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The Magazine for the Royal College of Music I Summer 2009
Transformed!
What’s inside...
Welcome to upbeat...
In this Summer Issue of Upbeat, we are thrilled to unveil the newly refurbished
Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall, which opened in March with a spectacular Contents
performance of the War Requiem by one of our most famous alumni Benjamin
Britten. The event was conducted by Martin André and truly tested the new 4 In the news
acoustics with its extremes of emotional and dynamic range. See page 12-13 for Updating you on the recent
goings on of the College from
a pictorial summary and pages 10-11 for details of the completed project. the world of research to the
world of reality television
The reason for the new name for this great performance space is revealed on
page 14 in an interview with Geoff Richards, one of the key supporters of the
project. As Managing Trustee of the Amaryllis Fleming Foundation, he provides
8 RCM Sparks Summer Music
Our Education and Outreach
an insight into the motivations and character of this outstanding former Programme goes from strength
student and professor. to strength with a jam-packed
summer programme
As well as a round up of many other goings on at the College on page 9, you
will also see that we are once again hosting Proms Plus events this summer.
There are over 70 events in the Proms Plus series, providing a fascinating 9 Events round-up
Some of the performances
context to the season’s music and artists.
and other activities taking
place this term
We are always keen to hear from students and staff past and present – so if you
have anything you’d like us to feature in the next issue of Upbeat, send your
news and pictures in to news@rcm.ac.uk by 21 September 2009. 10 All about Amaryllis
An insight into the former
student cellist and professor
NB: Please note that we cannot guarantee to include everything we receive and that we
reserve the right to edit submissions.
12 Britten War Requiem
A pictorial review of the
spectacular opening concert in the
Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall
14 Introducing the new hall
Upbeat unveils our new world-
class performance space
16 Student notes
Current student success stories
18 Staff notes
News from professorial, academic
and admin staff
20 Alumni notes
A digest of graduate news
The Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall, a stunning venue fit for the 21st century. 21 Births, marriages & obituaries
Front cover - The newly refurbished RCM Amaryllis Fleming concert hall 22 A Royal Visit
Inside front cover - The Sound of Perfume, held at the RCM in association with HRH The Prince of Wales attended
Clive Christian Perfumes (see also page 4) the College in May to present a
Inside back cover - Images from the recent production of Handel’s Alessandro, a collaboration number of prizes and awards
between the RCM and the London Handel Festival
3
In the news...
BBC Symphony Orchestra collaboration works through an ongoing relationship
with the orchestra, its conductors and
We are delighted to announce a unique student will be assigned a mentor from management team.
new programme that will build on the within the orchestra to provide advice,
Paul Hughes, General Manager of the
long-standing relationship between guidance, coaching and feedback. BBC Symphony Orchestra commented:
the RCM and BBC SO, and broaden “This scheme is part of an innovative
the experience offered to student The BBC Symphony Orchestra has
had an extensive relationship with and adventurous education programme
instrumentalists aspiring to enter the which aims to open up the full breadth
orchestral profession. the Royal College of Music and its
students for more than decade and of our work to the widest range of
Each year up to ten final year RCM has long offered students the chance participants. Within that programme,
postgraduate students will be selected to attend rehearsals and concerts and investing in the orchestral talents of the
to participate in the scheme. Starting work with its musicians. While many future is a central and to be making
that investment in partnership with
in July 2009 and running throughout ‘one-off’ sit-in schemes exist, this
the Royal College of Music, one of the
the year, they will sit in on BBC SO year-long programme gives students
world’s leading music conservatoires, is
rehearsals covering a wide range of an opportunity to develop and refine
tremendously exciting.”
repertoire and may also perform with their orchestral performing skills and to
the orchestra in a special concert. Each understand better how the profession
The Sound was selected by a judging panel and
announced by the two head judges:
studies. From these three pieces, the
audience voted Stay Gold – written by
of Perfume Clive Christian and RCM Chairman
Lord Winston. Both of the head judges
Ikuyo Kobayashi and performed by RCM
pianist Maria Marchant – as the overall
commented that the pieces had been winner.
A ground-breaking project which saw
of an extremely high standard and that
the Royal College of Music join forces The innovative project was recognised
judging was very difficult indeed. After
with Clive Christian Perfumes (makers at the 7th Annual Fragrance Foundation
much deliberation, the winners were
of the world’s most expensive perfume) ‘FiFi’ awards at the Dorchester Hotel,
announced as:
came to a grand conclusion in the Britten when The Sound of Perfume was
Theatre in February (see page 2 for Erick Flores – The Last Rose of 1872 awarded a ‘Special Commendation for
images). The invited audience heard nine Vlad Maistorovici – Transcent Education and Innovation’.
new pieces by RCM composers, three Ikuyo Kobayashi – Stay Gold
inspired by each of the three perfumes For more information on the project visit
in the Clive Christian range - 1872, X and Each of these composers was awarded www.thesoundofperfume.com (see
No.1. A winning piece in each category a substantial cash prize towards their also page 2 for images of the event).
Young Britten
Nigel Luckhurst
Tuesday to Saturday, 2–5pm; then from
1 October to 11 December it is open
A fascinating new free exhibition at Tuesday to Friday 2–5pm. Admission
The Red House in Aldeburgh traces is free.
the early musical development of one
of the RCM’s most illustrious students. Linked to the exhibition is a series of
Young Britten: schoolboy, composer four lunchtime lectures about the music
looks at some of the 730 works that Britten wrote aged 10–18, with excerpts
performed by gifted young players of the
Benjamin Britten wrote between the
same age. These take place at 12.30pm at
ages of 6/7 and 1932, the year he left the
Aldeburgh Church on 24 July, 4 August,
RCM. It explores the young composer’s
14 August and 25 August. Admission is
influences during these formative years,
£5 per lecture, or £15 for the series - call
and draws on the latest research for the
01728 451700 to book, or buy on the
Britten Thematic Catalogue project. door.
Items on display include his fascinating
RCM reports (pictured). See www.brittenpears.org for more
information about the exhibition and
The exhibition, which is the Britten - lecture series.
Pears Foundation’s most ambitious to
date, runs from 13 June to 11 December
2009. Opening hours during the
Aldeburgh Festival (13 to 28 June) are
daily from 10am–5pm; from 30 June
to 30 September the exhibition is open Britten’s RCM report, 1931
4
Rag Week 2009 During a week in February a number
of RCM students were working hard
Videoconferencing
- and playing hard! - to raise money
for charity. Events included a football
at the RCM
match, a photo challenge, a comedy The RCM has been developing an
night and a cake sale and culminated intense programme of masterclasses
in “Grade 1 Idol”, in which a number and research seminars via
of students and staff (including RCM videoconferencing. A doctoral
Director Colin Lawson) took part. We seminar with the University of
managed to raise a total of £1300 and Auckland in New Zealand took
the proceeds will be going to a hugely place in April with presentations by
deserving cause in the shape of David Carla Rees (Claes Biehl’s Evocazione
Juritz’s charity Musequality, which takes del Mare, for quarter tone bass flute
and electronics) and Jessica Chan:
music projects to some of the poorest
(Frank Bridge’s Phantasm: Rhapsody,
children in the developing world.
for piano and orchestra). For more
For details visit www.musequality.org information about videoconferencing
contact Dr Tania Lisboa at
tlisboa@rcm.ac.uk
A Tudor organ at project. More information about the
organ and its smaller companion, the
Holy Trinity, Prince ‘Wingfield’ organ, can be found on the
RCO’s website at www.rco.org.uk
Consort Road
Through 2009 the College is collaborating
with Holy Trinity, Prince Consort Road
and the Royal College of Organists to
bring the so-called ‘Wetheringsett’ organ
to South Kensington. Owned by the
RCO, this instrument is a reconstruction
of an early 16th century English organ and
was built by the organ-builders Goetze
& Gwynn in 2002 as part of the Early
English Organ Project (EEOP). It is based
on the soundboard (or windchest) found
in the 1990s at Wetheringsett, Suffolk.
