The Key - Spring 2008 - Musicians Benevolent Fund

the key Spring 2008DONATIONS24Since the last edition of the key, the Musicians Benevolent Fundhas received donations in memory of the people listed below.We offer our condolences to all their loved ones and thank themfor their donations.Bryan BalkwillPhilip Francis BatesAndrew BennetAdrian William BoltonEna ChristophersenMuriel da CostaMartin CubittMarcus CuttsStella DartonAlan William DaviesWinifred DewhirstLewis DysonJack Eustace EdwardsJohn George EmmettMrs FeliciaTed ForrestRebe Freeman ThomasEric Stephen GeorgePauline GibbsLesley HayesBetty HealyJames HennessyGordon HerbertEric HollandCharles HopkinsWilliam Henry HoskingGrant HossackDerek Hossle-StandringGeoffrey Meacham HughesH. Geoffrey JohnsonFritz KestnerMaureen KingTerence Howard LandonAnne LewingtonAlan Brittan LockEric Francis LockraneJohn Alfred LofthouseLorna Blyth MaclureIrene MalamArthur MasonClement McWilliamHugh MichaelFrank Roland MillingtonSusie Elaine NewcombeJoy NobleGeoffrey Haslam RamsdenEnid SeftonWilliam Derek SimpsonAlfred SmithMr F F StephensJames WarburtonJohn Leslie WardWilliam WaterhousePeter Wentworth-FosterAudrey WilliamsDolores WilliamsonFriends RegionalRepresentativesCambridge: Miss Rosemary WheelerTel: 01223 247899Cheshire: Mrs Mary ParishTel: 01619 624143Glasgow: Ms Evelyn BrysonTel: 01419 424771Leeds: Ms Josie BrooksTel: 01132 696169London (N11): Mr Adrian BrownTel: 020 8361 6771London (NW3): Professor Kyla GreenbaumTel: 020 7267 0698Thames Valley: Miss Vivienne Davis MBETel: 01344 486853Friends Subscription RatesStudent Friend Free (for 10 years to students onmusic-related courses at UK/Eireinstitutes of higher education)Musician Friend £10 annually(for professional musicians)Friend £20 annuallyJoint Friend £35 annually(for two people at the same address)Life Friend £600 (single payment)the key is published by theMusicians Benevolent FundEditors: Susan Roberts, Emma Perona-WrightContributors: Rosanna Preston, Jackie Conn,Rosalind Parry, Adam Buckles, Jonathan WhiskerdDesign: Catherine Webb, Martin ShirleySpring 2008The newsletter of the Musicians Benevolent FundSongwriting successTackling hand injuriesSummer holidays in SandringhamLatest string awards16 Ogle StreetLondon W1W 6JATel: 020 7636 4481Fax: 020 7637 4307Email: info@mbf.org.ukWebsite: www.mbf.org.ukRegistered Charity 228089Plus news and events

the key Spring 2008Photos by Gareth Hacker4FEATUREthe key Spring 2008Songwritingsuccess“I was trying to sing and they had cut through the wallof my stomach – it was hurting.”But the effort paid off, as those who know him knew itwould. “He’s incredibly dedicated alongside his talent,”says his tutor Andrew West, who runs the MA insongwriting at Bath Spa. “I’m not surprised he made it.He would have made it from his hospital bed.”Not having a guitar worthy of the occasion was also nobarrier – he borrowed one from The Bedford, where theawards have been held for the last three years. His ownguitar was a cheap buy when he first started to play duringhis A level years at school. He has no formal musicaleducation. His first love was theatre and it was only in thecourse of his Drama A level that he became interested inthe potential of performance and theatre.This is the fifth year of the MBF Songwriting Awards,held annually to encourage new talent. Six finalists oncommercial and popular music courses around thecountry are selected to perform at The Bedford in southLondon. For students coming from all over the UK it isoften their first chance to play in the capital.It is also a chance to perform songs in front of peoplewho have written some of the most memorable hits of thepast few decades.“This raises the level of performance as high as you canget,” says West, formerly of Cornwell, Cook and West,and songwriter for the Carlin Music Library andWarner/Chappell/Nashville. “It’s a unique opportunityfor these students and you get a great demographic whenyou invite the cream of the songwriting communities fromuniversities. It’s very fresh and there’s a lot of talent.”Bath Spa has been“It’s a uniqueopportunity for thesestudents and you geta great demographicwhen you invitethe cream of thesongwritingcommunities fromuniversities.”represented strongly overthe past few years. Thesecond placed band in2006 – Jub – is also on theCommercial Music courseat Bath Spa and HannahRei, who won last year andrecently graduated fromthe Liverpool Institute forAndrew WestPerforming Arts (LIPA), hasjust started a Masters there.“This does bring something fresh to the industry,” saysTony Moore. “It inspires a new generation to think abouttheir craft. Winners have proved that they can go on andmake it. One year builds on the next. It really is gettingbetter every year.”5The MBF’s annual songwriting awards last November buzzed with headyexcitement as six finalists from around the country vied for the £5,000top prize. But this year there was a touch of hidden drama…Winner Justin Saltmeris, 20, of Bath Spa University- the only finalist with a solo acoustic guitar -stunned a stellar panel of judges with a virtuosoperformance and two powerful songs.His first ‘I’ll Never Love Another Man’ (about a womanwho has lost three husbands) was performed with daringand panache. He had discarded suggestions that he mightgender adapt the lyrics. “I like performing it like that, it’squite surreal,” he said afterwards. In his second ‘I Close MyEyes And Think Of You’ he sang about his family. He wasbrought up on the Isle of Wight with his four brothers andsister. In a strong field, the judges’ decision was unanimous.“You did something that no one else had done – startingwith the first song,” said Tony Moore, singer, songwriterand keyboard player and one of the judges. GuyChambers, co-writer of five of Robbie Williams’ mostsuccessful albums, chaired the panel for the fourth time ina row and was joined by Cathy Dennis whose hit songsinclude Britney Spear’s ‘Toxic’ and David Stark,Editor/Publisher of SongLink International magazine.Judging for the first time this year were more giant namesin the industry - 80s music icon Nik Kershaw and DanGillespie Sells (guitarist and lead singer with The Feeling).They – and the audience – were unaware of Saltmeris’angry red scar from a burst ulcer early in the month. Hehad been on his way to a lecture when a niggling stomachache turned into something life threatening. A friendrushed him to hospital where he was operated onimmediately and stayed for a fortnight. Preparing for thecompetition in the few days after his discharge was tough.Left hand page and cover: Justin SaltmerisAbove from left to right: Ziggy Sullivin, Tony Moore,Marc Oliver, David Stark, Guy Chambers,Justin Saltmeris, Nik Kershaw, Dan Gillespie Sells

