Resonate: November 2023
Welcome to your November 2023 edition of Resonate.
There’s something for everyone this month with an exciting and varied month of student, staff and alumni performances at the RNCM, from our annual Saxophone Day and the prestigious RNCM James Mottram International Piano Competition, to the fabulous RNCM Wind Orchestra and the unique sounds of the Terje Isungset Ice Quartet.
As ever, we’ve also got some fantastic news and stories across the RNCM community, including award nominations for this year’s Ivors Classical Awards, an exciting alumni appointment at the BBC, an insightful new podcast featuring a whole host of RNCM personalities, and more.
Terje Isungset Ice Quartet
Fri 10 Nov // 8pm
The inventor of ice music, Terje Isungset, returns to the UK with his exquisite new quartet featuring voice, ice harp, ice horn, iceophone, ice percussion and ice bass. Prepare to be transported by the extraordinary, beautiful and ethereal sounds of these unique instruments.
Beethoven Five Sonatas: Petr Prause and Jeremy Young
Tue 14 Nov // 6.30pm
We’re thrilled to welcome Jeremy Young, Head of Chamber Music and Tutor in Piano, and Petr Prause, Senior Tutor in Cello and Chamber Music, for this intimate evening of music as they perform Beethoven’s complete cello sonatas.
Elias String Quartet: Mendelssohn Cycle #1
Tue 21 Nov // 7.30pm
Artists-in-Residence the Elias String Quartet present the first of their recitals exploring the works of Felix Mendelssohn and his profound artistry. Be swept away by the poetic lyricism and emotional depth of Mendelssohn’s exuberant canon of chamber music works.
Our exploration of Mendelssohn’s chamber music continues in Spotlight Double Bill (22 Nov) as students from our School of Strings bring to life two of Mendelssohn’s quartets dedicated to Oscar I, the Crown Prince of Sweden.
RNCM Wind Orchestra: Shades of Blue
Fri 24 Nov // 7.30pm
Our wonderful Wind Orchestra unleash the sounds of swing with Bernstein’s Prelude, Fugue and Riffs, featuring a sensational clarinet solo by our International Chair in Clarinet, Gábor Varga. New works by student Helena Zyskowska and alumnus Leo Geyer feature alongside music by James Lee III, Enrique Hernandis Martinez, and Frank Ticheli.
RNCM James Mottram International Piano Competition
27, 28, 30 Nov & 1 Dec
Young pianists from across the globe join us for an extraordinary week performing on the concert platform and taking part in masterclasses led by a distinguished international jury. Attend the early rounds for free, before the finalists perform with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.
There’s lots more going on over the next month, including the UK’s largest annual sax gathering at RNCM Saxophone Day (5 Nov), an exploration of the lives and works of Robert and Clara Schumann in The Stories Behind the Songs: The Schumanns (17 Nov), The John Barbirolli Memorial Prize for Cello (23 Nov) and an exciting performance by RNCM ArkEnsemble (1 Dec).
Our ever-popular Monday Lunchtimes and Thursday Lunchtimes continue, with solo and duo chamber recitals, plus performances by our RNCM Junior Fellows in Chamber Music, RNCM Chamber Choir and more.
Visit our What’s On page for full listings.
Throwing Open the Concert Doors
Digitising our Archive Recordings
Our Archive is home to an amazing array of recordings of nearly all our student and staff performances over the past five decades. They not only celebrate the RNCM’s story, but also form an important part of Manchester’s musical heritage.
However, many of these unique performances are stored on reels of magnetic tape which are steadily and irreversibly degrading. Without conservation, they will soon be lost forever.
Thanks to funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, we will be able to save many of these recordings, but there are still thousands of reels in need of conservation.
To find out more about this important project, and how you can play a part in ensuring that these hidden gems can be enjoyed for many years to come, visit our website.
‘Our archive is part of Manchester’s cultural heritage narrative, expanding the city’s musical significance and contribution beyond indie and Madchester to classical, jazz, brass, wind, and pop. The RNCM has nurtured and launched the careers of countless instrumentalists, singers, and composers, and unlocking this heritage will inspire a new generation of music lovers.’ Heather Roberts, RNCM Archive and Museum Manager
Ivors Classical Awards
Staff, Student and Alumni Shortlisted
We’re thrilled that Larry Goves, Emily Howard, Simon Knighton, and Athanasia Kontou are amongst the 34 names shortlisted for the 2023 Ivors Classical Awards.
Larry, RNCM Head of Composition, is shortlisted in the Small Chamber Composition category, while Emily, a Professor in Composition and Director of PRiSM, is competing for the Large Orchestral Composition prize alongside PhD researcher Simon Knighton. Recent graduate Athanasia is up for Large Chamber Ensemble Composition.
We wish them the best of luck ahead of the awards ceremony at BFI Southbank in London on 14 November.
Read more about this year’s shortlist here.
Adam Szabo
Alumnus Appointed BBC Philharmonic Director
Congratulations to alumnus Adam Szabo, who has been appointed as Director of the BBC Philharmonic, joining the orchestra in February 2024.
Adam is currently Artistic Director and Chief Executive of the award-winning Manchester Collective, which he co-founded back in 2016. The Collective, who are current RNCM artists-in-residence, are renowned for their experimental programming, daring collaborations and engaging performances.
Prior to his work with the Collective, Adam enjoyed a busy and varied career as an orchestral cellist.
Find out more over on the BBC website.
Miche Robinson
Music Mavericks Podcast
Alumna Miche Robinson hosts a new, six-part podcast interviewing inspiring and creative musicians about their thoughts, feelings and experiences of the classical music world.
The interviews delve deep to discover the voices behind the instruments of her guests, all possibly considered the mavericks of the classical music industry, who haven’t taken what might be deemed the traditional route.
We’re excited to see that all of Miche’s guests are RNCM alumni or staff, including Linton Stephens, Dr Michelle Phillips, Nadia Eskandari, Michael Betteridge, Dr Jo Yee Cheung, and Amy Webber.
All six episodes are available now on Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
3 November 2023