Now housed in the RCM Museum
of Instruments, this soundboard was
actually discovered by chance during
alterations to a farmhouse, where it may
have been used as timber for a dairy
door. According to tree-ring dating the The ‘Wetheringsett’ organ, owned by
RCM videoconferencing facilities enable us to
reach a range of contacts
tree of which the soundboard was made the Royal College of Organists
(from Baltic oak) cannot have been cut
down before about 1525. It is likely that
the original instrument was built at a
nearby church. Jerusalem this year Parry’s own orchestration will
be performed at the Last Night, and
to celebrate this, we have produced a
As no organs of this period survive The latest publication from the RCM
colour reproduction of Parry’s original
in the British Isles, Goetze & Gwynn’s is a timely reproduction of the most
manuscript score, which remains in the
imaginative and scholarly reconstruction enduringly popular work by Sir Hubert
RCM’s extensive special collection.
allows us to sample something of the Parry. Jerusalem: And did those feet in
very sophisticated pre-Reformation ancient time was written in 1916 while Copies of Jerusalem
English liturgical repertoire in a way Parry was Director of the College, and are priced at £9.95
hitherto impossible. During its time in was originally for voices and organ. each, and are
South Kensington, the ‘Wetheringsett’ is Although Parry orchestrated himself, it available from the
being used by Holy Trinty on a frequent is Elgar’s orchestration that has become RCM Box Office on
basis for recitals and in services and by better known as a regular fixture in 020 7591 4314.
the RCM for teaching, examining and the Last Night of the Proms. However
also for the V & A Listening Gallery
5
In the news...
A leading institution for Research
As part of the Higher Education Funding officially opened by Flemish Minister
Council for England’s grant allocations of Economics, Enterprise, Science,
for 2009-10, research funding has been Innovation and Foreign Trade Mrs
announced, determined by the results Patricia Ceysens. As well as a speech
of a recent research assessment exercise from the Minister, in which she outlined
(RAE). The RCM’s RAE quality profile the context for research within Europe,
triggered a rise of £148K to £471K, some the event featured varied examples of
£40K ahead of our nearest rival in the practice-based research in music being
conservatoire sector confirming the pursued by members of the ORCiM
RCM’s position as the No 1 conservatoire. team. Many Higher Music Education
Institutions and Research Centres (from
In addition, the RCM’s Graduate School
is delighted to have been awarded an
Austria, Belgium, France, Norway, The
Netherlands, United Kingdom, Sweden
Exhibition Road
Arts and Humanities Research Council
(AHRC) Block Grant partnership which
and Switzerland) were represented at the
opening. RCM Director Professor Colin
Music Day
secures AHRC funding for masters and Lawson attended the event as a special The RCM this year has further increased
doctoral studentships for the next five guest, while two RCM/ORCiM Research
years. For the 2009/2010 academic year, its involvement with Exhibition Road
Fellows, Dr Darla Crispin and Dr Tania Music Day. Music Day 2009 will take
the College will be making a total of eight Lisboa, were also present.
awards; seven awards in the Professional place around the Exhibition Road area
Preparation Masters scheme and one for for a free festival of live, international
Doctoral study. music and culture on Midsummer’s Day,
Sunday 21 June. The College is supporting
The role of the Royal College of Music a varied and rich classical music
as a key institution for practice-based programme and the Amarylis Fleming
research in Europe has also been Concert Hall will showcase exceptional
underlined by its collaborations with the RCM musicians of every generation,
Orpheus Institute in Ghent, Belgium. with chamber recitals from current
In February the Institute’s Orpheus
The Orpheus Institute students, alumni and Junior Department
Research Centre in Music (ORCiM) was
ensembles.
Owain Williams: Our American Idol The day will culminate with The
Evolution of the Piano, a concert in
which stars of the Keyboard Faculty
RCM student Former RCM student Scott MacIntyre
reached the final eight of the global perform some of history’s best-loved
piano pieces and trace the story of
becomes television phenomenon ‘American Idol’ in
April. Scott completed a Masters Degree in keyboard music from Purcell to the
present day. A stream of prize-winning
internet star Performance Studies here in 2006 where he
focussed on voice and piano. international piano students will
perform a number of piano pieces in
Following a lengthy selection process
His mentor Paula Abdul said of his time chronological order, ending up with the
from over 3,000 global entries, RCM
postgraduate student Owain Williams in the competition “Of all the contestants world première of a new work by RCM
was chosen as one of only two UK who’ve graced the Idol stage, I’m most proud composer Gavin Higgins commissioned
representatives in the YouTube of you… you’ve been an inspiration to the specially for Exhibition Road Music
Symphony Orchestra -the world’s entire world through your commitment, Day. The concert will be presented by
first ever orchestra selected entirely through your talent.” TimeOut “What’s the Score?” columnist
through online auditions. He took and RCM alumnus Karl Lutchmayer,
part in a performance at New York’s a concert pianist himself, who will
Carnegie Hall of a new piece specially introduce each work and illuminate its
written by Tan Dun and conducted position in the evolution of piano music.
by Michael Tilson Thomas. The
internet phenomenon, which has RCM performers can also be spotted at
attracted well over 15 million visitors, the Goethe Institute, Natural History
invited applicants to upload a clip of Museum, Royal Geographical Society
themselves playing. Owain recorded and the V&A. In addition to their
his audition in the RCM percussion inspirational Sunday Session, RCM Sparks
studio and was one of just 200 finalists will offer an open workshop with the
selected by professional musicians. Kazoo Collective on the Kensington
A public vote then confirmed him as Garden’s stage. For full details of the day’s
one of the 96 to go to New York. Visit Former RCM student Scott MacIntyre programme, go to
www.YouTube.com/Symphony reached the final eight of “American Idol”
www.exhibitionroadmusicday.org
6
Pianists work with Perahia Malcolm Bilson
In April we saw the distinguished Workshop
international soloist and former
Leeds International Piano Has our understanding of musical
Competition winner Murray Perahia notation transformed over the course
of history? Does a crotchet, a slur, or
hold a masterclass in the Amaryllis
an accent have the same meaning
Fleming Concert Hall where he
as it had 250 years ago? Perhaps,
worked with advanced pianists from because of the development of the
the Keyboard faculty. This event Meng Yang Pan works with Murray Perahia modern grand piano, our relationship
was extremely well attended and a to articulation, phrasing and musical
highly memorable experience for the texture has changed radically since
students who took part. the day of Mozart and Haydn?
“…it was an absolutely extraodinary These were some of the issues that
and remarkable event; not only for the Malcolm Bilson raised when RCM
College but also for musical life in the professor David Ward and six students
whole country (I could see students from the RCM – Hiren Wong, Maggie
from other colleges and cities in the Ho, Joe Cheung, Alvaro Corral Matute,
Murray Perahia in the Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall Erik Dippenaar and Balder Neergaard
audience). I am extremely grateful to
Head of Keyboard Vanessa Latarche – participated in a fortepiano
and the College for giving me such an workshop in Cossington, Somerset,
in April.
honour and the privilege to take part in
it, which had an enormous impact on Having given a recital the previous
my understanding of music. He has just night on a newly built replica of an
opened my ears!” Anton Walter fortepiano from c.1800,
Bilson gave a talk to the workshop
Anna Peletsis From left to right: Konstantin Lapshin, Anna Peletsis,
participants on musical notation and
Murray Perahia and Meng Yang Pan
Artist Diploma in Performance student performance on historical pianos.
The workshop, where the RCM
students played music by C.P.E. Bach,
A Parisian Experience Sophie-Véronique Cauchefer-Choplin
and David Graham and the students
Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven on the
fortepiano was inspiring, thought-
saw a performance of Widor’s Toccata provoking and called for a new and
In April, a number of Organ students
– in the composer’s actual church. “This fresh approach to some of the most
visited Paris for a study trip. Highlights was a hugely valuable trip providing beloved and well-known music of the
included playing in the chapel at the Palace opportunities to meet and learn from
piano literature. After the workshop
of Versailles, a visit to the Basilica of St highly-respected Parisian organists and – which was organised by Julie Anne
Denis (Pierre Pincemaille performed an to play the instruments for which much Sadie of Cossington Manor who
improvisation) and to La Madeleine, where of the repertoire was conceived, in the offered most generous hospitality –
organist François-Henri Houbart worked buildings where the composers themselves all students participated in an
with students. All attended Mass at Saint- worked”. Martin Ford – Masters informal concert in Cossington
Sulpice, performed by RCM professors Programme in Performance student Church. Without exception their
playing was inspired to new levels
of insight and vitality by Malcolm
Bilson’s energetic and provoking
teaching. We hope to welcome him to
the RCM before very long.
RCM professor Sophie-Véronique Cauchefer-Choplin with PG students Liam Cartwright and Geoff Tuson at St Sulpice Malcolm Bilson, far right
7
RCM Sparks
Summer Music
RCM Sparks is the RCM’s groundbreaking
learning and participation programme,
which provides training for RCM students
in running school-based and community
outreach work and runs an extensive
year-long programme of events in
collaboration with local schools, councils
and other cultural organisations.