the key Spring 20082007 MBF SONGWRITINGAWARDS FINALISTSAndrew Coleman, Liverpool Institute for Performing ArtsRobert Drath, University of DerbyRokhsan Heydari, Academy of Contemporary MusicMarc Oliver, Northumbria UniversityJustin Saltmeris, Bath Spa UniversityZiggy Sullivin, Kingston UniversityFEATURE67Because the standard was so high, two extra prizes of£2,000 were awarded, to Ziggy Sullivin of KingstonUniversity and Marc Oliver from Northumbria University.For the winner of this competition, doors can open. TheWombats, victors in“This does bringsomething fresh to theindustry. It inspires anew generation tothink about their craft”Tony Moore2005, have releasedseveral successful singles– their last ‘Let's DanceTo Joy Division’ inOctober 2007coinciding with theirdebut album ‘A GuideTo Love, Loss And Desperation’.For Justin Saltmeris, the award meant he could buy a laptop – his first ever – and a new guitar. He also aims to buyhigh quality microphones and equipment to record hismusic so he can take it out to a much wider audience.Gathering funds to do this is key – over Christmas, heheaded back to earn money on the Isle of Wight bycleaning rooms at the hotel where his mother is headhousekeeper. Then in the New Year, he started to toursolo and with his band, The Drunkards Ball. For details,visit www.myspace.com/justinsaltmeris2Top left and Centre: Runner-up Ziggy Sullivinwith his band Interlude,Left: Runner-up Marc Oliver,Right: Guy Chambers, Chair of the JudgesBelow right: Winner Justin Saltmeris

the key Spring 2008Right from left to right: HRH The Duchess of Gloucester,Jude Kelly (Artistic Director, South Bank Centre),Timothy Walker (Chief Executive, LPO) andChristoph Eschenbach (Conductor, LPO)Below: James O'Donnell (centre) andGabriel Jackson (right)Photo by Benjamin EalovegaThe Musicians Benevolent Fund presents8EVENTPhotos by Andrew Dunsmore9Note for the diary...Royal Concert 2008Friday 4 April 2008, 7.30pmBarbican Hall, LondonTickets: £6 - £30Tickets are now on sale for the 2008 Royal Concert whichwill be held in the spring rather than the autumn this yearto mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of theNational Youth Orchestra. The concert will be in thepresence of a member of the Royal Family.The National Youth Orchestra, widely regarded asone of the world’s finest young orchestras, will bedirected by the internationally acclaimed young Russianconductor Vasily Petrenko. A highlight of the concert willbe the premiere of a commission by BBC YoungMusician of the Year 2006, Mark Simpson (madepossible by financial support from the MBF), the FourAbove: Choristers from Westminster Abbeyand Westminster CathedralLeft: Richard Smith (Musician's AnsweringService) presents MBF Chairman ChristopherYates with a cheque for over £13,000Below from left to right: Mark Pemberton(Director, ABO), Christopher Yates (Chairman,MBF), Timothy Walker (Chief Executive, LPO),Martin Höhman (Chairman, LPO) andRosanna Preston (Chief Executive, MBF)at the presentation of the Bronze HealthyOrchestra CharterA sun-filled Westminster Abbey was the setting for the world premiere ofcomposer Gabriel Jackson's glorious anthem in celebration of Saint Cecilia,the latest in a long line of anthems commissioned by the MBF to mark this keyfestival for the charityJackson’s Aeterna Caeli Gloria was a highlight of the 2007 festival service on21 November. As is traditional the piece was sung by the combined choirs ofWestminster Abbey, WestminsterCathedral and St Paul’s. Theservice rotates between the threechurches and is attended by theCity of London Livery companies.“Being optimistic by nature,I am very drawn to radiant, lightfilledtexts, with their invitation toGabriel Jacksontry and create a dazzling brightnessof choral sound,” Jackson said of“I was absolutelythrilled – it was such afantastic and eminentoccasion. A servicewhich celebratesmusic and musiciansis a wonderful thing”preached and lessons were read by Dame Felicity Lott and MBF ChairChristopher Yates.The Festival Lunch was held at The Banqueting House, Whitehall wherejournalist, broadcaster and writer Matthew Parris was the speaker and both thePromenaders’ Charity and the Musicians Answering Service presented chequesto the MBF.The 2007 Royal Concert, the third part of the festival, took place a week laterat the Royal Festival Hall in the presence of Her Royal Highness The Duchess ofGloucester. The London Philharmonic Orchestra performed with pianist RichardGoode and soprano Marisol Montalvo, conducted by Christoph Eschenbach.On the programme were Beethoven‘s Piano Concerto in C minor and Mahler’sSymphony 4 in G.Last Songs of Richard Strauss, with soprano Gabrielehis piece. “The opening of AeternaThe concert was preceded by the presentation of an MBF/ABO BronzeFontana, and Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring.caeli gloria attempts such a fierce brilliance.”Healthy Orchestra Charter to the LPO. The Healthy Orchestra is a charter mark forMBF Friends are entitled to a 10% discount on toppricetickets by calling the Barbican Centre on 0207 6388891, quoting 'Friends of the Musicians BenevolentFund' and their membership number. Please note thisoffer is only available by phone and not online.Photo by Benjamin EalovegaJackson said he considered the commission a huge honour and had attendedthe 2006 service to see what was involved.“I was absolutely thrilled - it was such a fantastic and eminent occasion,”he said. “A service which celebrates music and musicians is a wonderful thing.”The Very Reverend Dr John Drury, Chaplain of All Souls College, Oxford,professional orchestras that are displaying good practice towards the physical,mental and emotional health of musicians. So far over half a dozen orchestrashave reached Bronze level status.

