Archive for year: 2012

Brief foray down to the south coast this weekend for a recital as part of the Sacconi Quartet's festival in Folkestone. Now in its fifth year, the festival sees the quartet joined by various guest musicians each year. On Sunday afternoon Cara Berridge (their cellist) and I played music by Fauré and Schumann, and the Debussy sonata, which was followed by Ben Hancox (the quartet's first violinist) and Tom Poster playing the Elgar violin sonata. Wonderful to finally see the festival in action after hearing so much about it: it clearly has a very loyal following, and real 'buzz' to it!

The summer is shaping up to be an action-packed one: a week down at Dartington as one of their resident accompanists; a few days up in Aldeburgh as assistant conductor / chorusmaster on a production of Curlew River (in collaboration with a Japanese Koh Theatre project); a week in Denmark with The North Sea Vocal Academy; a week in Somerset as the pianist for Matt Lowe's new cello course; a few days in Versailles with The King's Consort playing continuo for Messiah performances; a big collaborative project based in Skegness as part of The Berkeley Ensemble, for the SO Festival and Latitude Festival; and a number of song recitals in various summer festivals. Looking forward to it all!

Finished teaching at RAM for the year, as exams kick in so early for the students. It's been great to work with the undergraduate singers this year, alongside various involvements in the opera department!

Conducted an exuberant come-and-sing Vivaldi Gloria in the Music at St Peter's series last night. Beautifully enhanced by the singing of Aoife Miskelly and Fiona Mackay (stepping in at the last minute for the indisposed Sarah Shorter) and the organ playing of Oliver Lallemant, the intensive afternoon workshop with singers ranging from the experienced to the complete novice produced a characterful and enjoyable performance. Well done all! Looking forward to welcoming Aoife back on 12th May to sing in the next recital in our series.

A little trip round the country this week, leaving the cello course in Dorset slightly early, for a concert near Warrington with James Turnbull. The Live at St Wilfrid's series take place in the picturesque Grappenhall Village, and seems to be extremely well supported. From there to Cambridge, to teach on the Oundle For Organists 'Advance' course (for current or incoming organ scholars, working on the range of broader skills needed as an organ scholar – in my case, how to play the piano without 'sounding like an organist', how to play for auditions, how to play for or lead rehearsals from the piano, and how to accompany). Always interesting to reflect on how my own training as an organ scholar has set me up so well for the range of things I do now, even though they seem at first glance to be unrelated! And then to Oxford, to give one of the popular Oxford Coffee Concerts in the Holywell Music Room, with recorder player Ian Wilson (Head of Wind at Eton at professor at Guildhall). Always a joy to be back at the Holywell, something of a second home having studied at Oxford and been so involved with the Oxford Lieder Festival! And finally back to London….