The team have had an exciting term
of activity. A particular highlight was a
Sunday session offering teenagers the
chance to write music for a specially
sourced Lord of the Rings clip and a trip
to see the inspirational live performance
at the Royal Albert Hall. Also the Spring
Sing! was very much on song with people
of all ages joining us for a day of great
music making.
Summer 2009 sees our most ambitious
and wide-reaching programme of open
access events to date. Summer Music is
a series of free workshops and discovery
events that enables participants of
all ages and levels of ability to engage
with a wide variety of music. It runs
Discovery Sessions: These run on RCM Learning and Participation Manager
alongside the BBC Proms season, and
Mondays throughout the summer. Hayley Clements said “We are very excited
offers a weekly programme of interactive
Music-lovers of all ages will discover more to be able to offer such a fantastic range
creativity alongside the world’s leading
about composers whose works are being of activities this year that, we hope, offer
classical music festival. As the RCM is
performed at the Proms through the something for everyone. The RCM is such
situated opposite the Royal Albert Hall,
treasure trove of items held in the RCM an enchantingly musical place and we will
participants will be able to move directly
Library and Museum – here’s the chance be thrilled to welcome many new people
from their workshop to the concert hall
to take a look at Handel’s Last Will and
to experience live music-making. through our doors to make music here.”
Testament, Mendelssohn’s letters, and the
Summer Music comprises three distinct
original autographed score of Elgar’s Cello To book for Summer Music events call
strands of activity.
Concerto. 020 7591 4314 or visit
Practical workshops: Every Tuesday www.boxoffice.rcm.ac.uk All events are
All three strands run in addition to the
workshops for 6-9 year olds and 10-12 free of charge, but must be booked in
Proms Plus events that are taking place
year olds will provide practical creative advance. For all information contact the
every day during the Proms season in
sessions tied in to particular BBC RCM Sparks team, sparks@rcm.ac.uk,
the RCM’s newly transformed Amaryllis
Proms concerts. So the RCM Rubbish
Fleming Concert Hall. 020 7589 3643 or see
Collective! on 21 July gives participants
www.rcm.ac.uk/summermusic
the chance to make and write for their
own musical instruments ahead of a
performance of Britten’s Young Person’s
Guide to the Orchestra in Prom 13; while
Musical Landscapes gives the chance for
participants to create their own musical
responses to landscapes, ahead of the
Proms performances of the Hebrides
Overture and Pastoral Symphony.
Summer Springboard: Three-day
courses for 13-18 year olds will take
place at the end of July and August.
Participants on each course will create
their own music based on a range of
pieces performed at the Proms.
8
Events round-up
The Creative Leadership Showcase
takes place at 7.30pm in the RCM Recital
Hall on 9 July, and admission is free.
Moving into the autumn term, our
collaboration with the Philharmonia’s
ongoing concert series City of Dreams:
Vienna 1900–1935 reaches a climax in
September with two major concerts at
the RCM.
On 23 September you can hear
Schoenberg’s wonderful 2nd String
Quartet, in which a soprano soloist
appears to proclaim the musical
revolution (“I feel the breath of air of
distant planets”), juxtaposed with one of
the finest examples of the “old” Viennese
style, Korngold’s sublime String Sextet,
considered by many to be his finest work.
A week later there is an unmissable
chance to hear a concert of rarities. Egon
Wellesz, Hans Gal, Franz Schreker and
Franz Schmidt may not be household
names today, but in pre war Vienna
they were acclaimed as the finest living
composers – you’ll be able to discover
why in the Recital Hall on 30 September.
Tickets for both concerts are available
from the RCM Box Office on
020 7591 4314.
Finally, book now to ensure sure you
can make it to the London leg of English
Touring Opera’s HandelFest. Between 15
and 24 October you can hear a thrilling
Images from ETO performances group of singers, including many recent
RCM graduates, perform no fewer than
five of Handel’s operas in the Britten
The highlight of the summer term is The following week sees one of the Theatre – Flavio, Teseo, Tolomeo, Alcina
always our opera production, but this most inspiring and entertaining and Ariodante.
year we’re particularly thrilled as we events in the RCM calendar, when the
welcome one of the country’s leading Recital Hall plays host to the annual Running alongside this will be a special
Shakespeareans to put together our showcase by graduating students on series of masterclasses, talks and
production of Britten’s magical opera our groundbreaking Creative Leadership concerts, all adding up to the biggest
A Midsummer Night’s Dream. course. ever celebration of Handel’s operas.
Director Ian Judge has brought to life Launched in 2006, the course trains Tickets are available directly from the
numerous Shakespeare plays for the RSC teachers, performers and community ETO box office on 020 7833 2555.
and has directed several Shakespearean musicians from diverse backgrounds,
operas, including Macbeth for Opera helping them to work together, learn
North, Falstaff for Scottish Opera and from each other and develop their
the Châtelet Theatre, and Sir John in skills as innovative music leaders. Their
Love for ENO. He therefore promises to showcase concert presents new works
bring a special insight into his first ever devised during the year for a mixed
production of any opera by Britten – a ensemble of professional musicians and
composer he has long admired. students, including a DJ, a music teacher/
Performances of A Midsummer Night’s cellist, a professional violinist, a guitarist
Dream take place in the Britten Theatre and guest orchestral musicians.
on 29 June and 1, 3 and 4 July. Tickets are
available from the RCM Box Office on
020 7591 4314.
9
Introducing the new hall...
In May 2008, after a stunning How has all this been done? original doors were modified to include
concert conducted by Vladimir Of course the first huge challenge facing acoustic seals. Between the two sets
Ashkenazy, we waved goodbye to the College was raising the £5 million of doors, a custom-built new area was
needed to carry out such an extensive walled off to allow seat storage and easy
our much-loved but noticeably transformation. We were delighted to wheelchair access.
flawed RCM Concert Hall. Nine achieve this through a mixture of RCM’s
months later the hall shed its own investment, fundraising and a grant The air conditioning system for such a
chrysalis of scaffolding and from HEFCE. The support from our large large space of course requires a great deal
emerged as the Amaryllis Fleming number of supporters (see box) has been of power, and so a brand new housing
truly tremendous. It would be impossible was built on the roof of the Senior
Concert Hall, a stunning venue Common Room. With no vehicular
to thank them enough, as they enabled
fit for the 21st century. Since us to engage leading architects access, the construction materials
then, many of our admiring DarntonEGS to commence work on a had to be lifted in with an enormous
visitors have asked the same thrilling and ambitious project. crane, which provided perhaps the
four questions; to which Upbeat most dramatic image of the hall’s
provides the answers… In order to undertake such an extensive transformation – huge metal girders
and complex programme of work swinging into place just a few feet over
What work has been done? without completely disrupting College the College clock tower!
Visitors who are familiar with the hall life, the contractors had to come up with
immediately notice the more cosmetic a number of innovative solutions. They Back in the hall, the design of the new
improvements: the white paintwork established a nerve centre of operations chandeliers was particularly challenging.
(which takes the hall back to its 1901 in the courtyard, from where Nadine They had to be designed to reflect the
original colour scheme), the carpet that Boehm, Associate in Charge, could direct late Victorian use of metalwork, but in a
matches the Inner Hall, and the new proceedings. modern style that would be aesthetically
blue ergonomic chairs. There is also pleasing within the scale and proportions
completely new lighting – wall lights The first procedure was to fill the entire in the hall. Their ‘bird-cage’ frame
illuminating both the newly gilded hall with scaffolding, allowing access to is made entirely of brass, and they
cherubs and the recessed plasterwork; the roof and to the walls at every level incorporate various special, controlled
bold, brass chandeliers containing – a process that took a week in itself! lighting elements including fluorescent
a number of individually adjustable Then, astonishingly, the entire vaulted luminaries and spotlights that can either
spotlights; and an extensive white ceiling was removed to gain safe access illuminate tables during evening banquet
lighting rig flush against the ceiling. to the attic. Electrical cabling, a pulley events or be used for radical new modes
system for the new lighting rig, and of concert presentation.