IN FOCUSthe key Spring 2008the key Spring 200810Photos by Simon RitterFor a musician, a hand injury can bedeeply traumatic. It can mean pain,anxiety about losing income and theemotional upset of not being able toplay. Highly specialised therapy canhelp by using the instrument as arecovery toolRoad to RecoveryTommy Caris is a jazz/rock guitarist who makes hisliving through studio work, teaching and playing gigsin some of London’s top venues including The JazzCafe, The Borderline and The Ministry of Sound. Wheninjury struck in January 2007 it was a devastating blow.For Tommy the guitar was far more than just aninstrument. He began to play at the age of 13 when hisfamily was living on a 60 foot sailing boat on the southcoast. A few years earlier he had started learning thepiano but stopped on moving aboard the boat.“I had thought about the trumpet but I was standing inthe queue to sign up for lessons at school with my motherwhen she said 'you know, we’ve got a lovely guitar athome' – bought by my father and never used - and forsome reason I swapped queues.”His father, a jazz fan, at one time ran a club from hispub in Edgware. “It was a big influence on me. BeforeI actually played I had these melodies in my head;Miles Davis and Coltrane jazz solos. They were thenursery rhymes I grew up with.”After only a few lessons, his exceptional talent emerged.An overweight teenager who was self conscious and oftenAbove: Hand therapist Katherine Butler workingwith guitarist Tommy Carisunhappy at school, he started to define himself throughhis guitar playing and created a way of life around it.His approach to playing was driven. His academic worksuffered as he devoted so much time to practising andgigging. Ian Millican, a jazz guitarist in Brighton, tookhim under his wing and when money ran out, taught himfor free. He helped him link up with other, moreexperienced jazz musicians and at the age of 15 he wasgigging with a quartet of men in their 40s/50s/60s-"much older and at the top of their game."He left school at 16 and did a jazz performance-baseddiploma course at Chichester College of Arts, Technologyand Science. While there, he came third in the SunAlliance Young Jazz Musician of the Year awards. Thiswas a turning point. Graham Collier, then in charge ofthe jazz performance course at the Royal Academy ofMusic, rang and asked to see him. From 1996 to 2000he studied at the RAM.“This was an awakening of the kind of person I amnow; I started to diversify. I’m now very much a leadguitarist and a front line performer.”Winning a Perrier Jazz Award in 2000 opened moredoors and, as driven as ever, he started to forge a highlysuccessful career. Just before his injury, he had beenrecording an album with Rosabella Gregory (winner ofthe 2007 New York Songwriters Circle award) which isdue to be released in 2008. It was a tiring and stressfulprocess followed by a heavy Christmas and New Yearschedule in clubs. In January 07 the blow struck. Hewoke one morning with an acute pain in his left thumb.“It was as if someone had stabbed a Stanley knife intothe bone of my wrist. The pain was excruciating.“I knew it was serious. I went to A & E and the doctorgave me a diagnosis of De Quervain’s syndrome. I saidhow long would it bebefore I got better; hesaid it could be twoweeks, two months ortwo years.“I was devastated.It’s not just a loss ofmoney. It’s like the lossof a close friend. It’s notas egotistical as losingyour identity. But it’salmost as if the betterTommy Carispart of me comes outwhen I’m working.“I cancelled gigs and said it could be a year before I was“I knew it was serious.I went to A & E andthe doctor gave mea diagnosis of DeQuervain’s syndrome.I said how long wouldit be before I gotbetter; he said it couldbe two weeks, twomonths or two years”back. That’s when the MBF started to help me out withliving costs. I just wanted to make sure I didn’t go under.I had to go home and live with my parents… It was ahuge change.”De Quervain’s syndrome occurs when two tendons inthe wrist are ‘strangled’ due to thickening in the sheath inwhich they run. This thickening can be caused by overuse, a change in the blood supply to them, or positioningof the affected limb that makes the tendons more11

the key Spring 2008IN FOCUS12susceptible to becoming swollen and painful.A sympathetic GP arranged for hand therapy at Chelseaand Westminster Hospital but specialist knowledge wasneeded for full recovery and to help prevent a recurrence.He was referred to one of the UK’s leading handtherapists, Katherine Butler, who specializes in work withmusicians. The MBF helped with costs.A flautist who studied at the Elder Conservatorium ofMusic in Adelaide, Australia, she understands the issuesinvolved. When treating musicians, she knows that injuriescan be emotionally testing.“They’re relieved that someone knows what pressuresare on them as musicians and understands howdevastating psychologically and spiritually it can be.If they can’t play, they can tend to doubt themselves.”Her approach is holistic.“I encourage musicians to view their bodies as if theywere athletes,” she says.She tries to assess musicians with their instrumentswhere possible, as often only then does the cause of theproblem become apparent. Treatment can includemassage, a graded return to play and home exerciseprogrammes. Stretching and strengthening exercises canbe important, as can ergonomic advice on sleepingpositions, practice and playing postures.With Tommy, Katherine took several steps immediately,adjusting the tension of his guitar strings and altering theangle and height at which he held the guitar to helpalleviate the pressure on his affected thumb.To begin with Tommy was unable to grip the neck ofthe guitar properly and would wrap a towel around theneck to make it easier.Although frustrating, hefound this meant hecould concentrate onpractising his right handtechnique, something heKatherine Butler, Hand Therapist