London Philharmonic Orchestra

residencies in Brighton and Eastbourne

London Philharmonic Orchestra is proud to have residencies along the South Coast at Brighton Dome and Eastbourne’s Congress Theatre.

The LPO is celebrating sixty years as Resident Orchestra at the Congress Theatre in Eastbourne. This season the Orchestra is thrilled to be presenting fourteen concerts across the residencies as well as partnering with local community groups and music education hubs Create Music (Brighton & Hove and East Sussex) and West Sussex Music (West Sussex), to work together to offer musical opportunities for young people.

In this issue we speak with LPO’s Fiona Higham.

Fiona studied the violin at the Royal Academy of Music in London under Professor Ralph Holmes, having previously attended The Purcell School.

She went on to work as a freelance violinist with a number of the UK’s high-profile ensembles before becoming a member of the London Philharmonic Orchestra’s Second Violin section in 1989.

In addition to performing with the LPO on stage, Fiona also regularly takes part in the Orchestra’s education programme, leading workshops designed to introduce young children to music-making, working with schools on composition and performance projects and participating in jazz improvisation workshops.

You’ve been a member of the LPO for 34 years. That’s quite a stint! Looking back, what are your highlights as regards standout performances during that time?

Gosh that’s quite difficult to answer!

When I joined the LPO I was lucky enough to work with some of the truly great conductors of the 21st Century, such as Klaus Tennstedt, Bernard Haitink, and Mariss Jansons, and this was unbelievably exciting to a young player. The Mahler symphonies and Richard Strauss tone poems, such as Don Juan and The Alpine Symphony, stand out in my memory and I remember my heart beating so fast, and being almost emotionally overwhelmed at the sheer glorious sound of the full symphony orchestra that I found myself in the middle of. Then the Jurowski years absolutely stand out as the most challenging, satisfying and thrilling concerts in my career, I remember one in particular in Eastbourne in which we played one of the Mozart Piano Concertos.

I always love the Eastbourne concerts for several reasons. It’s nearby for me, it has a lovely loyal audience of people who obviously love coming to hear us, and we get to eat fish and chips by the sea before the concert and a walk along the promenade!

Can you tell us about your very early years, how you initially become interested in music?

I was not from a musical family, but my father, who was a doctor, loved music with a passion and so I grew up with a Bechstein grand piano in the house, which sparked my interest at an early age. I was then, almost accidentally, sent to a specialist music school, The Purcell School, at the age of eight, because I had very bad health at that time. I was very happy there finding myself surrounded by talented musicians, and decided there and then that this was my career path.

How do you feel you have progressed as a musician over those years in the LPO?

Another hard question! Well… I suppose I have become calmer and less overwhelmed emotionally, meaning that the technical part of this job becomes easier and more second nature, but I hope that I have also never lost that thrill of playing a special concert with an inspiring conductor, and the joy of playing with the best musicians in the world! It truly is not like working in those times.

Are you involved in any other musical avenues, perhaps more just for the fun of it? And what other genres of music, if any, do you listen to, perform, or relax to?

I can’t say I'm involved in other genres of music currently but over the years I have joined with some of my more adventurous colleagues in playing jazz with Indian Karnatic jazz musicians (we actually toured India!) in a small group, and attempted improvisation with other jazz musicians in the Vortex Jazz club in Dalston.

Finally, what advice would you give to any aspiring musician? What difficulties does an ingénue have to overcome to be successful?

The difficulties involved in trying to pursue a career in music for young people now are so much greater than when I was starting out. I don’t want to be too negative about this, but just to say believe in yourself and your music and don’t be deterred by anything!

Visit www.lpo.org.uk/eastsussex for full information about this season’s residencies.

Interview with Anna Moulson

Live Music Promoter and Founder of Brighton’s Melting Vinyl

Shirley Collins, Jane Weaver etc. Patti was so laid back, she didn't make the soundcheck and queued up with everyone for the gig and then got straight on stage, at the end she said “I'm going down the beach” and a load of people followed her like a swarm of bees. It was a magical night at St George's Church, Kemptown.

I've enjoyed supporting local artists with gigs in Brighton and Kent and growing up with them, some have become good friends (as have audience members).

What's your opinion of the current music business and are you optimistic or pessimistic about its future?

You are obviously very much in touch with modern music phenomena, especially the indy scene. What is your own background musically?

I sang in a school choir (and have just returned to singing in the wonderful VOCA choir) and was in a bedroom band at art college, I can't tell you the name, it's too embarrassing! My great grandmother was a soprano concert hall singer, both my parents were into music; my dad Motown and my mum northern soul.

Could you tell us about the beginning of Melting Vinyl – what was the idea behind it?

I helped friends out on the door of some grassroots gig in Newcastle and got the buzz of promoting, I came to Brighton looking to be a promoter and create a platform where gigs are less ageist and more women inclusive – I grew up going to gigs that were opposite of this. Brighton was the right city (town then!) for this, I have to partly thank the gig-going audiences of Brighton and surrounding areas for this!

We both have anniversaries this year, we our 10th and you your 25th. Looking back, what are your highlights over that 25 years?

Happy anniversary too! Putting on The Strokes and The White Stripes early in their career was a big highlight, also the rock'n'rollness of Calvin Harris at the Corn Exchange, where he rocked up in his blacked out Merc and jumped on stage and played his set, you couldn't make it up! I've had the privilege of working with some great female musicians: Patti Smith, Kate & Anna McGarrigle, Martha Wainwright,

I think there is a new generation growing up who want change, the industry needs to constantly be kept in check in terms of how it represents diversity, looks after people's mental health, pays people and valuing the grassroots. At present there are a lot more women programming festivals but few who promote artists regionally all year round such as myself, there is still a lot of ageism, sexism and gate keeping.

I am working with my trade body AIP to make a change. Part of what needs to be put in place is also to increase the profile of promoters in terms of what we do behind the scenes, as I think in this part of the industry, where freelance promoters like myself, unfunded, take the whole financial risk, this is unsustainable, hopefully our working conditions can change through raising our profile of the vital role we play in providing a platform in the grassroots music scene.

And what has Melting Vinyl to offer in the future? Any specific new ideas or events you are planning or looking forward to?

MV has got a history of tailoring artists to unique projects in churches, galleries, libraries, stately homes etc. We are looking at ways to incorporate this within our programming, especially including grassroots outdoor events, as it's lacking in this area and it makes sense to stage these over summer as the weather changes.

I'm really enjoying increasing the amount of local artists' EP launches we stage, as the scene is so creative in this area. MV continues to tailor and promote 50+ creativity and interesting international, national and local artists all year round in Brighton and Kent, I love my job!

For everything Melting Vinyl has to offer visit www.meltingvinyl.co.uk.