But beyond all these, by far the most extensive aluminium ducting for the
significant and extensive changes aren’t air conditioning system could then be After the major construction work
visible at all. Perhaps most importantly, carefully woven into place together. was finished, the decoration could
the hall has been thoroughly begin. The architects undertook paint
soundproofed through a variety of While this was taking place, a sample analysis, research into original
methods, including the isolating lobby, replacement roof was fashioned, with drawings, and thorough surveys of
new doors, secondary glazing, and many of the sections made in a material existing elements, in order to carry out
special acoustic seals throughout. To called “jesmonite” rather than plaster, the successful restoration of the hall
cope with the fact that the windows because of its greater density and to its 1901 original livery. Once the
are now permanently sealed, an air strength. Each square roof panel had extensive scaffolding was removed, the
conditioning and temperature control to be positioned correctly, because new chairs and carpets could be brought
system has been installed. although they all look uniform from in, enabling the hall to open bang on
below, in fact each panel is individually schedule for its first public concert – the
Specialist acousticians have worked their crafted according to its position in Britten War Requiem on 5 March 2009.
magic behind the scenes to transform the hall, being backed with whatever
the naturally slightly booming sound combination of mineral wool and Why has the work been done?
of a barrel ceiling into a gentle bloom. cement-bonded particleboard is required It’s usually a difficult matter for any
A one-touch state-of-the-art recording to create the precise acoustic effect organisation to work out where best to
system has been introduced alongside that is required – either reflecting or concentrate its efforts and resources,
a computerised, programmable lighting absorbing the sound. but the concert hall transformation was
control system that offers almost infinite easily decided upon because of the huge
flexibility to cope with the wide range of While all these were being installed, work benefits for the students.
events that take place in the hall. was progressing rapidly in the hall below.
Cable routes were laid along the walls As RCM Chairman Lord Winston has put
Finally, we’ve attempted some “future- and control panels were installed, while it, “The RCM is committed to providing
proofing”, as new cable routes have special timber panelling and plaster the very best education possible for the
been installed to allow us to cope with mouldings were designed to keep them students that come to us from across the
whatever technological advancements concealed. A new set of doors was added world. Performing is a vital component
take place during the second century of to create an isolating lobby between of a musician’s learning experience and
the hall’s existence. the hall and the reception area, and the thanks to the help of our generous
10
The newly refurbished Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall
funders, we have been able to transform The Royal College of Music would like
the RCM’s concert hall into a world-class to thank the many supporters whose
teaching resource as befits the calibre of generosity has enabled the transformation
our students.” of the Concert Hall in 2009. We would
particularly like
Happily, the students themselves are just to thank:
as pleased, and Students’ Association The Amaryllis Fleming Foundation
President Mary Kelly has commented
The Wolfson Foundation
that “The Students’ Association
The Foyle Foundation
welcomes with delight the Amaryllis
Fleming Concert Hall. Those who have Garfield Weston Foundation
already performed in the space are Royal Commission for the
Exhibition of 1851
enthusiastic about the lighting and
acoustics, and those who have attended The Hon Richard & Mrs Victoria Sharp
concerts are impressed with the The Friends of the Royal College of Music
beautiful, updated décor in addition to The Mercers’ Company
the wonderful sounds produced by the Professor Lord Winston
various ensembles who have been lucky The Orr Mackintosh Foundation
enough to play in it thus far!” Newton Investment Management Limited
The Wyseliot Charitable Trust
Another benefit is of course that external
Anthony Bolton
organisations will want to make use of
such a tremendous resource. We are Alan Parnell
particularly thrilled that the BBC Proms Michael Steen HonRCM
will this year be holding more than 70 Honeymead Arts Trust
“Proms Plus” events in the hall – you Vernon & Hazel Ellis
can read about those in the Proms guide Roger & Stephanie Carr
or at www.bbc.co.uk/proms As Lord Professor Colin Lawson FRCM
Winston has said “we are excited to be & Hilary Birch
taking our outreach work and the RCM Mary & David Bowerman CBE HonRCM
experience to an international audience.” Joseph Williams
Deloitte & Touche LLP
What’s next?
RCM Director Professor Colin Lawson Sally Bott
has spoken of this transformation Leopold de Rothschild CBE FRCM
as “emblematic of our ongoing Richard & Susan Price
commitment to provide world-class Celia Clarke HonRCM
resources for our students and visitors.” The Hon Simon Windsor-Clive
Of course his word “ongoing” indicates Tony Leifer
that while we are delighted with the David Lewis
huge success of the concert hall project, The Marsh Christian Trust
we’re not going to rest on our laurels! John Ward Top to bottom:
Already plans are afoot for the next
Jerry del Missier 1. Metal girders swing into place
phase of development, so keep an eye 2. Scaffolding fills the concert hall
Halina Bennett
on future issues of Upbeat as you’ll read 3. A newly guilded cherub
about it here first… Dr Ingrid E Pearson 4. The new brass chandeliers
11
Britten War
Requiem,
5 March 2009
“To inaugurate the new concert hall,
after a nine month, multi million
pound, refurbishment, the Royal
College chose one of the largest works,
and one which would involve most of
the student body, of one of its most
famous alumni.
This new hall, beautiful in its simplicity,
white plaster walls, complete with
cherubs, a very large stage, high ceiling,
with space for an audience of some
400, fully met all the requirements,
and even the biggest climaxes were
heard to full advantage with clear
and well focused sound. But even in
the tenderest moments, such as the
glorious conclusion which brings
all the performers together for the only
time in the work, the sound was bright
and precise.
The hall is a triumph and the RCM can
be very proud of it, it was money well
spent and it will host many superb
concerts in the years to come and I, for
one, will always be looking forward to
my future visits there.”
Bob Briggs
Music Web International
12
13
All about Amaryllis
Why has the concert hall been renamed I used to sit and listen to her play Bach, She also had other great causes, such
the Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall? and I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone as Tibet. She was absolutely transfixed
Amaryllis Fleming (1925–1999) was play the way she played – it was just so by Tibet and by the huge injustice
an outstanding cellist who won a moving. perpetrated against the Tibetan people,
scholarship to the Royal College of and so we still support the Dalai Lama’s
She had a difficult life. She never knew school at Dharamsala, and other things –
Music in 1943, made her Proms début
when her birthday was, just that she Tibet House in London, for example.
in 1953 and had a major performing
was born around 1925. Her mother [Eve
career before returning to the RCM in Fleming] went off on a long trip, a year Although we were always dishing out
the 1970s as a professor. To find out or more, and came back brandishing a money from different sources, she never
more about her private life and her child, saying “look what I’ve adopted had much money herself, because as
commitment to good causes, Upbeat on the way”. I’m told that everyone was an adopted child she wasn’t entitled
spoke to Geoff Richards. Working for the commenting on her Titian red hair, which to any of the Fleming Trust. But the
Robert Fleming bank for many years, matched that of Augustus John, who had extraordinary thing about Amaryllis was
he became a close friend of Amaryllis the studio in the attic of the Flemings’ that she never asked me for anything for
Fleming and then Managing Trustee house in Cheyne Walk. But it’s said that herself. She lived like a church mouse
of the Amaryllis Fleming Foundation, if anyone even whispered a suggestion really. The whole ground floor of the
which has supported the concert hall’s that Eve had had a liaison, or had an mews house was like a music room: bare
dramatic transformation. He tells illegitimate child, they were immediately boards, a Steinway, a lot of books, two
Upbeat about her amazing life… threatened with legal action. rickety wooden chairs; nothing grand or
comfortable or sumptuous in any way.
… that was very sad because Amaryllis She lived simply and she didn’t really
didn’t find out until she was 23 that have a lot of objects, except that every
Augustus John was her father. He told her wall was filled, upstairs and downstairs,
and said “don’t tell your mother!” After with Augustus John’s wonderful pictures,
that, she had a tremendous relationship which he left her.
with her father, though she had a rather
more tempestuous relationship with
her mother. Her mother was a very Final years
accomplished violinist and encouraged
Amaryllis continued to teach well
Amaryllis in her music, but I think when
into her seventies. In the latter years,
Amaryllis obviously overtook her, being
when she’d had several strokes and
so talented, it didn’t make her feel very
her mobility was not very good, I used
happy. So there was a bit of rivalry there,
to go round and see her, and take her
and also Amaryllis became very beautiful
Indian or Thai food. Quite often shewas
just as her mother was aging.
giving classes as I arrived and I would
Her half-brother Richard, who was sit and wait, and I thought they were
chairman of the bank and a wonderful wonderful, these students, and they
man, was fantastic to her and looked obviously adored her. Even though she
Amaryllis Fleming
after her. All her four brothers – Richard, was incredibly sharp and tough –
Ian [creator of James Bond], Peter and I mean terrifying!