could not previouslyafford the time to do.In August 2007 he found he could manage to play with“I try and respecteveryone’s time andget people better asquickly as I can”both hands again, at first only five minutes a day but, bySeptember, was able to play his first professional gig. Henow plays for four hours a day, breaking the time into 20minute sections with five minute breaks.For Katherine, this is an ideal result – minimum treatmentwith maximum effect. She aims to help musicians managethe treatment of their injury and gives them theknowledge to take responsibility for their health.Above: Katherine using a Jamar Dynanometer tomeasure Tommy's grip strength“I try and respect everyone’s time and get people betteras quickly as I can,” she says. “It’s a balance you have tostrike. I try to see people as much as they need but as littleas necessary.”TIM WHEATERThe MBF often joins forces with the PRS (Performing Right Society) to supportmusicians. Tim Wheater is a composer, flautist and vocalist who specialises inwork with the therapeutic uses of sounds. Early in 2007 he broke his lumbarvertebrae badly in a domestic accident and spent three weeks in intensive care aftera delicate operation. He says he feels blessed not only for the care he receivedfrom the NHS, but also because of support from the MBF which, with that from thePRS, helped financially in the following weeks. The PRS gave him a grant forsubsistence and living expenses and the MBF helped to provide supplementarytherapies. “There’s a very gracious and sympathetic attitude to it all which makes adifference,” he says. “It’s very kind – and kindness is one of the most importanthuman requisites. It’s just tremendous.”STEPHEN PRINGLEStephen Pringle, a jazz pianist, is one of more than 180students who have benefited from the MBF’s student healthscheme for private specialist treatment. He heard about theawards, which have totalled £37,000 since the scheme beganin January 2006, through the welfare officer at Trinity Collegeof Music, where he studies.He had experienced occasional pain in the main joint ofthe fourth finger of his right hand for some time, but theproblem became acute when he was playing a gig last June.Thanks to the grant, he was able to arrange prompttreatment with hand specialist Katherine Butler. The speedwith which the grant came through was crucial, he says.“I was really anxious to be seen as soon as possible.”He saw Katherine weekly at first, then fortnightly, until hewas able to play again without pain. By November, he was ableto perform in Japan.The MBF’s student health scheme offers financialassistance for the treatment of performance-related healthproblems, both physical and psychological. The scheme is partof a wider strategy within the MBF to promote health awarenessamongst music students and tutors in higher educationinstitutions across the UK and Ireland. The aim is to reduce thenumber of music students whose studies are interrupted due toperformance-related injury or illness.MBF promotes theStudent Health schemein IrelandMBF staff travelled to Dublin last October to promote thecharity’s work in Ireland.Jonathan Whiskerd visited four of Dublin’s colleges andinvited them to join the student health scheme. Going out tocolleges and talking to staff has proved a very effective wayof spreading news about the grants available.“The hope is that we will be able to help Irish musicstudents to the same extent as we have helped thosestudying in the UK,” he said.Meanwhile, Rosalind Parry and Adam Buckles, of theCommunications Department, attended a music trade fair topromote the MBF’s work to Irish musicians and industryprofessionals, talking to many musicians and explaininghow the MBF might be“The hope is that wewill be able to helpIrish music students tothe same extent as wehave helped thosestudying in the UK”Jonathan Whiskerdable to help them.“Our presence atIreland’s biggest musictrade fair was aneffective way ofpublicising the help thatthe MBF can offer tomusic professionalsand students alike,” says Rosalind. “It also providednetworking opportunities with professional organisationsand music colleges from across Ireland, as well as highprofileindustry figures such as Louis Walsh.“Visitors were delighted to learn about the existence ofthe MBF and were amazed at the help available. We’re keento encourage applications from Irish music professionalsand students.”IN FOCUS13

the key Spring 2008MBF HOLIDAYSthe key Spring 2008MBF HOLIDAYS 2007In 2007, the MBF offered holidays to 127 guests (93 beneficiariesand 34 spouses/partners/carers). For the first time guests wereoffered a choice of one week at two different hotels and resorts.Some beneficiaries are more comfortable with only one week at atime, so holidays can be spread out throughout the summer leavinga second one to look forward to.The hotels and resorts were selected from areas all over the UK,including Ayr, Bexhill-on-sea, Bournemouth, Eastbourne, Isle ofWight, Llandudno, Lytham St Annes, Seaton and Sandringham.Hotels are chosen very carefully to ensure they will provide acomfortable, welcoming and stable environment for guests.The holiday in Sandringham at the Park House Hotel had the largestnumber of guests and was thought to be the most successful theMBF has ever arranged for beneficiaries with degenerativeillnesses. The holiday diary opposite was sent to us by the carer ofone of our beneficiaries following their stay at Park House.IN FOCUS14Every year, the MBF organises holidays for its beneficiaries and their carers – breaks thatare eagerly looked forward to. Jane Wernham, of Spalding, Lincolnshire, who suffered astroke in 2000, went to Park House, Sandringham, once a royal residence and the birthplaceof Princess Diana. Her carer Mary Brice sent us a picture diary of their two-week stay:“At last! Days had been crossed off on the calendar anditems needed for the holiday spread on the spare bed forat least