently after only oneafternoon, that his heart was in playingrather than teaching! He played withJoana Witkowski married Jérôme Le Crapperseveral of the chamber orchestras thatemerged after the second world warand was Principal Flute in the LondonPhilharmonic Orchestra (LPO) from 1942until 1950, and then again from 1961 to1970. Afterwards he freelanced with theLondon Mozart Players, the GoldsbroughEnsemble (later the English ChamberOrchestra), the Boyd Neel Orchestraand the New London Orchestra. He wasactive as a soloist and recitalist, and afounder member of the Melos Ensemble,and continued to play with some of theLondon orchestras on and off until hewas seventy. Richard was a lifelong friendof Malcolm Arnold, whom he met atthe RCM. They had been colleagues inthe LPO, where Arnold was principaltrumpet, and Arnold wrote several workswhich Richard premiered.Pamela Alice Larkin passed away on29 October, aged 88. She graduatedfrom the College with an ARCM in 1942having studied piano with Kendall Taylorand singing with Dorothea Webb. Shewas awarded Herbert Sharp Prize in 1942and Hopkinson Gold Medal in 1943.Long standing RCM Friend and alumnusViscountess Clare Chelmsford died28 December 2010, aged 80, after along illness. She was the wife of the lateViscount Jan Chelmsford, mother toKim and Tiffany, grandmother to Elen,Tom, Frederic and Edward. Her funeralwas held on 20 January at Chelsea OldChurch, London.Press officer Suzanne Graham-Dixondied on 26 March 2010, aged 78. Foralmost 30 years Sue acted as UK pressrepresentative for a number of Europeanopera and music festivals. Living withinwalking distance of the RCM, she gotto hear many rising talents and helpedlaunched many of their careers. Suecreated a young singers prize in memoryof her father and often invited singersto perform at her home as well assponsoring them in various ways.BirthsLearning and Participation CoordinatorKaty Hemingway and her husbandFrancis are delighted to announcethe birth of their son Alfred GeorgeHemingway on 20 December 2010,weighing in 8lbs 2oz.Alfred George Hemingway22

Royal College of MusicPrince Consort RoadLondon SW7 2BSTel: +44 (0)20 7591 4300Fax: +44 (0)20 7589 7740Email: info@rcm.ac.ukwww.rcm.ac.ukThe Royal College of Musicis a registered charity. No. 309268Box Office: 020 7591 4314weekdays 10am-4pmUpbeat: 020 7591 4372news@rcm.ac.ukAlumni: 020 7591 4368alumni@rcm.ac.ukRCM Friends: 020 7591 4331friends@rcm.ac.ukSupporting the RCM: 020 7591 4320keberwein@rcm.ac.ukHiring RCM facilities: 020 7591 4674mcosgrave@rcm.ac.ukHiring RCM musicians: 020 7591 4367droberts@rcm.ac.ukSwitchboard: 020 7591 4300info@rcm.ac.ukUpbeat is printed on Lumi Silk, which consists offibre sourced from sustainable forests.Designed and Produced by The Design Avenue • www.thedesignavenue.co.uk