Michael Valentine – were very fond of
Leading up to her death she had a few
Well Amaryllis was an her, and they were very close.
heart scares and was in and out of
extraordinary person. She was incredibly
hospital. We talked about death, and
feisty and wasn’t very good at suffering
fools. She was lovely, and it was exciting Amaryllis’s she was really frightened. But by chance
the Dalai Lama was here on a tour, and
to be with her, not least because if
somebody said something she didn’t like philanthropy because she’d supported him for years,
or agree with, she would immediately he agreed to see her. So she was taken by
tell them, not in a cruel way but in a very I saw Amaryllis at least every couple ambulance to see him, and spent about
direct way, why she disagreed with them. of weeks but we talked probably half an hour with him. Afterwards she
She did look at things literally, and she every other day, because she would told me “It was wonderful, amazing. I’ve
couldn’t understand why people would always ring me if she heard of a cause, got nothing to be frightened of any more
be slow to take a side if it was obvious particularly students who couldn’t afford – he’s told me I’m going to fly like a bird
that they should. She had amazing instruments, or had a problem with their to heaven.” And she went to her death
principles, and she stuck by them. accommodation or their tuition fees. She absolutely serene.
was quite persistent – she would turn
Amaryllis was beautiful. She was a up at the bank and ask to see me, and
stunning woman – very tall, long say “Look, I’ve had the annual report and
hair. Even in her seventies she was an the bank’s made all these hundreds of
incredibly striking, beautiful woman, still millions, a lot of this money we should
feisty and still flirting! give away!”
14
The day before she died I called her and really appreciate the gesture of selling
said “I’m coming to see you, is there it to benefit the College, specifically the
anything you’d like?” And she said “do Concert Hall.
you know, I was thinking Geoff, I’ve never
had caviar”. So I went along to Harrods, What do you think of the Hall?
and I bought this little tin of caviar – it I think the hall is wonderful – it’s better
cost me about £250, I couldn’t believe than I could have imagined. I was
it! – and a little mother of pearl dish and dreading what they were going to do to
spoon to eat it with, and took it to her in it, but I think it’s absolutely as it should
the hospital. And she died some hours be. I think the Concert Hall is fantastic!
after, but she had her caviar. It was the (I even have no problem with the
only thing she could think of that she chandeliers!)
hadn’t done!
What do you hope the benefits of the
When she went I wasn’t sad at all. There Hall will be?
was a feeling of joy, because she was I want to see exposure for the College,
a real person, who had done so much particularly through the BBC Proms
with her life. She’d had an amazing life, usage, which is fantastic. I want
made many friends, had known absolute Amaryllis’s name to be heard and rung
love and had a lot of lovers (we all know out everywhere. And I think the RCM
that!), and she was loved by many. She has an extremely good orchestra, it really
was loved by her students, and at her does, a tremendously talented group
of students, and so I hope that in these Geoff Richards and RCM Director Colin Lawson
memorial service at St Bartholomew’s – admire the Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall
I’ll never forget, it was all their idea and magnificent surrounding it will go
they organised it themselves – they all from strength to strength and continue
turned up and performed. It was just to be replenished by students as they We hope they’ll appreciate it, because it’s
incredible. come through. incredibly important.
How did the Amaryllis Fleming What do you enjoy about The whole point is to encourage the
Foundation come into being? charitable giving? creation of excellence in music and in
Towards the end of her life, Amaryllis The privilege of being involved in making musicians. We support a lot of different
told me that she wanted me to carry a difference, that’s all there is to it. things but this is a very special cause
on supporting the causes that she Nothing else – it’s a tremendous cause. because of Amaryllis’s involvement. I
believed in and had always actively know she’ll be looking down, very happy.
What motivates you to be involved with
supported – students, helping the
the RCM? What is the immediate future of
College, and Tibet; musical, educational
It was Amaryllis’s belief in the place philanthropy in the current climate?
and humanitarian causes.
and its aims and objectives, which I was Well I sit on a number of boards, I sit as a
So on her instruction, I sold Augustus incredibly impressed with. She loved the member of the Prince’s Charities Council,
John’s paintings at auction after her College. She liked the College rather than and it’s a huge worry. The people I speak
death, and the money went into creating the Academy; she thought the Academy to who are doing the same sort of thing,
the Amaryllis Fleming Foundation, as did was for toffs! We all remember that the we think we’ve got a very difficult time
the proceeds of the sale of her house. College, when it was founded, really was ahead for between 7 to 10 years, at least.
That is what is sustaining what we do. for the benefit of students who couldn’t And charitable giving is going to be
afford it, and it’s an amazing experience hit very badly, not least because of the
My absolute objective is never to let her to give to something that’s going to make massive depletion of values. I was sitting
name be forgotten. She really did make a such a difference. in a trustee’s meeting last week next to a
difference, in a very quiet way, to a lot person who had had a third of his wealth
of people. I’d love to help find the money to wiped out in a matter of months.
improve the whole building, because it’s So people start to get jittery and
How did you come to support the Hall’s a lovely building but it needs work and stop everything.
refurbishment? needs funds desperately, so now the hall
Amaryllis had her favourite students, and this is done we’ve got to move onto the So it’s going to be difficult, but people
Raphael Wallfisch was one of them. He next chunk, a bit at a time. who love music and believe in education
was the first person who I encouraged to will still try and help, will still try and
take the loan of her Stradivarius cello, as The bottom line in terms of our giving to give a bit even if they haven’t got a lot.
Amaryllis wanted it to be used by people the College, which has been over many Myself, I will continue to do what I can,
who would appreciate it. So Raphael years – we bought the new pianos for particularly for the College, because
had it for a while, but then he found the Recital Hall, we’ve given money to without education, opening minds,
it too much of a responsibility. Then the development fund and scholarships without introducing children to culture,
rather than pass the cello on to another – is to make it a better place for the you are lost.
student, I decided that Amaryllis would students, and to encourage creativity.
15
Student notes
String stars…
The Kallisto Quartet (violins: Joshua
Burke, Faidon Miliadis, viola: Natalia
Czerska, cello: Benjamin Havas) won
First Prize in the Cavatina Intercollegiate
String Quartet Competition at the
Greenwich International Quartet
Festival… Florian Rago won the Hatfield
Concerto Competition. Earlier this
year he appeared at the Royal Concert Ilya Movchan Kallisto Quartet
Hall in Nottingham in the centenary
celebrations of the Carlton Male Voice with singers from the RCM (David Green were both finalists in The Battle:
Choir and appeared for the third time Webb, Martha Jones) at Woodhouse a European competition for composition
by popular demand as soloist with the Opera followed by a gala performance and sound design held at last month’s
Orchestra of the Restoration playing the with Sir Thomas Allen. Upcoming Unheard Film Festival in Amsterdam…
Sibelius Violin Concerto… Ilya Movchan performances include Acis and Galatea, Simon Stevens has been offered a place
won First Prize at the Bromsgrove to be performed in their walled gardens on the film scoring course at Thornton
International Young Musicians in November and also Dido and Aeneas. School of Music at the University of
Platform… Adelia Myslov won First Prize www.woodhousesounds.com Southern California in Los Angeles.
and the Audience Prize at the prestigious Paula Sides has received some
J&A Beare Solo Bach Competition… outstanding reviews of her role as
Joo Yeon Sir performed the Brahms
Violin Concerto with Ealing Symphony
Pamina with English Touring Opera in Pianist
The Magic Flute: The Independent said
Orchestra and received a scholarship
from the Philharmonia Orchestra/
she was “an outstanding Pamina: her prizewinners…
singing alone is worth the price of a
Martin Musical Scholarship Fund. She Maria Nemtsova won First Prize at the
ticket”, The Guardian referred to her as
gave lunchtime recitals at the Foundling VII Concorso di Esecuzione Pianistica
“radiant” while The Times described her
Museum, London as part of the New “Rivera di Rimini” in Italy… Alexey
“sheer vocal beauty”.
