Resonate: August 2023
Welcome to your August 2023 edition of Resonate!
We’re excited that our full autumn season is now on sale, including our ever-popular lunchtime recitals, our student-led Spotlight series, and our festive Christmas Family Day. You can explore our full programme of events on our What’s On page.
As our students continue to enjoy their summer break, with many of them performing at festivals across the UK, we’re relishing the last few weeks of our 50th anniversary year, including a fantastic five-star review for a very special Proms performance – more below.
Read on for news of our new Junior Fellows in Chamber Music, and a selection of this month’s highlights featuring our students and award-winning alumni.
‘fiery precision and brilliance’
★★★★★ review for BBC Proms
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A recent performance at the BBC Proms featuring over 50 alumni and current students has been hailed as ‘stunning’ and ‘outstanding’ in a fantastic five-star review by the Guardian.
Conducted by Mark Wigglesworth, the BBC Philharmonic gave the world premiere of ABLAZE THE MOON by RNCM Associate Member Grace-Evangeline Mason, before our International Chair in Piano, Sir Stephen Hough CBE, joined the orchestra for Rachmaninov’s First Piano Concerto.
You can read more about the performance on our website and read the full review here.
The performance is available to on BBC Sounds until 9 Oct.
There are still a small number of tickets left for Prom 36: A Space Odyssey on Fri 11 Aug, featuring the RNCM Chamber Choir and alumna Jennifer France alongside the Edvard Grieg Kor and London Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Edward Gardner.
Paddington Trio
Ensemble Appointed RNCM Junior Fellows in Chamber Music
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We’re pleased to announce that the award-winning Paddington Trio have been named as Junior Fellows in Chamber Music for the 2023/24 academic year.
The trio, comprising violinist Tuulia Hero (Finland), cellist Patrick Moriarty (Ireland) and pianist Stephanie Tang (US), started their adventure together at Paddington Station during the pandemic and have quickly emerged as a remarkably versatile ensemble.
The trio said: ‘It is such a privilege to get to join RNCM as Junior Fellows in Chamber Music next year. We view this as a very unique opportunity to share our love and care for great chamber music with like-minded students, and to really dive into the warm and vibrant scene of the school.’
Meraki Duo
Alumni Win First Prize at International Chamber Music Competition
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Congratulations to the Meraki Duo who recently won first prize at the International Chamber Music Competition for Flute and Guitar (II Concurs Internacional de Música Cambra Flauta & Guitarra) in Spain. The duo, comprising Meera Maharaj (flute) and RNCM Associate Member James Girling (guitar), will be putting the prize money towards recording their first album.
Regularly performing across the UK, the duo soon celebrates its 10th anniversary having formed at the RNCM during Welcome Week 2013.
You can catch the Meraki Duo performing a varied recital programme at Church Stretton Arts Festival on Wed 9 Aug. For more info, click here.
Amy Webber
Funny Bones: Vocal Graduate Takes Musical Comedy Show to the Fringe
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Alumna and former RNCM Students’ Union President Amy Webber is touring her debut one-woman musical comedy show, No Previous Experience, to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this month (3-13 & 15-27 Aug).
Amy has written songs for BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio Manchester, and Youtuber Max Fosh. She won the prestigious Audience Choice Award at the Musical Comedy Awards (2020), was shortlisted for BBC New Comedy Award (2021), and won the runner up prize at Beat the Frog World Series (2022).
No Previous Experience received five-star reviews at Brighton Fringe in May, as well as a nomination for ‘Best Newcomer’. For more info on Amy’s Edinburgh performances, click here.
Anna Appleby: Drought
New Opera by RNCM Composer Receives Premiere Broadcast
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We’re excited that a new one-act opera by PhD composer Anna Appleby will be broadcast on BBC Radio 3 this weekend.
Drought charts a metaphysical tale of retribution and remorse revolves around two characters on a drought-stricken farm, and the rising tensions between them.
This broadcast, recorded at the world premiere performance by the BBC Philharmonic last year, is conducted by alumnus Jack Sheen, and features alumnae Sally Pitts (soprano) and Lila Chrisp (mezzo-soprano) as soloists.
The performance will be broadcast on Sat 5 Aug at 10pm on BBC Radio 3.
RNCM Roof Garden
Generous Support Helps Breathe New Life into Much-Loved Outdoor Space
Following generous funding from the Godlee Family and the Haworth Trust to mark our 50th anniversary, the RNCM is thrilled to be able to breathe new life into our much-loved roof garden, a secluded green space for the benefit and wellbeing of our students and staff.
Originally opened in 1974, the roof garden was commissioned when the RNCM building was almost finished as a gift from the first Chair of our board, Dame Kathleen Ollerenshaw, in memory of her daughter. The designs were created by architect and landscape architect Michael Brown, in collaboration with his wife, ceramic artist Joan Brown.
In response to this new funding, a staff and student gardening group has been formed by individuals keen to help restore the space to its former glory, while enjoying spending time together to connect outdoors.
We’ll be sure to keep you updated on the progress as we regenerate this treasured space.
4 August 2023