a week. Danny, the cat, was delivered to thecattery and Timmi, the King Charles, was deposited withfoster ‘parents’.Finally, wheelchair safely stowed in the boot and ourluggage stuffed on the back seat, we were ready for the hour’sjourney to Park House.Jane, always extremely nervous about anything new, askedfor the umpteenth time if I knew the way. I’d actually drivento Sandringham the previous week to ensure that I did! Beinga car passenger is a nightmare for Jane. Her spatial awarenessis such that she’s sure we’re running out of road.We received a really warm welcome. Our luggage washandled for us and Nurse Jackie showed us to our room,pointing out en route the touch panels to open doors andemergency buttons seemingly everywhere they could possiblybe needed.Our beautifully appointed room, with a really spacious wetroom, was superb. Jane wept.We looked out over the gardens, pool and a panorama oftrees and sky. Photos can’t capture the tranquillity.In due course, we were welcomed by Roslyn, the MBF rep,at a drinks party for the musical contingent. Several were toopoorly after long journeys but those of us there were quicklyintroduced. Jane instantly recognised Clarence Adoo(trumpet) who had featured in an article in the key. Michael(double bass) and I discussed the merits of home tuition,Sharon (flute) described her joy that her daughter wasfollowing in her footsteps – and so on. It was all very friendly.Jane is usually in bed by 6-ish, but at Park House sheenjoyed her 6.30pm meal and – if not too tired –entertainment.We realised from the moment we entered the dining roomthat we were going to be spoiled. There was ample roomfor chairs to negotiate routes to tables, numerous friendly,helpful staff and – of course – delicious food. Our onlyproblem was deciding what to choose from the menu.Apart from main meals, coffee and biscuits were servedin the spacious conservatory at 11am and tea and delectablehome cakes at 4pm. It was really hard to resist suchtemptations.Jane quickly realised that compared with many she wasfortunate. She is improving: others have less hope. She cancommunicate – others are sad, angry and trapped. At home,going out in her power chair is a huge effort but she found atPark House that she could venture out into the grounds andmake her way around inside. I felt superfluous at times!Opening doors – without help – was a great joy for her.The wonderful weather was a huge bonus. Outings werearranged daily but Jane opted to enjoy her ‘holiday home’.It was bliss for her to sit on the patio to read, paint, write (19!)postcards or just gaze.We cannot praise the efficient and kind staff too highly.Their response when anyone requested help was immediate.When Jane was helped to shower, the impression was giventhat there was absolutely no rush.For her, the visit to Park House was the best experiencesince her stroke. Watching and noting her confidence grow,seeing her constant smiles, watching her animated talks withother musicians – I saw such improvements. On every card Iwrote for her she asked me to say “Having a wonderfultime.” She was – and huge thanks are due to the MBF.”MBF HOLIDAY GRANTSThe MBF also makes grants to individuals who prefer to make theirown arrangements for holidays. For example, a number ofbeneficiaries used the grant to visit relatives or friends who wereill or in nursing homes or hospitals, or to visit friends they hadn’tbeen able to see for a long time.A number of grant recipients went abroad, either to stay with theirfamilies or to travel with friends. Others were unable to stay awayfrom home, or simply preferred to take day trips rather than go awayfor any long period of time. The MBF receives a large number ofletters of thanks for holiday grants each year. The grants enablebeneficiaries to visit people and places they could not otherwisehave afforded to. In 2007 a total of 357 grants were made averaging£250 per person.HOLIDAY HIGHLIGHTSA highlight of the holiday season for some beneficiaries this yearwas a visit to a concert at the De La Warr Pavilion at Bexhill-on-sea,given by MBF Council members John Dankworth and Cleo Laine,who both celebrated their 80th birthdays in 2007. A group of 11MBF guests staying at the nearby Northern Hotel attended.15

the key Spring 2008MBF STRING AWARDSPANEL MEMBERSthe key Spring 2008The MBF’s highly coveted string awards were held last October at theAssociated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, LondonGUILHERMINA SUGGIA GIFTPAU CODINATHE MANOUG PARIKIAN AWARDJENNIFER PIKERPS EMILY ANDERSON PRIZEJOO YEON SIRManoug Parikian Award &RPS Emily Anderson PrizeRonald Corp (chair)Andrew HaveronLorraine McAslanAndrew WatkinsonAWARDSGuilermina Suggia GiftRonald Corp (chair)Pal BandaRichard LesterSusan MonksGuilermina Suggia Gift £3,000Pau Codina (cello)EDUCATION16The young Catalan cellist Pau Codina was awarded the GuilherminaSuggia Gift for the second time. Codina, born in 1988 in Barcelona,first won the £3,000 Suggia Gift in 2004. A year later, he received aGeoffrey Shaw Scholarship of £1,500 through the MBF.He started to play at the age of five under Eulalia Subirà andsubsequently studied with Ivan Chiffoleau, Daniel Grosgurin and PeterThiemann. In 2002 he was awarded a place at the Yehudi MenuhinSchool and is currently studying at the Guildhall School of Music andDrama with Louise Hopkins. He has taken part in several InternationalMusic Festivals including the Manchester Cello and Chamber MusicFestival and the Kronberg Cello Festival, and has performedextensively throughout Europe. He has performed as a soloist with theBarcelona Sinfonietta, the Empordà Chamber Orchestra, the AndorraChamber Orchestra and the Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra ofBudapest.Violinist Jennifer Pike, who first won the £3,000 Manoug Parikian Award in2005, was awarded it for a second time. This follows a £1,000 Geoffrey ShawScholarship through the Parikian