London Orchestra Young Performers’ Chernov won First Prize in the XI
Concert Series. Concours International de Musique du
Composer Maroc, in Morocco and First Prize, the
Singer successes… triumphs…
Audience Prize and the special Scriabin
prize at the 11th Scriabin International
Sarah-Jane Brandon won First Prize Piano Competition in Grossetto, Italy…
in the 2009 Kathleen Ferrier Singing Current and former JD students Sally Wigan won the Joseph Weingarten
Competition while Monica Bancos won every category of this year’s scholarship (by competitive audition)
gained Second Prize… Madeleine Cambridge Young Composer of the and will study at the Franz Liszt Academy
Pierard won First Prize in the Royal Year Competition; Jake Howarth won in Budapest next year… JD student
Over-Seas League Vocal Competition the 16-18 category, Cambridge Young Asagi Nakata (aged 13) won First
and gained a place at the National Opera Composer of the Year Nick White won Prize in the 2nd International Franz
Studio… Lukas Jakobski won the 2009 the 13-15 category and Joseph Reynolds Liszt Competition for Young Pianists
Intercollegiate Joaninha Trust Award… was the winner of the age 12 category… in Weimar (category 1: up to age 13),
Sadhbh Dennedy has been awarded a Steven Daverson was a finalist in and got to perform at the Bayreuth
Miriam Licette Scholarship in the Maggie the prestigous Moscow Jurgenson
Teyte Competition and gained a place at Competition in the Solo/Ensemble
the National Opera Studio… Anthony category. His work was performed in
Gregory and Susanna Hurrell gained the Rachmaninov Hall at the Moscow
MBF Ian Fleming Charitable Trust Music Conservatoire in June…Tristan
Education Awards… Martha Jones and Brookes won the Impuls Composition
David Webb gained Music Education Competition in Graz, Austria. Tristan
Awards… Anna Gorbachyova won is one of four composers to win a
Third Prize in the 15th International prestigious commission for the Vienna
Singing Competition Ferruccio Tagliavini based new music group Klangforum
in Deutschlandsberg, Austria… Peter Wien which will be performed in 2011…
Brathwaite won a major award from Vlad Maistorovici recently completed
the Peter Moores Foundation for the new works for the London Symphony
2009/2010 academic year… Helen-Jane Orchestra and London Philharmonic
Howells performed the soprano solo at Orchestra. Vlad’s piece for the LPO had
the world première of Carson Cooman’s: its first performance at the Royal Festival
The Revelations of Divine Love (Metaphors Hall in April this year and was conducted
from Sea and Sky) at Cadogan Hall in by Clement Power… Composition for
Florian Rago
May… A masterclass has been held Screen students John Chua and Chris
16
Festspielhaus, in a concert broadcast live
on television… Poom Prommachart
won First Prize in the finals of the
Spotlight on...
Eastbourne Symphony Orchestra Ruby Hughes won First Prize and the
Concert Competition… Aliaksandr audience prize in the 2009 Handel
Muzykantau won Fourth Prize at the Singing Competition. Opera Today
Jeunesses Musicales International Piano commented “Ruby Hughes, soprano,
Competition in Belgrade… Jianing showed a professionalism and vocal
Kong won the Derek Butler Prize in
finish in her programme which
the intercollegiate competition at the
Wigmore Hall in London… Meng Yang stood out head and shoulders above
Pan won an MBF award…William her rivals. Her larger instrument,
Cale was awarded Second Prize in the with a warm, bright tone that was
final of the Christopher Duke Piano even through the range, enabled an
Recital Competition 2009 in Watford… expressive delivery that drew every
John Paul Ekins won Second Prize in bit of drama from her choices from
the San Sebastian International Piano Theodora, Giulio Cesare, Jephtha and
Competition in Spain and an MBF Samson.” Ruby has been offered roles
award… Christopher Lee Guild has in Rossini’s Tancredi and Monteverdi’s
recently won a substantial award from Poppea at the Theater an der Wien in
the Hope Scott Trust, and an MBF and the autumn of 2009. Anna Huntley
Countess of Munster Award… at the also won Second Prize with Opera
RCM and Contemporary Piano Music
Today also commenting ”…Anna
Competition in February, Alexei Petrov
Huntley, mezzo-soprano, was the
won the John & Jean Redcliffe-Maud
and First Prize and Sally Wigan won the worthy Second Prize winner.” Ruby Hughes
Frank Merrick Prize.
contract with Classical Records. His incoming RCM students were four out
Congratulations début CD is planned for autumn 2009
and will include works by Tchaikovsky
of the eight awards made to woodwind
students; six out of the 11 awards made
also to… and Schumann… a number of RCM
students who performed extremely
to violinists (including the main top
award of £5,000 for Stepan Lavrov),
Organist Martin Ford who has been well in the competition for the Yamaha and six out of the 13 awards made to
appointed Assistant Organist at the Music Foundation of Europe Scholarship singers (including the main top award
Church of St Martin-in-the-Fields… Awards. Six of the ten finalists were
to Eleanor Dennis). We look forward
pianist Michael Ierace, selected to be from the RCM and scholarships were
to welcoming them all to postgraduate
one of the artists on the Phillip and awarded to Hannah Morgan (clarinet)
and Dominic Childs (saxophone)… study next year.
Dorothy Green Making Music award
scheme… flautist Ben MacDougall several RCM students for 2009/10 who
who has presented an early evening have also received major awards from the
Musicians Benevolent Fund through the
Out and about…
programme for six weeks on BBC Radio
Cumbria 95.6 FM entitled “Simply MBF Music Education Awards, which In May at the Oxford Playhouse six
Classics”… Konstantin Lapshin who are designed to assist with postgraduate premières by RCM composers were held
has signed an exclusive recording study. Among the many successes for in collaboration with choreographers
from the London Contemporary Dance
School and Oxford University: Sleeping
by Pedro Faria Gomes, Shapes of
Solitude by Fernando Covello, N11bis
by Steven Nunes, Discord by Adrian
More, Drop Dead by Gavin Higgins
and Interlude by Tristan Coelho…
Violinist Joo Yeon Sir will be performing
Sarasate’s Carmen Fantasy at an open-
air concert with Sevenoaks Symphony
Orchestra at Hever Castle in July…
Pianist John Paul Ekins will perform the
2nd Rachmaninov Concerto at the July
Harwich Festival… Violinist Florian Rago
will be playing with the De Havilland
Orchestra in October at the University of
The Yamaha Music Foundation of Europe Scholarship Awards
Hertfordshire.
17
Staff notes
Spotlight on...
Woodwind professor Paul Carroll’s
compositions A Royal Commonwealth
Fanfare (performed by students
from the RCM) and Harmonic
Spaces (performed by 30 children
from Chigwell School) were given
their world premières in March, at
Marlborough House in the presence Madeleine Mitchell with students at Texas Tech University masterclass in January 2009
of HM The Queen. His composition
Cantata for the Commonwealth
recorded by members of LSO with Andrew Earis (RCM Area Leader for choir which recruits undergraduate and
London Voices, was released in April Postgraduate Performers) has recently postgraduate students from the London
at the Commonwealth Secretariat. been appointed Director of Music of St conservatoires system. The first, featured
A percentage of the proceeds from Martin-in-the-Fields in Trafalgar Square. works by current RCM postgraduate
each sale of the will be donated to a composition student Daniel Saleeb,
Commonwealth charity. The piece Florilegium (Ensemble in Association) former composition student Stuart
was given its world première at have celebrated Haydn’s bicentenary with Murray-Turnbull and the London
Buckingham Palace at an event hosted a concert in the Newbury Spring Festival. première of Salve Regina 2 by renowed
by HM The Queen, performed by the The group marked the anniversaries choral composer Gabriel Jackson. The
Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields of Handel and Purcell in May by giving
second takes place at St Alfege’s Church,
with London Voices, solo tenor Steven concerts with Dame Emma Kirkby in
Greenwich on 10 July at 7:30pm and will
Leas and conductor David Rowland. Chipping Campden, Bath, at the RCM,
promote choral part-songs written by
and in the town where Handel was
British art song composers.
born, at the Halle Handel Festival with
www.sonitus-choir.com
countertenor Robin Blaze. The second
(of three) all-Haydn Wigmore Hall Violin Professor Berent Korfker is taking
concerts will take place on Wednesday up at teaching position at the Purcell
24 June (transmitted BBC Radio 3 on School this summer.
Thursday 9 July).
Composition Professor Jean-Philippe
Deputy Librarian Peter Horton has Calvin has held the French première of
given papers at two recent conferences: his opera La Cantatrice Chauve (The Bald
Woodwind Professor Paul Carroll on the significance of the friendship Soprano) at Athénée Théâtre Louis-
between William Sterndale Bennett and Jouvet in Paris.
Mendelssohn at New College, Oxford,
Violin professor and Graduate Pathway
and on Samuel Sebastian Wesley and the Michael Mullen (Assistant Curator, RCM
Leader Madeleine Mitchell has
organ at Wadham College, Oxford. The Museum of Instruments) has given a talk
toured the US and visited a number
first instalment of his two-part article on on the popularity of Pardessus de Viole in
of US Universities (where she gave
the organist and composer Edward John pre-revolutionary France at the Oxford
masterclasses) including Houston, San
Hopkins has been published in the 2009 Music Faculty (St Aldates).
Antonio, New Mexico and Midwestern
RCO Journal.
State. She will be playing music by at Rosie Perkins (Research Officer,
RCM composers in the St Petersburg Matthew Jelf (Registry Administrator) Centre for Performance Science) gave
Festival in November. has been conducting concerts in London two papers at the Sixth International
with Sonitus – a sixteen voice chamber Research in Music Education Conference
Violin professor Yuri Zhislin has held
a recital at the Wigmore Hall (on violin
and viola) joined by violinist Natalia
Lomeiko and pianist Ashley Wass. On 11
July he will be performing the Glazunov
Concerto with the I Maestri Symphony
Orchestra at St John’s Smith Square and
is planning a recording of violin and viola
duos with Natalia Lomeiko for Naxos in
the autumn.
Jeremy Cox will be standing down as
Dean of the RCM at the end of August.
He joined the College as Dean of
Yuri Zhislin Jean-Philippe Calvin
Postgraduate Studies in 1995.
18
on her research into the learning cultures Gucci launched their ‘Flora’ ad campaign
of conservatoires and redefining success in May, featuring Donna Summers’
for musicians. classic hit ‘I Feel Love’ as well as a choir
of 16 vocal faculty singers under the
Simon Powell (Director of Finance and direction of Vasco Hexel (Area Leader
Estates) will leave the College at the end
Composition for Screen). The visually
of this academic year.
stunning advert was directed by award-
Dr Ingrid Pearson (Deputy Head of winning director Chris Cunningham.
Graduate School) has commissioned www.gucci.com/uk/uk-english/gucci-
a Classical-style basset horn from news/flora-by-gucci/
Swiss maker Andreas Schöni. This
instrument will be heard in forthcoming A run of performances of Bizet’s
performances with Ingrid’s recently- Carmen at the Opéra Comique in
formed ensemble The Shackleton Trio. Parishas used Head of Graduate School
She will perform with Florilegium and at Richard Langham Smith’s new
the 2009 BBC Proms as a member of the edition, published by Peters Edition.
Gabrieli Consort and Players. The performances, with the Orchestre
Romantique et Revolutionnaire, used
Julian Jacobson recently spent six and period instruments and were conducted
a half weeks in the Far East. In Hong by Sir John Eliot Gardiner. Adrian Noble
Kong he was an adjudicator for the directed and the role of Carmen was
Schools Music Festival, the largest of Alice in Wonderland
sung by Anna Caterina Antonacci.
its kind in the world. He then travelled
to Changsha, China for a lecture and Flute Professor Susan Milan has made
Saxophone professor Kyle Horch has
masterclass and to Singapore for a a recording of Contemporary British
released a new CD recording on the
mixture of concerts, masterclasses and Flute Repertoire with Keyboard Professor
Big Shed Music label, created with the
private lessons, teaching at the Nanyang Andrew Ball which will be released in
support of funding from the College.
Academy of Performing Arts and for the June on the Metier label. This project
Entitled Flotilla, the disc is a programme
School of Young Talents. He also visited was supported by RCM. Susan is also
of chamber music for saxophones and
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for a recital and closely involved with the Charterhouse
keyboards, connected by themes of echo
masterclass. International Music, to be held from
and memory. Works by Elliott Carter, Jan
12-19 July. Six of the ten professors will
Head of Strings Mark Messenger ran his Dismas Zelenka and William Sweeney are
included, as are première recordings of be from the RCM. www.cimf.org.uk
fourth London Marathon this year in an
impressive 3 hours 45 minutes. He raised pieces by Liz Johnson, Edward McGuire, Spring 2009 saw two revivals in the USA
£4,000 giving him a total over the last Robert Myers, and recent RCM graduate of the ballet Alice in Wonderland with
four marathons of £16k for the Anthony Paul Evernden. Other performers in music by Composition Professor Joseph
Nolan Trust. the ensemble include RCM graduates Horovitz - in Reno, Nevada, staged by
Alistair Parnell, Naomi Sullivan and AVA Ballet Theatre and in Ogden, Utah
As English Touring Opera’s recently Alistair Watson. More information by IBT Ballet. This full-length ballet
appointed Music Director, Michael about the ensemble at www.flotilla.org. was commissioned from Horovitz by
Rosewell received rave reviews for uk and www.bigshedmusic.co.uk London Festival Ballet (now English
performances of JanáČek’s Katya National Ballet) and premièred in 1953
Kabanova. Hilary Finch in the The at the Royal Festival Hall. Meanwhile,
Times said “…with Michael Rosewell Horovitz’s complete revision of Adolphe
in the pit, Katya resonates with all the Adam’s score for Giselle is again being
rapture, anguish and verdant life of
played this season, having been in the
Janácek’s score”. Michael Church in The
Royal Ballet’s repertoire since 1992.
Independent commented “Accolades
to conductor Michael Rosewell, his
orchestra, and to a strong cast”. To Staff Developments
celebrate the 30th Anniversary of English
Touring Opera, Michael also conducted a The RCM is delighted to announce
wonderful cast of leading British singers, the appointment of a Director of
including the College’s very own Justin Development, Samir Savant, who joined
Lavender, in performances of Bellini’s the staff at the beginning of May. Samir
Norma in various concert venues around was most recently the Development
the country. Michael is also currently Director at Shakespeare’s Globe and his
recording an album of Lehar’s works with previous roles have included fundraising
The Orchestra of Scottish Opera. positions at the Royal Academy of Arts,
Handel House and English National
Kyle Horch
Opera.
19
Alumni notes
Spotlight on...
The RCM’s Brass Band in Residence,
Zone One Brass, recently qualified for
the Championship Section Final of the
National Brass Band Championships
of Great Britain to be held at the
Royal Albert Hall on 17 October. The
Band which was formed in 2002 by
seven students of the College, was
recently invited to perform at the
All England International Brass Band
Championship. They will also perform
alongside current RCM students on
3 July. Zone One Brass are grateful for
the continued support of Jane Barker
and the Royal College of Music. Zone One Brass
Composition for Screen alumni have David Nettle is celebrating 30 the newly re-discovered songs. Muriel
been achieving industry recognition. years of successful performance won a scholarship to the RCM in 1917
Anna Rice’s score to Irish thriller worldwide with his piano duo partner and was taught by Charles Stanford.
Anton was recently nominated for Best Richard Markham this season. They After graduating from the College,
Original Score at the 2009 Irish Film and commissioned and premièred a two- she was introduced to Roger Quilter
Television Awards whilst Nikhil George piano concerto by South African who enjoyed her songs so much he
played guitar on the Oscar, Golden composer Hendrik Hofmeyr and their recommended them to the publisher
Globe and BAFTA award-winning recordings on the Netmark label, most Augener. His signature even appears
soundtrack of Slumdog Millionaire. recently Brahms’ Complete Two-Piano as witness on her contract with the
Works, Holst’s The Planets (composer’s publisher. Her music became quite
Composer David Bruce was two piano version) and Stravinsky’s The popular for a time and as such she gave
commissioned by Carnegie Hall to Rite of Spring & Petrushka (composer’s occasional broadcasts of her work for the
write a clarinet quintet for Todd Palmer piano duet transcription) continue BBC until 1938. For more details go to
and the St Lawrence String Quartet. to receive critical acclaim. They were www.linnrecords.com
He has also been commissioned by featured in the Celebrity Recital Series
the Chamber Music Society of the On an entirely different note…
at London’s Cadogan Hall on 12 June.
Lincoln Center to compose a piece for organist Melanie Clegg recently became
Alumnus Gary Matthewman, has won the first British woman to take part in
leading soprano Dawn Upshaw (and the prize for Piano Accompanists, at ‘Das and complete the 500km Finnmarksløpet
ensemble) for the opening gala concert Lied - International Song Competition’ Sled-Dog Race. Whilst there wasn’t
of their 2009 season. Alumnus Julian in Berlin, performing Schubert and much scope for organ playing during
Marshall recently premièred his new Schumann. Pianist Christopher the race, Melanie informs Upbeat that
chamber cantata Out of the Darkness at Langdown recently gave a piano recital she did a good deal of singing, which
Winchester Cathedral. The cantata uses at the Wigmore Hall. For details of future apparently keeps the dogs happy!
text by poet and auther, Gertrud Kolmar. performance dates, visit
Kolmar was interned in Auschwitz during www.christopherlangdown.com
World War Two, where she perished.