auditions in 2004.In 2002, aged 12, Jennifer became the youngest ever winner of the BBCYoung Musician of the Year, following her acclaimed performance ofMendelssohn’s Violin Concerto with the BBC Symphony Orchestra.She made her BBC Proms début in the Royal Albert Hall at 15 and hastoured extensively in Europe and the US. Highlights of her current seasoninclude radio recordings of concertos by Sibelius, Bruch and Mozart with theBBC Symphony, BBC Scottish Symphony and Ulster Orchestras, Vivaldi’s FourSeasons with Manchester Camerata, the Mendelssohn Concerto with the RPOand the Sibelius with the Tampere Philharmonic in Cadogan Hall, London,and in Finland. She also presents recitals for broadcast on Radio 3 and atWigmore Hall.Jennifer became a postgraduate student at the Guildhall School of Musicand Drama at the age of 16, where she studies with David Takeno. She isgrateful to the Stradivari Trust for the loan of a 1708 Matteo Goffriller violin.Seventeen-year-old Joo Yeon Sir received the RPS Emily Anderson Prize of£2,500, provided by the Royal Philharmonic Society.Joo Yeon began her musical studies at the age of five in her native Korea.Aged six, she performed at the 12th Mozart Spring Festival on the piano whichwas broadcast on national TV. A year later, she appeared as a soloist with theKorean Philharmonic Orchestra.Since 2000, she has studied at The Purcell School with Dr. Felix Andrievskyand has performed at various venues including Wigmore Hall, Britten Theatre andBishopsgate Institute and has given concerts as a soloist with many orchestras.In 2006 Joo Yeon became Grand Prix Laureate at the Prof. NedjalkaSimenova International Competition for Young Violinists in Haskovo, Bulgaria,where her performance was broadcast on Radio Bulgaria (BNR). She wasSevenoaks Young Musician in 2007 and won the “Prix de l’Hospitalité Musicale2007” from Masters de Belesbat International Music Academy. She wassupported by a John E. Mortimer Award from the Philharmonia Orchestra/MartinMusical Scholarship Fund in 2007.Joo Yeon is also a talented composer and won the BBC/Guardian YoungComposer of the Year in 2005 for her composition Conflict in Time, which hasbeen performed at Wigmore Hall and Cadogan Hall by Endymion and has beenbroadcast on BBC Radio 3.Manoug Parikian Award £3,000Jennifer Pike (violin)RPS Emily Anderson Prize £2,000Joo Yeon Sir (violin)MBF Music Education Award a total of £12,500 was awardedOscar Alabau (cello)Charlotte Bonneton (violin)Jonathan Dormand (cello)Benjamin Gregor-Smith (cello)Victoria Harrild (cello)Adelia Myslov (violin)Mikhail Nemtsov (cello)Jessie Richardson (cello)Sophie Rosa (violin)Shuai Shi (violin)Geoffrey Shaw Scholarship a total of £4,000 was awardedStella Cho (cello)En Yuan Khong (violin)Jun Sasaki (cello)Peteris Sokolovskis (cello)17

the key Spring 2008the key Spring 2008Ursula Vaughan Williams15 March 1911 – 23 October 2007Welcometo new MBF staffSince the last edition of the keyseveral new members of staff havejoined the MBFTRIBUTE18Ursula Vaughan Williams, who died in October, was a wellrespectedauthor, poet, and librettist, as well as patron andsupporter of numerous musical organisations, including theMBF. Many of her poems were set to music by well-knowncomposers such as Gerald Finzi, Herbert Howells, ElizabethMaconchy, Malcolm Williamson and of course RalphVaughan Williams, to whom she was married until hisdeath in 1958. She also wrote several novels, a history ofthe Bach Choir and Vaughan Williams’s biography, whichwas published in 1964. After Vaughan Williams’s death,Ursula served on the governing body of the Royal Academyof Music and for many years on the Casework andExecutive Committees of the Musicians Benevolent Fund.She also played an integral part in the administration of theRVW Trust and served as honorary vice president of theRVW Society. She became president of the English FolkDance and Song Society in the latter part of her life, a postonce held by Ralph Vaughan Williams.A service of thanksgiving for the life of Ursula VaughanWilliams was held on Monday 5 November at St John’sWood Church. The music featured several of RalphVaughan Williams’s hymn tunes along with his piece fororgan ‘Prelude on Rhosymedre’ and his choral setting of‘Dirge for Fidele’. Ursula’s poem ‘No hand in the night’ wasread by actress Jill Balcon and Lord Armstrong of Ilminster,a family friend of the Vaughan Williams’, gave an addressin which he remembered happy times spent with Ralph andUrsula at their home in Regent’s Park.Staff at the MBF will remember Ursula VaughanWilliams with great respect and affection. She oftenattended MBF events and was hugely supportive of itswork. Many older members of staff were fortunate to enjoya close friendship with her and for many of the youngerstaff it was a great privilege to have the opportunity to meetsomeone of such historical significance and import to themusic world.Peter WhittinghamJazz AwardsShaney Forbes and his quintet Empirical won the PeterWhittingham Jazz Award 2007 at fiercely contested auditionsin December. The group will use the £4,000 prize to cover thecosts of recording and promoting an album of original music.Empirical – Jay Phelps (trumpet/voice), Nathaniel Facey (altosax/voice), Kit Downes (acoustic piano), Tom Farmer (doublebass), and Shaney Forbes (drums/percussion) – was formed inearly 2006 and met while members of Tomorrow’s Warriors.Empirical’s debut album, produced by Courtney Pine, hasreceived wide critical acclaim. Empirical also recently won theEBU/European Jazz Competition at the North Sea Jazz Festival.Eight auditions took place at The Vortex Jazz Club, London,in early December. As the standard was so high, the panel alsodecided to make an MBF Development Award of £2,500 to TrishClowes which she will use to put on a series of gigs at Londonvenues featuring her own original compositions performed byjazz quartet with vibes/percussion and cello.On the panel