Further performances will take place this RCM alumni glittered on the red carpet
autum. For more details go to at the Classical Brit Awards. Baritone
www.outofthedarknessproject.org Gerald Finley and his accompanist Julius
Drake were nominated for the Critic’s
Juan Ibanez has been appointed Second Choice award for their CD Schumann
Flute and Principal Piccolo of the Dichterliebe & other Heine Settings.
Symphony Orchestra of Galicia, Spain. Soprano Elizabeth Watts and violinist
Alumna Maria Jose sits alongside him as Alina Ibragimova were both nominated
Principal Flute. Adrian Bawtree has been for the Young Performer/Group of the
appointed Director of Music at Christ’s Year Award, with Alina taking home the
Hospital www.adrianbawtree.com prize.
Christopher Jepson has successfully
passed his trial period with the Deutsche Twenty-five years following her
Sinfonie Orkester in Berlin and is now a death, a recording of the songs of
full member of the cello section. RCM alumna and HonRCM Muriel
Herbert is to be released for the first
Baritone Dawid Kimberg was recently time on CD through Linn Records. Anna Rice’s score to Irish thriller, Anton, was
selected to represent South Africa at the Visiting Professor David Owen Norris recently nominated for Best Original Score at
the 2009 Irish Film and Television Awards
BBC Cardiff Singer of the World. provides piano accompaniment to
20
Discover a world of great music
Become an RCM Friend Welcome to new Friends
We are delighted to welcome the
following people who have joined
the RCM Friends recently:
Mr R Banning
Mr and Mrs Batchelor
Mrs J Digney
Mr C Fish
Mr and Mrs Goddard
Mr M G Harper
Mr E Hilton
Mrs M Hunter
Mr P Johnson
Mrs A Lansing
Mr and Mrs Majaro
Lady Middleton
Mr P Neal
Mrs Y Sasaki
Dr C Sutton
Mrs C Williamson
Mr D Wilson
Mr M Wimbs
You can become an RCM Friend by calling 020 7591 4331 or emailing friends@rcm.ac.uk – we ask for a minimum donation of
£30 a year. Benefits include: priority booking for selected concerts and opera performances, free copies of the Events Guide and
Upbeat, regular email updates, invitations to Friends events and pre–concert suppers.
Your support is vital in helping us to continue to inspire musicians of the future.
Births, marriages & obituaries
Obituaries The RCM is sorry to announce the
passing of Council Member Richard
Alfred Boe (tenor) and his wife Sarah
would like to announce the birth of their
Composer and RCM alumnus, Edward Findlater in April. A partner in Ernst & daughter, Grace Elena on 09 May 2008.
Harper passed away in April. Edward Young since 1970, Richard served in many
different management and client serving Anthony and Claire Coleman (neé
was known as both an academic and a Tomlin) are proud parents of Xavier
talented composer and pianist. He joined roles in both the UK and internationally.
Richard was very committed to the Benedict – 5lb 3oz and Dominic
the music staff of Edinburgh University Alexander – 5lb 7oz, born at 12 noon on
in 1964, in the following years he rose to College and is remembered as a modest
man, despite his many achievements. Monday 18 May.
the position of reader. His compositions
have been performed by Jane Manning
at the BBC Proms, the Scottish Chamber Weddings & Births
Orchestra and Scottish Opera – his most Jana Nováková (violin) and Václav
successful works being the opera Hedda Vonášek (bassoon) became proud
Gabler and his Second Symphony. He parents to their son, Matouš on
was the founder and director of the New October 12 2008. They were married
Music Group of Scotland from 1973 to on September 04 2005 in Pilsen, Czech
1990. Edward is survived by his first wife, Republic.
the violinist Penny Dickson, his third
wife, the cellist Louise Paterson and his Recording Engineer Ben Wiffen married
children, Edward and Alice. Jenny Fernandes in May this year in Alfred and Sarah Boe announce the
Coventry. birth of their daughter, Grace Elena
21
A Royal Visit...
HRH The Prince of Wales visits the RCM
In his role as President of the Royal Honorary Membership of the Royal included by a special celebratory
College of Music, HRH The Prince of College of Music (HonRCM) was performance by the RCM Wind
Wales spent the morning of Thursday 14 presented to the former Head of the Ensemble of Haydn’s March in E flat
May at the RCM, when he was treated to Graduate School Darla Crispin, the Major for the Prince of Wales. The Queen
performances by star RCM performers, flautist and orchestra manager Trevor Elizabeth The Queen Mother Rosebowl
and presented special honours at the Ford, former RCM council member was awarded in absentia to Andrei
College’s annual awards ceremony in the Rosalind Gilmore, NYO Director of Korobeinikov.
Britten Theatre. Communications James Murphy, RCM
Head of Human Resources Sophie Rees After the ceremony, His Royal Highness
Fellowship of the Royal College of and oboist and Musician’s Answering moved through to the RCM’s newly
Music (FRCM) was conferred upon the Service founder Richard Smith. transformed Amaryllis Fleming Concert
clarinettist and bass clarinettist Michael Hall, where he heard a performance of
Harris, the internationally renowned His Royal Highness also presented the the trio from Mozart’s Cosi fan Tutte,
operatic soprano Rosemary Joshua, Tagore Gold Medal to two outstanding performed by members of the RCM’s
RCM Head of Strings Mark Messenger, students who graduated last year – International Opera School, and was
the organist and conductor James harpist Daniel de-Fry and soprano Ida presented to Geoff Richards, Managing
O’Donnell and the musicologist and Falk Winland. They both participated in Trustee of the Amaryllis Fleming
writer John Tyrrell. a concert in the Britten Theatre that also Foundation.
Daniel de-Fry receives the Tagore medal The gathered honorands Ida Falk Winland is congratulated by the President
Acknowledgements
We would like to express our gratitude for Mr Richard & Mrs Rosemary Millar Mr John & Mrs Ruth West
recent donations from the following: Thom Napper (Pro Musica Ltd) Professor Lord Winston
The estate of Mr George F Thornton Sir Thomas Ackroyd (The Ackroyd Trust)
The Amaryllis Fleming Foundation Mr Michael Steen HonRCM
Lord Catto (Thomas Sivewright Catto
The Garfield Weston Foundation Charitable Settlement) The estate of Sir Edwin Nixon CBE DL
The Wolfson Foundation The Wall Trust Mrs Jane Barker
Anonymous donor The Opperby Stokowski Collection Trust Mr Michael Whittaker
The Foyle Foundation The Georgina Joshi Foundation St Marylebone Educational Foundation
The Leverhulme Trust The Worshipful Company of Drapers Mr Richard Barrett
BP The Rosemary Bugden Charitable Trust The estate of Miss Yvonne M Wells HonRCM
The estate of Alice B Tunkel The Lord and Lady Lurgan Trust Mr David & Mrs Jane Novak
The Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 The Worshipful Company of Fishmongers The Hon. Mark & Mrs Joanna Palmer
The Hon. Richard & Mrs Victoria Sharp Mr Christopher Parish & Mrs Samantha Axtell Mr Max Engel (The Sudborough Foundation)
The estate of Freda K Munn (Phoebe Benham Trust) Mrs Lindie Cook
Mr Philip & Mrs Christine Carne The Gilbert & Eileen Edgar Foundation Mr Michael Mahony
Mrs Fiona Fieldwick The Stanley Picker Trust Dr Ingrid E Pearson
The Worshipful Company of Musicians Mr David & Mrs Sylvia Andrews There are numerous ways in which you
The H R Taylor Trust The Derek Butler Trust can support the RCM. If you are interested
The estate of Mr Derek J Clare Mrs Anne Clayton in finding out about current projects or
Mr Julian & Mrs Gill Simmonds Mr Mark Bolland fundraising activities, please contact the
The John Lewis Partnership The South Square Trust Development Team on 020 7591 4320
22
Royal College of Music
Prince Consort Road
London SW7 2BS
Tel: +44(0)20 7589 3643
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www.rcm.ac.uk
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friends@rcm.ac.uk
Supporting the RCM: 020 7591 4320
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Hiring RCM facilities: 020 7591 4353
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