of judges, chaired by Chris, son of the late PeterWhittingham, were Dave O’Higgins, saxophonist, Clark Tracey,drummer/composer and Steve Rubie, owner of the 606 jazz club.The Peter Whittingham Jazz Award is awarded annually to anindividual jazz musician or group showing talent and innovationand with an exciting project that needs funding. Peter Whittingham,an expert in survival medicine, was a gifted pianist who particularlyenjoyed the music of 20th century jazz icons. The Award was setup by his family in 1989 and is administered by the MBF.Applications for the Peter Whittingham Jazz Award can bemade by individuals or groups under the age of 26 towards acomposition, performance or recording project. Recent winnersinclude Soweto Kinch, Manchester based jazz sextet 6pac, andLondon based jazz ensemble Led Bib who used their award tofund the highly successful Dalston Summer Stew Festival in 2006.WELCOME TO:Grace BanksEducation AssistantJackie ConnDirector of Communications & DevelopmentCharles JacobsCasework Visitor, South West & South WalesPiroska MarkusSenior CaseworkerBeverley SimmsHome Manager, Ivor Newton HouseWELFARE BENEFITSUPDATE FOR CASEWORKERSThe MBF and the Performing Right Societyjoined forces last year at a seminar held inOctober to update staff knowledge on the welfarebenefits system.“The MBF organized a trainer from the CitizensAdvice Bureau and the Royal Society of Musiciansallowed us to use their beautiful meeting room fora training day that was extremely useful and agreat opportunity to share information and skillsacross the charities,” said Emma Featherstone ofthe Casework department.NEWS19

the key Spring 2008events roundupAs always we are extremely grateful to those who have held events and donated money tothe Musicians Benevolent Fund. Emma Perona-Wright has rounded up news from across thecountry since the last edition of the key.MBF Carol Concert 2007the key Spring 2008EVENTS20We would like to thank the groupGhosts and everyone involved in theproduction of the oratorio Re:Creationat Holy Trinity Church, Guildford, forthe generous donation of £530following the premiere performanceof the work last summer.Our thanks go to Freya Creech whoorganised a concert in aid of the MBFin September. Freya played her violinat the concert and the collectionmade raised a fantastic £370.94 forthe MBF Young Talent Awards.The Edinburgh Light Orchestrarecently gave a concert at the QueensHall Edinburgh in celebration of theOrchestra’s 30th anniversary. We arevery grateful to them for the verygenerous donation of £1,000following the concert. The orchestraplayed to a full house under the batonof Mr James Beyer. A chequepresentation was made to MBFCasework Visitor, Gina Woods on thenight.Many thanks to The AthenaeumClub who once again held a verysuccessful concert and chose theMBF as the charity to benefit fromtheir kind donation of £300.We are very grateful to the HeliosOrchestra, formed to give charityconcerts in East London, for the verygenerous donation of £800 followinga recent concert.Earlier this year Martin Williscompleted a parachute jump from3,500 feet at Strathallan Airfield, nearPerth, in aid of the MBF and raised afantastic £582.80. Our thanks andcongratulations go to Martin for thisamazing achievement.Our thanks go to St. Andrew’sScottish Episcopal Church, Banffand in particular Mr Trevor Leuty, fornominating the MBF as the charity tobenefit from the collection taken attheir choral evensong. We are mostgrateful for the donation of £87.80.Thank you very much to the UnitedReformed Church of St. Andrew &St. George, Bolton, for the donationof £500 raised from the proceeds oflunchtime concerts held at thechurch.We are extremely grateful to PrivettCharity Concerts and their ConcertOrganiser and Founder, ElizabethCurtis, for the fantastic donation of£4,429.55. This money was raised onbehalf of the MBF at the Privett OperaGala Concert in September.Our grateful thanks go to NigelPerrin for the generous donation of£1,750. Nigel recently celebrated hisbirthday by arranging a concert withthe City of Bath Bach Choir, JuniorCBBC, Exeter Festival Chorus andBath Camerata at The Forum in Bath.The proceeds raised were splitbetween the MBF and the Children’sHospice South West.Many thanks to members of BrentSymphony Orchestra and its VicePresident, Susan Legge, fororganising the recent charity concertin aid of the MBF at St John’s WoodChurch. The concert raised a fantastic£1,672.40 towards the MBF’s workand we are very grateful to everyoneinvolved.The Vasari Singers were on fine form at the MBFCarol Service at St Paul’s Church Covent Gardenon 14 December.The programme included Mendelssohn’sFrohlokket ihr Völker auf Erden, Bob Chilcott’sThe Shepherd’s Carol, Vaughan Williams’s RockingHymn and Peter Wishart’s Alleluya, a new work iscome on hand.Readings were by actress Karen Archer andRadio 3 presenter Donald Macleod. These included theever popular Christmas by John Betjeman and FrankJacobs hilarious The 1981 Night Before Christmas.The service helped to raise more than £800 forthe MBF. Our thanks go to the Vasari Singers, theirconductor Jeremy Backhouse, organist Andrew Earisand Karen Archer and Donald Macleod for all theirhard work and for making the evening a huge success.Right: The Vasari Singers performing atthe MBF Carol Concert 2007IN TERRA PAXA programme of Christmas musicincluding the London premiere ofA Midnight Mass by Ronald CorpIn Terra Pax was presented by The London Chorus,joined by MBF award winners Mary Bevan (soprano),Gerard Collett (baritone), Kitt Garner (trumpet) andBrian O’Kane (cello).The concert took place at St. John’s, SmithSquare, and was conducted by Ronald Corp, andaccompanied by organist William Whitehead. Allproceeds from this concert went towards the work ofthe MBF.21Left: Brian O’Kane, Cellist

the key Spring 2008NEWS22The YoungConcertArtists TrustAs part of its remit to encourage the next generation ofprofessional musicians the MBF spends more than £300,000 eachyear supporting organisations which provide advanced training andperformance opportunities to outstanding young musicians.The Young Concert Artists Trust (YCAT) is one suchorganisation and has been supported by the MBF since 1999.YCAT nurtures and promotes outstanding young classicalmusicians and chamber ensembles. YCAT represents its chosenartists for a minimum of three years and aims to offer managementand guidance in all areas of the profession at the start ofmusicians' careers before finding suitable commercialmanagement to broaden their horizons. Many MBF award winnershave gone on to or are currently represented by YCAT.Concerts coming up this year featuring MBF award winnersat Wigmore Hall include:4 March – Violinist Thomas Gould (lunchtime recital)6 March – The Navarro and Sacconi String Quartets(evening concert)1 April – Tenor Adrian Ward(lunchtime)For more information visitwww.ycat.co.uk.CorrectionAbove: Tenor, Adrian WardOur apologies for an error in the last edition of the key.The article ‘Musical interlude at this year’s AGM’ on page10 should have begun ‘A programme of music by MBFbeneficiaries Philip Tarlton and Tom Pilling entertainedstaff, trustees and supporters at the Annual GeneralMeeting in London last July’.ReaderOffer!Buy any volume of ‘Hail! Bright Cecilia’ and get a free copy ofa CD by internationally acclaimed violinist Viktoria Mullovaand the Mullova-Ensemble; Ottetto in fa maggiore D 803 byFranz Schubert.The MBF has teamed up with Askonas Holt to offer thislimited deal to readers of the key. Viktoria Mullova has beenan established violinist for over 20 years working with thePhilharmonic Orchestra and the Vienna Symphony Orchestrato name but a few. She has also performed as soloist anddirector with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment,making this an offer not to be missed!This offer is available online only through the MBF’s shopwww.mbf.org.uk/shop. Visit us today and buy ‘Hail! BrightCecilia’ or ‘Hail! Bright Cecilia 2’ to claim your free CD of theMullova-Ensemble.Please note there is a limited number of Viktoria MullovaCDs to be given away and this offer is subject to availability.FRIENDS CONCESSIONSFriends of the MBF are entitled to a whole variety of concessions for the 2007/08 season. Offers includeconcerts, magazine subscriptions and musical giftware. All event tickets are subject to availability and Friendsshould quote their membership number on ordering and produce their membership card on collection. TheMBF is very grateful to all of the organisations taking part in these concessions – please do take advantage ofthe offers where possible! Becoming a Friend of the MBF is easy. Sign up online at www.mbf.org.uk/supportusFriends Concessionsspnm – promoting new musicDiscounts on annual membershipfees.Royal Scottish National Orchestra20% discount on tickets for 2008performances.Scottish Chamber Orchestra20% discount on tickets in Glasgow,Edinburgh and Aberdeen.Royal Northern Collegeof Music10% discount on any RNCMpromotion.Manchester Camerata£1 off concert tickets at TheBridgewater Hall and RNCMduring 2007/08.Clonter Opera10% discount on top pricedtickets for all forthcomingperformances.Hallé20% discount on tickets for HalleThursday Series concerts.Milton Keynes City Orchestra20% discount on top three ticketprices for concerts at Milton KeynesTheatre.Ex CathedraBook tickets and pay theconcessionary price listed for theprice band of your choice.City of BirminghamSymphony Orchestra10% off CBSO promotions atSymphony Hall, Birmingham.Orchestra of the Swan20% off promotions at Town Hall,Birmingham and Civic Hall,Stratford-upon-Avon.London CommunityGospel ChoirGospel Workshop Choir- 10%discount on all course fees.BBC Symphony Orchestra20% discount on tickets for allconcerts during the 2007-08Barbican season.BBC Concert Orchestra20% off the full price of concertsheld at the Southbank Centre.London Symphony Orchestra10% off top-price tickets on allLSO evening concerts at theBarbican Centre.London PhilharmonicOrchestra20% off all tickets for LondonPhilharmonic Orchestra concertsin London.Royal Albert HallDiscounted rate for tours run bythe Hall.English Chamber Orchestra20% off selected concertsCadogan Hall, Wigmore Hall.The Serlo Consort£2 off top price tickets for J.S.Bach’s St John Passion, 8thMarch 2008, Ashtead, Surrey.Oxford Philomusica10% off all our concerts in our2007/08 season (offer excludesthe Viennese Ball).Brighton Early Music Festival200810% off all tickets for 6th Aprilconcert and in the autumn series.Face the Music,Musical Giftware10% discount on a fantastic rangeof musical giftware at our shop inBurley.St. George’s Bristol-Musicians’ ChoiceLunchtime Concert Series£2 off tickets for all lunchtimeconcerts.Magazine SubscriptionsImpromptu Publishing Ltd10% discount on annualsubscription to: Gig, Brass BandWorld, Muso and Link.Irish Music Magazine20% discount on annualsubscription to Irish MusicMagazine.Musical OpinionSubscribe for £20 per annum UKrate or £35 worldwide. Half priceto student Friends in UK.GramophoneTake out a subscription toGramophone today and you cantry your first three issues for just£1. After your trial ends you willpay just £10.56 every three issuesand save 20% on the cover price.NMESave up to 40% on the cover priceof NME.UncutSave up to 35% on the cover priceof Uncut.Guitar and BassSave up to 40% on the cover priceof Guitar and Bass.Rhinegold Publishing LtdSpecial offers on six marketleadingtitles: Classical Music,Opera Now, Music Teacher, Piano,The Singer, Early Music Today.Full details for all of theseoffers can be obtained via ourwebsite www.mbf.org.uk/friendsAny promotional codesrequired can be obtained fromEmma Perona-Wright,Supporter Relations Officer,tel: 020 7636 4481, email:eperona-wright@mbf.org.uk.the key Spring 2008CONCESSIONS23Don’t miss … Ticket discounts … Cut price magazine subs … Don’t miss